Getting enough sleep is extremely important for those who are trying to cope with the stresses and strains of our modern lifestyle. Insufficient sleep has been linked to irritability and an inability to focus as well as lower levels of productivity. In extreme cases a lack of sleep can lead to deep depression. It also can contribute to the body craving energy from foods which are not conducive to a healthy lifestyle due to the lower capacity of the individual to make logical and healthy choices. All in all a lack of sleep can have enormous impacts on the lives of those who suffer from conditions such as insomnia.

One of the major causes of sleeplessness is an incorrect choice of pillows. However, all too often when we choose our pillows we make that choice based on expenditure – not whether a pillow is correct for our unique sleeping styles or our physical requirements. When buying a pillow the old saying that ‘you pay for what you get’ is true – however, is it really necessary to go for the very top of the range when it comes to pillow choices?

The answer is a qualified yes. There are a number of great pillows on the market that will really make a difference to your sleeping habits, including allowing correct neck alignment which reduces neck pain. If you suffer from allergies the correct pillow can make all the difference to your quality of life.

For those who want the ultimate in comfort there are natural fillings such as down. Down filled pillows tend to be very pricey. this is due to the fact that it takes many geese or ducks to supply the down to fill the pillows. In addition the gathering of the down is extremely labor intensive. However, the result is a pillow of superior softness. For those who want to stick with natural materials and do not mind paying a premium there are natural feather pillows that offer a far firmer sleep experience. Those who want to purchase a hypoallergenic goose down pillow can expect to pay in the region of a smidgen over $100 – but there are more expensive options available.

There is a drawback to the pillows that are filled with down and that is that those who may find themselves becoming restless at night due to the fact that they are hot will find that a down filled pillow will only make the problem worse. For these people the option of a memory foam pillow is an attractive one. Many of these pillows contain a beadlike material that actually reacts to changing body temperature, releasing heat when you become cold and retaining it when you are overheating. These pillows usually retail for just below $100.

If you find that your sleep is becoming restless due to discomfort or that you are continually finding that you wake up with a sore neck or are not feeling rested by the morning then it may be time to look for as new pillow. Regards that purchase as an investment – it is an investment in your health and productivity so it is worth spending a bit more.

The bed is your go-to haven. Whether you are ecstatic after a successful day at work and want to enjoy a comfortable sleep or cry your heart out after a breakup, the bed is your best friend. It deserves more attention than what you usually give. So, here are some of the bedroom hacks to keep in mind to make your bed a better place to be in:

1. Add a faux-fur blanket

Want to enjoy a cozy afternoon binging on some of the best shows on Netflix. Chuck out the old blanket and bring a new faux-fur cover. They are available in a range of colors and sizes. Your bed will look far more luxurious with this cover, and it will soon become the best place to snuggle up whenever you want extra warmth.

2. Upgrade the bedsheets

Sometimes, upgrading your bedsheet can turn out to be an excellent way to make your friend a better place to sleep. If you are already using cotton sheets, try upgrading to linen. Linen is far more comfortable than any other fabric. It is lightweight and is appropriate both during the summer when it keeps the bed cool, and in the winters when it can keep the bed warm and cozy.

3. Hang string lights

If you want to make your bed the most attractive place in the house, you should try to make it look more appealing. Hanging string lights is an excellent way to improve the overall decor of the bed. It makes the bed look magical as you walk inside the room. Hang the lights behind thin curtains to give an amber effect. Choose yellow-colored lights instead of blue or red.

4. Add more pillows

A friendly bed is not just about a comfortable mattress; it is also about the number of pillows you have. Only a couple of pillows may not be enough to suit the bed. Even if you are using a single bed, make sure there are enough pillows to make you sleep comfortably. It adds to the cozy factor making your bed the first place to drop your body after a hard day at work.

5. Use a washable duvet cover

Sleeping top-sheetless is as luxurious as heck. If you are not aware of this, try using a washable duvet cover made of natural, soft fiber such as linen or cotton. It also cuts down the time to make your bed. You will not wake up in the morning with a ball of fabric around your sides or under the legs which is actually the bed sheet.

6. A bedside lamp instead of an overhead light

You may already have string lights around the windows and on the walls, but a nice bedside lamp is an even better addition to make the bed look more attractive. Overhead lights are too conventional. They don’t add to the beauty of the room or the bed. There are hundreds of bedside lamps that will suit the size and style of your bedroom.

7. Add a feather or foam pillow-top

The mattress matters a lot to make the bed comfortable. But if you are still not satisfied with the softness, you should buy a feather pillow-top pad. Tuck it under the bedsheet and over the mattress, and you will never complain about the comfort level of your bed again.

If you are picky about your bed and want it to be perfect, the above hacks will come to your rescue. The bed is undoubtedly your best friend as it has seen your happiness, sadness, and intimacies throughout. So, buckle up and show it your friendlier side as well.

It is often repeated that it’s a bad idea to use screens before bed, but have you ever wondered why that is? Using screens before bed can make it harder for you to fall asleep, and there’s more to that than just “stimulation” from watching videos or reading flame wars on your favorite forum.

Gadgets such as laptops, computers, tablets, and smartphones emit blue light, which tricks the brain into thinking that it’s still daytime. This can impair your ability to sleep and means that if you do sleep then it will be poorer quality than the sleep you would get if you dozed off naturally. The blue light delays the release of melatonin, and ‘resets your body clock’. This, effectively, gives you get lag even though you haven’t flown to another country!

Normally, the pineal gland in your body will release melatonin in the hours before you go to bed. Blue light from your computer makes your body put off releasing that melatonin. The good news is that this is a short term thing. All you have to do to stop suffering from computer-induced jet lag is stop using your devices about two hours before bedtime. Instead of playing on your laptop or reading on your tablet PC, shut those devices down and read a magazine or book instead. If you must read using a gadget, try a Kindle Paperwhite, because those do not emit the same blue light.

There’s an App for That!

These days, there’s an app for everything, and that includes the light issue. There are apps that will keep track of the time of day and that will change your screen so that it emits less of the blue light, and more yellow, instead. This should, in theory, help you to be more alert in the mornings, and help you doze off at night.

How well these apps work is not really clear, and if you’re a graphic designer you might want to avoid them because they will throw off the colors on the screen. They may be worth trying if all you want to do is read or edit text documents, however. There are free apps which you can use, and you can tweak the settings so that the change in color is barely noticeable.

Screen time is just one thing that can interfere with your ability to sleep. There are other issues too. If you’re struggling to sleep even after limiting your screen time then stop to think about your other habits. Are you consuming coffee or alcohol before bed?

Are you eating a heavy meal not long before bed? What temperature is your bedroom and do you have issues with noise pollution? All of these things are worth looking into. Good sleep hygiene is something that may take a while to figure out but it is worth working on because you will feel so much better when you are getting the right amount of sleep every night. Even if you feel ‘OK’ now, you may not realize what you have been missing out on.