Category: Blog

How to wash pillows

If you knew what was hanging out inside of your pillows, you’d be washing your pillows more regularly! Up to 10 percent of your pillow’s weight could be made up of a bunch of delightful things like dead skin cells, bed bugs, dust mites and all the unthinkable things they leave behind. In this blog post we share our tips on how to wash pillows.

This isn’t just extremely gross, it can also be harmful to people with serious allergies and conditions like asthma. If you often wake up in the night sneezing or reaching for your inhaler, then your pillow could be part of the problem.

While there are no hard and fast rules for pillow care, there are a few general guidelines you can follow. These will vary depending on the shape and material of your pillow, and you should always check the label on your pillow to see if there are any specific manufacturer guidelines.

Your pillows will last longer if you wash them on a regular basis, air them out once a week, and use pillow protectors and pillowcases.

Invest in a pillow protector

The most important thing you can do to help your pillow stay clean longer is to invest in a pillow protector. These are usually placed between the pillow and the standard pillowcase, zipping up around the pillow. They should be washed regularly with your bedding.

Sealy manufactures two types of pillow protectors:

• Cleanshield Quilted Pillow Protector
• Soft Touch Bamboo Pillow Protector

Click here to view our range of mattress and pillow protectors.

How to wash pillows

So, how do you go about washing your pillow properly? First of all, check the label to see if it’s machine washable or not. If it is, then here are some basic guidelines for you to follow:

• Wash every three to six months on the hot water setting
• Use mild liquid detergent; avoid fabric softeners
• Use the gentle cycle
• Run them through a second time on the rinse cycle without detergent

It’s a good idea to wash two pillows at once so the washing machine stays balanced and cleans them equally. Machines without agitators are best as the agitator can damage the pillow.

If your pillow is not machine washable, then you may be able to hand wash it (but check this too). For hand washing pillows, the following guidelines are helpful:

• Submerge the pillow in lukewarm water with mild detergent and gently squeeze
• Using cool water, rinse using the same method
• Gently squeeze out excess water

Advice for washing Sealy Memory Foam and Gel pillows

When washing your Sealy My Memory, My CoolSmart Gel, My Gel, My Comfort Memory pillows, take the cover off the core of the pillow, and wash these separately. Be sure to check the care instructions label on the pillow for washing advice. Generally, the pillow cover can be washed in 40 degree temperature and should not be bleached, tumble dried or ironed. Do not wash the pillow core, rather spot clean with a damp cloth. Do not use detergent, keep out of direct sunlight and ensure the pillow is dried fully before putting the cover on again.

Drying your pillows after washing

Whichever method is best suited to washing your pillow, you need to make sure you dry it properly afterwards. You can’t just hang it out on the washing line next to because your pillow will lose shape. It is best to leave your pillow to air-dry on a flat surface, either outside in the shade or in a cool, dry room inside.

Some pillows may be able to go in the dryer while others will become damaged from this, so check the label before putting it in to dry. If you do use this method, keep it on a low heat and check it regularly to fluff the pillows back into shape.

How often should you buy new pillows?

How long your pillows last will depend on the material and how well you look after them. A standard inexpensive polyester pillow should be replaced every six to 12 months, while other materials can last much longer. Cotton, wool, and down pillows can last anywhere from three to five years, for example, while memory foam and latex pillows typically last up to 5 years.

So, investing in a more luxurious pillow than the standard fare doesn’t just mean a more comfortable night’s sleep, you will also save money in the long run by not having to replace them as often.

Click here to view the Sealy pillow range.

How can you tell if you need to replace your pillows?

One standard test is to fold your pillow in half (if it’s not a foam pillow) and let it go. If the pillow doesn’t spring back to a flat position, then it’s time to move on to a new one. Other signs can be stains that won’t come off with washing and if the pillow has become lumpy or broken up inside.

If you’ve got an old pillow that looks like it’s had tea spilled all over it, get rid of it – that’s sweat and drool that’s built up from every time you’ve slept on the pillow.

DIY: Small bedroom ideas

If you’re spending more time at home, and in fact more time in your bedroom, you might lament at the lack of the space if you have a small bedroom. Thankfully, with a few interior-decorator inspired DIY tricks, you can make your space feel bigger with these small bedroom ideas:

Choose your bed wisely

Choose a bed size that doesn’t take up the whole room… sometimes smaller really is better. Before shopping for your bed, measure out your bedroom and see if that King-sized bed you’re dreaming about is really so practical. Consider the amount of space required for comfortable living, factoring in clearance for doors and drawers, walking around the perimeter of your bed frame and other furnishings., and leaving enough room to rotate your mattress without hitting walls. About 75–90 cm clearance or more on 2-3 sides is ideal. (Click here for our Store Locator, to find a Sealy stockist closest to where you are.)

Below are mattress measurements for each Sealy bed size. It can be helpful to get an understanding for how a bed will fit into your room by marking out the dimensions on the floor using tape. Then you will be able to visually see which sizes will fit well.

• Single – 915mm x 1880mm
• Three Quarter – 1070mm x 1880mm
• Double – 1370mm x 1880mm
• Queen – 1520mm x 1880mm
• King – 1830mm x 1880mm
• Extra length (2000mm) is available on request

Another tip is to choose a bed that’s low to the floor. This makes the room feel and look bigger.

Play with colour

There are various options to choose from, but most of the time painting your room a lighter colour gives the space an airier feel. Paint the entire room the same colour – the floor and ceiling included – to create a more open feel.

However, if a single-coloured bedroom sounds too boring for you, take heart. Using contrasting colours creates an illusion of depth. So for example, if your walls and your ceiling are white, opt to paint one wall a darker colour. Do a quick Google search for ‘colour schemes for small bedrooms’ to get a few small bedroom ideas.

Decorate the room with a single colour scheme and avoid using too many colours in a small bedroom. A single colour scheme helps to weave the space together.

No-fuss bedding

Avoid frilly, bulky duvets, loud patterns and too many accent pillows. Rather choose simple bedding with clean lines and minimal designs. If you need more warmth, use a chunky blanket or throw.

If you feel your bed looks to bare without accent pillows, don’t use more than two.

More floor space with floating shelves

The more of the floor you can see, the bigger the space feels, so opt for wall-mounted shelving when you can. ‘Floating’ bedside table can replace the more traditional chunky bedside tables, and you can even replace your headboard with a floating shelf. Paint the shelves the same colour as the walls for that uniform, minimalist look and feel.

Ditch the curtains

Heavy curtains are dust collectors that dwarf a small room. Minimal window treatments like blinds help smaller spaces feel bigger, allow more natural light into the room and also draws the eye outside, creating the illusion of space.

If you really love curtains, then choose floor-to-ceiling curtains in a light-coloured fabric that matches the pallet of your room.

Minimal furniture

Be choosy about the furniture in your room. Do you need a dresser and a wardrobe? Maybe with some organising, you can get away with just one of these, to save space in your bedroom.

If your bedroom has turned into your home office, consider finding another space to work from. Keep your bedroom for what it’s meant for – sleep.

Bold wall hangings

Be bold when it comes to pictures for your room. Rather than hanging several small pictures on the wall, select one big, eye catching conversation piece. Mirrors will also help your bedroom look bigger. If possible, hang mirrors opposite the window to maximise the light in the bedroom.

Of all the small bedroom ideas we’ve shared, the most important tip is to declutter the space. Try to keep clutter to a minimum by creating storage options or moving them to another room. After all, a peaceful sleep environment really does help with better sleep!

Did you know you burn calories while you sleep?

Your body is always busy using energy to repair cells, breathing, consolidating memories and working through a lot of other functions – and so, you are constantly burning calories. In this blog post, we explore how you can burn more calories while you sleep. Yes, you read that correctly, you burn calories even while you’re fast asleep, and it is possible to increase the number of calories you burn during slumber.

A good night’s sleep usually requires you to be fully relaxed, but even in this relaxed state, sleep is not an inactive state. Your body is still doing all the things we mentioned above, and during sleep your body is doing lots of other important work, like producing additional hormones that boost the immune system. This all requires energy, and energy out = calories burnt.

How many calories do you burn when you sleep?

The answer is variable – it depends on a number of factors such as your basal metabolic rate (BMR), the quality of your sleep, diet, exercise, etc. However, according to the Sleep Doctor, a 70kg person would burn around 440 calories during seven hours of sleep.

Hormones, sleep and calories

Aim to get more REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. This happens in Stage 5, the last stage of sleep when your brain is more active and your breathing becomes faster and irregular, and it’s when you burn the most calories. The increased brain activity during REM sleep uses more glucose, which has a positive knock-on effect on your metabolism.

With good quality sleep, your body produces more melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin helps your body regulate the energy balance and produce more brown and beige fats. Those are good fats that actually help us lose weight.

Our bodies have more than one type of fat. There’s white fat, brown fat and beige fat. Brown and beige fats are also known as ‘thinning fats’ and they help manage insulin levels, regulate blood sugar and guard against obesity and metabolic disorders. Healthy sleep helps your body produce more of these fats.

There are two other hormones that are linked to good sleep and weight loss: Ghrelin and Leptin. Ghrelin tells your body when it’s time to eat, and leptin tells your body when to stop eating. When you are sleep-deprived, your body produces more ghrelin and less leptin. To put it more simply, when you don’t get enough sleep, it’s harder to control those cravings, thanks to these two hormones. Flip the story though – get enough sleep, and it will be easier to eat less.

How to burn more calories while sleeping

The better you sleep, the more calories you will burn while sleeping. Below are some tips to help ensure you get a good night’s sleep:

• Sleep in a cooler room. A cool environment encourages the body to convert white fat into our favourite types of fat – brown and beige fat.
• Get the foundation right: A good mattress. If you’ve been sinking into an old, uncomfortable bed each night, your body is not being supported and you will struggle to get good quality sleep. Sealy’s exclusive Posturepedic Technology™ mattresses are built strategically to help provide proper support for the entire body, comfort for a great night’s sleep and durability for peace of mind. Orthopedically correct mattress design fully supports the body while at the same time relieving pressure points, allowing the body to fully relax.
• Don’t stay up too late. The longer you’re awake, the higher your chance of giving in to those cravings – and it could be because your Ghrelin and Leptin production is out of whack because you’re not getting enough sleep.
• Eat to sleep. Eating carbohydrates with a high glycaemic index four hours before bedtime, such as white rice and pasta, could reduce the time it takes to fall asleep because they increase the level of serotonin in your body, which is known as a “wellness chemical” with sleep-inducing effects. Eat predominantly easily digestible carbohydrates, and not too much fat. Avoid stimulating food or drinks, such as chilli and coffee.
• Try not to look at screens (cell phone, TV, laptop, etc.) at least two hours before bed. These are sources of blue light. Blue light, especially natural sources, can boost your mental alertness, which is good during the day but not so good when you’re trying to sleep. It blocks melatonin, which helps you feel sleepy. If you are unable to cut back on screen time, consider investing in blue light blocking glasses.
• Get some exercise during the day – but no rigorous exercise at least two hours before bedtime. This will help you fall asleep faster and it will release more endorphins, which make you feel happy and improve sleep quality.
• Stretch before bed. Slow, purposeful movements help you breathe slowly, relaxing your body and mind. Click here for some stretches that will help you fall asleep fast.

Back to School sleep tips

The transition from the holidays to the new school year can be tough on the whole family. Children are likely to have fallen out of their usual routine. In this blog post, we highlight our best Back to School sleep tips to ensure that your children are ready and raring to go on the first day of school.

Prepare ahead of time

Don’t leave shopping for school supplies and uniform until the last minute! Getting prepared ahead of time will reduce your stress and will also let your children know it’s time to start getting ready for the return to school.

Use a calendar during the holidays

Using a calendar is a great way to give your kids a visual that they can use as a countdown to see when school starts again. You can get your kids involved with the calendar by asking them to mark down events and activities that you’ll be taking part in during the holidays, as well as the back-to-school date.

Get back into your own routine

Your kids will follow your example when it comes to getting back into their school routine, so start your own routine ahead of time. This might mean waking up earlier, preparing and eating meals at a ‘normal’ time, and getting dressed and ready for the day every morning.

Introduce your child’s Back to School sleep schedule

If your children have strayed from what would be their regular bedtime during term-time, start re-introducing this as the return to school creeps up. You might like to advance their bedtime by 10-15 minutes every night until they reach their regular bedtime, and you might also like to start waking them up a little earlier – with love and compassion of course!

See below for some tips for maintaining a good sleep schedule.

Tips for maintaining a good Back to School sleep schedule

·        Create a bedtime routine

Creating a bedtime routine is a wonderful way to help children prepare mentally and physically for bed. Turn off all electronics at least an hour before bedtime, dim the lights, and spend some time relaxing. During this time, your children might like to read, colour, or listen to an audiobook/music. The bedtime routine could involve a relaxing bath or shower, a bedtime story, relaxing music and massage.

·        Eat well ahead of bedtime

Eat dinner ahead of bedtime so that your children have time to digest their food and spend time relaxing before bed. This will help to prevent any digestive discomfort that they might be experiencing at nighttime.

Ensure a good night’s sleep

A quality mattress can be the difference between a good night and a bad night of sleep. Though it’s common to use hand-me-down mattresses, ensure that your child has a high-quality mattress that gives them the support they need. As well as keeping the spine and bones aligned, which is very important for a growing child, a good quality mattress will reduce rolling and fidgeting, allowing your child to sleep more soundly. Browse Sealy’s range of mattresses to find the best bed to support your child’s growing body.

Good quality sleep will boost your child’s memory and concentration, improve their mood, enhance emotional control, prevent or alleviate mood swings, and improve their overall well-being. Also, a good new bed will provide support to your child’s growing body and help them relax during the night. Finally, studies show that good sleep prevents challenging behaviors and helps your child get Back to School refreshed and well-prepared, which is a recipe for good grades.

Can’t sleep because of stress? Read this

I think we can all agree that “2020 was a crazy year” is a significant understatement. Many of us have been forced into major changes to our lives, and most of the time change comes stress. With stress comes lack of sleep. If you find that you can’t sleep because of stress, keep reading.

A lack of sleep can cause anxiety and depression, diminish focus and can even cause some health issues. When life becomes stressful and your to-do list becomes longer, sleep usually falls to the bottom of the list because our minds tells us that’s when we’re least productive.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Sleep and the immune system are deeply connected, and the quality and quantity of sleep has a direct effect on your immune system. Your immune system works at its best when you receive the necessary quantity and quality of sleep, which is usually around 7 to 8 hours per day.

Tips for when you can’t sleep because of stress

• Quit the work talk early

Sometimes when we live and breathe our work, we tend to continue with the conversations (whether with others or ourselves) well into the night. While getting work talk out of your system is great for you, it isn’t healthy if you find yourself obsessing over work issues. Make a conscious effort to not talk or think about work after a certain hour, and leave work talk out of the bedroom. For example, after dinner, rather than talking or thinking about work, do something else that you enjoy. It will, in turn, alleviate your stress levels and make a world of difference to your sleep. It might take time for you to train your mind – but do your best to remain aware of your thoughts, and in time your habits will change.

• Go to bed at the same time every night

Some of the most successful people in the world develop good habits for themselves. One of these habits includes going to bed at not only a reasonable hour but at the same hour every night. By doing this, you establish a routine that your body recognises and accepts.

• No screens!

This should be obvious but can still be a tough habit to break. Not only do screens keep us awake due to the blue light, but it can also create too much activity in our brains and keep us awake for longer. Opt for a good book, do some affirmation writing, or you can go a step further and start meditation.

• Your bedroom space

Last but not least, if you can’t sleep because of stress, focus on creating a comfortable bedroom that welcomes sleep. Do a Google search to find some great ideas for colours that bring relaxing energies, invest in some black-out curtains, buy new pillows and sheets, or even including some indoor plants in your room. A safe and peaceful space for your mind can bring a world of difference into your night.

Of course, the most important piece of furniture in a slumber-inducing bedroom is a comfortable mattress. In almost every case, a poor quality, old or worn mattress is an overlooked factor in insomnia. If you’ve been sinking into an old bed that’s lost its shape your body is not being supported and your unique sleeping posture isn’t being accommodated. If your mattress is too firm or too soft, you might experience back and joint pains. Sealy’s exclusive Posturepedic Technology™ mattresses are built strategically to help provide proper support for the entire body, comfort for a great night’s sleep and durability for peace of mind. Orthopedically correct mattress design fully supports the body while at the same time relieving pressure points, allowing the body to fully relax.

2020 was difficult for many of us. If one thing can make this all a little easier, its sleep. Place it at the top of your list, be conscious of your sleeping habits and create new routines. You’ll see a world of difference in yourself once you do.

When you buy a new Sealy, make sure it’s #ClearlyASealy

When it comes to buying a new bed, choosing the RIGHT mattress could mean the difference between waking up feeling exhausted with body aches, or totally refreshed and ready to conquer the challenges of the day ahead. In this blog post we explain how to make sure that bed you spotted in the store is #ClearlyASealy and not a cheaper-quality mattress advertised as a Sealy, and we include a few other tips on how to choose a new bed.

How to make sure it’s #ClearlyASealy

When shopping for your new Sealy, it is safest to make sure you are purchasing your bed from an Authorised Sealy Retailer, and you receive an official invoice. Remember, our list of authorised retailers are on the Sealy website. Click here to view a list of Sealy retailers. If the store you’re shopping at isn’t on this list, contact us to check if that store is in fact authorised to sell Sealy mattresses.

If you visit different stores testing out the various Sealy beds, the specific models might not be an exact match. Sealy retailers choose their own bed names, so when you shop at different stores, the names will be different. Browse the Sealy website to view the full range from which retailers choose certain models to sell.

All Sealy mattresses come with a warranty, which will protect you in the unlikely event of a factory defect. Once you purchase your Sealy, visit our website to register your warranty. This is a good way to protect your investment. A warranty is your protection against defective workmanship – it is not a guarantee of product life or more important, of comfort life.

What does a Sealy warranty cover?

• A factory guarantee repair or replacement period is against faulty workmanship and faulty materials, not extending to damage caused by normal wear and tear, abuse, misuse or negligence.
• A service warranty period is the balance of the period outside of the guarantee period where the cost of repair or replacement is borne by the customer on a pro rata basis for the remainder of the service warranty period.

With so many mattress options to choose from, buying a new bed can be exhausting. As the sleep experts, we’ve rounded up some of our top tips to help you make the right decision. A good mattress should last at least eight years, so think about this as an investment in your health and take the time to find the right mattress.

You will know it’s time to buy a new bed if your current mattress is more than eight to 10 years old, is sagging in the middle, springs are sticking out or the mattress is lumpy, and you can’t get comfortable or you wake up tired with aches and pains.

Before shopping for a new bed

Before you start bed shopping, take some time to think about your sleep habits. Ask yourself these questions:

• Are you a side sleeper or do you usually sleep on your back? Your answer could help you choose the best comfort level.
• What comfort level do you prefer? Firm or plush? Or something in between?
• Do you know what type of mattress you’re currently sleeping on?
• Does your current mattress have the right comfort and support level for you?

Comfort preference is a personal choice. All Sealy mattresses, no matter what comfort you choose, offer excellent deep-down spinal support. Weight can also play a factor in choosing mattress firmness. Sealy offers an Extra Firm mattress, especially made with high density fillings and foams, to provide support for heavier people.

Before buying your new bed it’s a good idea to measure your current mattress and bed set, and the room itself, so you can be sure that your choice will actually fit the space you have available for it. If you have the space, you might want to entertain the idea of getting a bigger bed. Remember that Sealy manufactures extra length mattresses for that extra leg room!

In-store shopping for a new bed

• Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes and take your time. The only way to be sure about which mattress is right for you is to spend time on it. Don’t be shy about trying each one in order to get a feel for the differences. Take your shoes off and spend about 15 minutes lying on each mattress in your normal sleeping position, until you find the comfort and support you’ll be happy with.
• If you are sharing the bed with another person, it’s a good idea for both of you to test out the options.
• Think about pillows. You can take your favourite pillow with so you’re able to replicate your normal sleeping environment or some stores also offer pillows for you to test while trying out the bed.
• Take notes on how comfortable you are on each of mattress so you can narrow down your selection.

Before buying a new bed

Once you find the comfort level and support you like best, talk to the salesperson about the following –

• Ask about the return policy, as some retailers will sometimes offer a sleep trial. This is a period of time such as 30–90 nights where you’ll get the chance to break in the product and really decide if it’s the right long-term solution for you. This time frame varies, so be sure to find out exactly what the policy is.
• Ask how long you should expect the mattress to last and find out if there are any warranties that come with it. If so, what do they cover and for how long? Read the warranty conditions carefully.

If you’re shopping online

• Know the comfort level you prefer
• Buy from a trusted brand
• When you buy from a trusted brand like Sealy, you can trust that the brand will be around to honour warranty and guarantee conditions
• If you choose a Sealy, visit the Sealy website to make sure you are buying from an approved Sealy dealer
• Shop at a retailer you trust and are comfortable to deal with
• Pay close attention to the returns policy

Most importantly, think of your purchase as a valuable investment in yourself and your health because getting a good night’s sleep sets you up to tackle the challenges of everyday life with all the energy and enthusiasm you need.

Turn your staycation into a dream vacation

As we roll into our “I don’t even want to remember how many months we have been inside” this crazy year, summer holidays are upon us. While many South Africans are still heading off to their end-of-year holidays, a lot of us are choosing to spend this time at home. In this blog post we give you some tips on how to turn your December holidays into the ultimate staycation.

A staycation typically involves staying home, or close to home, and making it feel like our own cute little holiday. Although it may seem a little ridiculous and not anywhere close to the same as heading out into the world, it is incredible just how much you can do to create that vacation feel at home.

So, how do we create our perfect staycation?

The bedroom

Transform your bedroom into a hotel room! Begin your perfect staycation with a treat, by buying the perfect pillow and high-quality bed linen. One of the best things about hotel beds is how soft and perfect it feels to slide into that luxurious bed and feel those sheets on your skin. Sealy manufactures a range of pillows and indulgent bed linen. Click here to browse our range of Sealy pillows and click here to find out more about Sealy bed linen.

If you’re really serious about this staycation, and if you’re looking forward to a 2021 with lots of good quality sleep, you might want to consider investing in a new Sealy mattress.  This means not only a comfortable and wonderful sleep for your time off, but also setting yourself up for some great sleep in the future too.

Take it up a notch by adding some extras to your room like a TV, a snack station, a mini bar, create a relaxing sitting area or do some simple decorating to make your room look and feel different.

The bathroom

A clean and fresh bathroom will always feel great when starting your staycation, but don’t be afraid to check out some products you can buy to make it feel a little extra special. Look for face masks, body scrubs, manicure tool kits, bath bombs and even some scented products. Add a little bouquet of flowers, and you have yourself a beautiful bathroom set up.

The food

What can be better than an array of delicious food options that make you feel like you’re at your very own buffet breakfast? Have fun in the kitchen and get creative with different breakfast options like omelettes, croissants, crepes or even try your kitchen skills out with eggs benedict. For lunch or dinner, you can create meal plans where you have a special meal for each occasion or even choose a couple of nights to order in some food from your favourite restaurants. The food options are endless!

The drinks

There is nothing like heading up to the bar and picking some random cocktail you’ve never tried before, so definitely try your crafty work on some cocktails or mocktails (no alcohol) during your Staycation. There are not only plenty of cocktails online, but plenty of YouTube videos showing you exactly how they are done. Get creative! Remember always drink responsibly. (And as the sleep specialists, we feel it’s our responsibility to remind you that when you drink alcohol, you have less REM sleep that night. Rapid Eye Movement sleep is the state of sleep when people dream, and it’s when your body rests and repairs.)

2020 has looked different for all of us. Unfortunately, with coronavirus still on our heels, we have to be a little more creative on what we can do to make the most out of our vacation time. A staycation can be a wonderful way for you to experience the relaxation you need, the food that you crave and the fun that you want, all from the comfort of your home. How will you spend your staycation?

Perfect gifts for people who need more sleep

In an ideal world, we should spend one third of our lives sleeping, but for many people eight hours of sleep each night is out of reach. Whether its because of long work hours, insomnia, small kids, or just too much stress, chances are we know and love at least one person who needs more sleep. So, this year, give that person the gift of sleep.

Whether your budget is big or small, you should find something here for the sleep lover in your life –

Gifts for better sleep

• Calming herbal teas. Did you know that sipping a cup of herbal tea before bedtime could help you sleep better? Peppermint tea and camomile tea are said to help calm anxiety. You will find a selection of calming blends in the tea aisle at your local grocery store or visit any of the upmarket tea stores popping up in many shopping centres. If your sleep lover is also a tea lover, put together a pretty box with a selection of calming teas.
• Bath fizz balls. A bath before bedtime helps to calm the mind and prepare the body for sleep. Good quality fizz balls, also known as bath bombs, will soften and cleanse the skin and usually have aromatherapy benefits too. We love the Fizz Stardust bath bomb from Rain Natural Skincare, for R65.
• Eye pillow. Also known as a dream pillows, this is a little pouch filled with various soothing ingredients like flax seed and aromatherapy oils, which you place over your eyes and forehead for a deeper sleep. The Earthway Infusions Eyepillow has lavender essential oil in it, which is known for its calming properties. Get it for R77 from Faithful to Nature.
• Play dough stress ball. Who says play dough is just for kids?! (Although this is a great gift idea for children too.) When you play with an aromatherapy play dough ball, you engage your senses of smell and touch. It’s great for calming stress and anxiety before bed. Aromadough has a whole range of aromatherapy play dough balls, but when it comes to a good night’s sleep, we recommend the Festive Sleep Stress Ball (R95) which has sweet orange, neroli and lavender essential oils.
• Pillow. Most people underestimate the value of a good pillow when it comes to good quality sleep. We manufacture a range of Sealy pillows, including our innovative Gel pillows. There’s the My Coolsmart Gel Pillow, which has a refreshing gel layer that reduces heat buildup, and the My Gel Pillow, which is made with gel-infused memory foam. Both pillows are made with adaptive memory foam and covered with Tencel material, which provides good moisture control and is naturally breathable and cool.
• Weighted blanket. Imagine wrapping yourself in a blanket and feeling as though you’re getting a big hug. That is what weighted blankets do. Weighted blankets are heavier than normal blankets because they are filled with a heavier material, such as pellets. They help to calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety and insomnia. Weighted blankets from Pretty Special come in toddler, child, adult and extra-large sizes and range in price from R600 to R1500.
• Himalayan salt lamp. These lamps are said to help boost mood, improve sleep, ease allergies and clean the air, however there is little scientific proof to support those claims. If they are true – bonus – if not, at the very least a Himalayan Salt Lamp will soften the lighting in a room, which helps encourage a more relaxed mood. These are fairly easy to find. Salty Sistas has a great collection, ranging from R250 to R2450.

The ultimate gift for people who need more sleep: A new bed

If you’re looking for a long-term investment that will reap rewards for many years to come, then consider investing in a new bed this year. Sleep is an important factor of a healthy lifestyle but unfortunately most people sleep on a mattress past its expiration date or to have a low-quality mattress to begin with. Having the right mattress can make all the difference with feeling more energetic, as well as keeping you healthy.

Through constant research and development, and collaboration and studies with orthopaedic surgeons all over the world, the Sealy team has established the best ‘criteria’ for optimal sleep. Building upon the recommendations of these world class orthopaedic surgeons, Sealy constructs mattresses with unique spring systems for body support, topped with foam and comfort layers with pressure relieving properties – meaning the body is in its natural position to fully relieve muscular tension. This is known today as Sealy’s exclusive Posturepedic Technology™, which targets the heaviest part of your body, with reinforced support where you need it most. Only Sealy with exclusive Posturepedic Technology™ mattresses give you deep-down push back support for exceptional all-over comfort.

Sealy Posturepedic Technology™ supports your sleep by providing:

• Pressure relieving comfort for undisturbed sleep: from Ultra-Plush to Extra-Firm, built with premium materials.
• The support you need: deep-down orthopedically correct push-back spring system, surrounded with a superior edge support system.
• A system where everything works together to give you the same great comfort and support for a long time: extra durability that repays your investment day after day.

Three foods that boost your immune system AND improve your sleep

Now more than ever it’s important to keep your immune system in good shape. In addition to washing your hands frequently, getting enough exercise and managing stress better, the foods you eat and the quality of your sleep can also positively impact your immune system.

Sleep and the immune system are deeply connected, and the quality and quantity of sleep has a direct effect on your immune system. Your immune system works at its best when you receive the necessary quantity and quality of sleep, which is usually around 7 to 8 hours per day.

Below are three foods that not only boost your immune system, but also help you get better sleep:

• Fruits high in Vitamin C

Your body doesn’t store Vitamin C so be sure to get your daily dose from citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwis and red peppers. Vitamin C helps your body create virus-fighting antibodies, and studies have shown that people with higher levels of vitamin C have better sleep health than those with lower levels.

Kiwis are full of serotonin – the happy chemical – and when your brain builds up stores of serotonin, you can sleep better.

• Almonds and other nuts

Tree nuts reduce inflammation and the stress hormone, cortisol. When you stress less, you sleep better! Nuts are also high in protein, which is essential for T-cell function. T-cells protect the body against pathogens.

If youre looking for a late night snack, choose pistachios, almonds or walnuts because they contain more melatonin, a hormone which plays a role in your natural sleep-wake cycle.

• Plain Greek yoghurt

Plain Greek yoghurt contains calcium, probiotics, iodine, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D. More and more studies are reporting that Covid-19 patients who have adequate Vitamin D in their system have a more than 50% higher chance of recovering from the illness. People with high levels of Vitamin D also sleep better.

When is the right time to eat for better sleep?

You may have learned that snacking close to bedtime is bad, but there is more to it. The latest science reveals that what you eat for dinner and when you eat also makes a huge difference to your sleep.

Consuming carbohydrates with a high glycemic index four hours before bedtime, such as white rice and pasta, could reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. Research by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition explains that this is because carbohydrates could increase the level of serotonin in your body, which is known as a “wellness chemical” with sleep-inducing effects.

In addition, pay attention to these tips:

• Don’t eat too much or too little so that hunger and indigestion keep you awake
• Eat predominantly easily digestible carbohydrates, and not too much fat
• Avoid stimulating food or drinks, such as chilli and coffee

Your best sleep partner – A comfortable mattress

Of course, when it comes to sleep and your immune system, if you have an old, lumpy mattress it doesn’t matter what foods you eat – nothing can outsmart an uncomfortable mattress. If your mattress is more than eight years old, or if you’re waking up tired with aches and pains, it’s time to consider investing in your sleep with a new Sealy mattress. Nothing says you’re committed to better health more than replacing your old mattress with a new, comfortable bed developed in cooperation with orthopaedic surgeons.

Sealy mattresses take style and comfort to the next level with a grey and black colour palette, premium design elements and state-of-the art engineering. All Sealy mattresses are made with Sealy Posturepedic Technology, which is proven to deliver support and comfort, providing back and body alignment to ensure a comfortable, healthy night’s sleep.

Mattress shopping this Black Friday? Check out these tips

Every year, people  jump in their car and head to one of the craziest but cheapest days of the year, Black Friday. This year will definitely look a little different. If anything could stop the madness of Black Friday, it would be a world pandemic.

With Coronavirus hitting us at the beginning of the year and still showing its effects today, many of us are staying indoors. Yet, some restrictions have somewhat been lifted, allowing for Black Friday to possibly continue on as it has in previous years. However, the factors we need to keep in mind this year are not only our physical safety but our health safety too.

Going out and buying a cheap refrigerator or snagging a blender that’s 50% off is one thing, but heading to the store and walking away with Covid-19 is another. So how can communities make this work?

It’s vital to remember that just like every other day, stores will have limited restrictions on who enters. You won’t be able to shove through those front doors but will have to go back to your primary school days where you needed to practice patience and line up to wait for your turn. For your entire shopping experience, wearing a mask and practicing social distancing will be of the utmost importance. Masks will most definitely need to be worn inside the store, but while waiting in line, it’s a great idea to start your safety precautions there. The same goes with social distancing, keeping two metres distance from yourself and the person in front and behind you can lower the risks of spreading the virus.

In saying this, many stores will be encouraging their online sales this year. If you aren’t an avid online shopper, here are some tips to help you get the best deals and practice safe shopping.

Keep cybersecurity top of mind

An online sale often requires you to act quickly, especially on Black Friday, but don’t unnecessarily open yourself up to risk. Make sure the website you’re purchasing from is secure by checking the website address in your browser. There should be an “https” at the start of the website address. The “s” means the site is secure and your data is safe, so avoid shopping on any sites that don’t have the “s”. Click here to read more online safety tips.

Practice beforehand and create accounts

It may sound kind of silly, but if you haven’t been shopping online before, it could be a little tricky for you. To help with this, you can practice beforehand. Head to some of your favourite stores online, which will most likely have “create an account” options available for you, and practice putting items into your shopping cart. Creating the accounts will make shopping easier on Black Friday and practicing shopping may help lessen the stress of the unknown.

Stick to brands and stores you know

Trust remains a crucial issue online and while some sites may say they have 90% off, that doesn’t always mean the site is trustworthy. If you are new to this, stick to the brands and stores you know and love. If you want to step outside of the box, make sure to carry out your research beforehand so you don’t end up being scammed.

Click on this link to quickly access some of the retailers selling Sealy beds online.

Research the products you want

Every so often we get so caught up in the madness that we don’t actually purchase products that are of good quality or that we need. While being online anyway, do some research on what you are buying to make sure you are receiving exactly what you need.  It’s helpful to look for reviews, to see what other customers have said about the product.

If you’re buying a mattress online, make sure you know your preferences beforehand (if you like a firm or soft bed, how much support you need, etc.).

Stores selling the same products

Being Black Friday, the chance of websites crashing and products selling out is reasonably high. You can attempt to avoid this by listing the stores that have the products you are looking for. With this, if one store doesn’t have the ability to handle the influx of customers or have run out of the product, you can quickly jump to the next store.

*Bonus tip: leave tabs open on your internet browser with the various online stores so you can quickly jump over to the next one. 

Wishlist

Often online stores allow you to create wishlists. This means you can highlight the products that you want and keep them in a little list attached to your account. Once the prices drop, instead of stressing about time and going through every product on sale, you can simply go to your wishlist and add the items to your cart to check out.

Is it really on sale?

Often we can get so frantic while doing something as fast as we can that we don’t realise that we may not actually be getting a deal. If something is on sale, it can look great! But if that sale is only 15% off instead of 80-90%, then that deal may not actually be worth it at all. Make sure to check what the price is beforehand, and then what the sale price is to make sure you are really getting the bargain you were hoping for.

Black Friday will ultimately look different this year, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to dive into some great bargains. If heading out to take on the stores is something you want to do or have to do, please make sure to take proper precautions to not only keep yourself safe but keep others safe too. For those online shoppers, take the steps above to make your online shopping experience cheaper, safer and a little less stressful. We hope you are able to find the bargains you need. Happy shopping!