JoyfulSleep SimplySleep

Tips from sound sleepers

2011-12-06T16:59:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to view the glass half full rather than half empty, let’s talk about secrets to sound sleep. Much has been written about sleep disorders like insomnia and narcolepsy, but what about the millions of people out there who get relaxing, peaceful sleep every night. How do they do it?

Well, no surprise here, there isn’t just one secret. Rather, a pattern begins to emerge as you talk to more and more people about their sleep practices or “sleep hygiene.”

Take a look:

I set clear boundaries, like never working past 7 pm and I don’t bring work to bed with me.
I read to my kids and it helps me wind down.
I don’t have a television or computer in my room.
I don’t watch TV or work on the computer right before bedtime.
I drink a hot cup of chamomile tea about an hour before bedtime.
I practice some deep breathing once I tuck myself in.
I take a nice warm bath with my favorite lavender foaming bubble bath
I have the coziest bed in the world!
I do yoga stretches on the rug in my bedroom.
I make a cup of warm milk with honey or sometimes cocoa like my Dad used to do when I was a kid and I couldn’t sleep.
I have a really comfortable pillow so when I lay my head down it’s like I’m sleeping on a bed of feathers.
I don’t see midnight anymore. I’m pretty good about bedtimes.
I avoid coffee in the afternoons and switch to tea or diet pepsi if I need a lift.
I read a good mystery novel or other page turner to get me really sleepy.
I go to bed at the same time most every night.
It may sound silly but I make sure my bed is nicely made every morning so when I turn the covers down at night it’s like I’m in a hotel taking a mini vacation.
If we eat late, I make my husband do the dishes and clean the kitchen so I can relax.
Sex. We do it just before bed and I drift off quite easily.

Do you see the pattern?

They all practice good sleep hygiene – they have established sleep routines, things they do religiously each and every night before settling down to sleep. Each one of these tips is based on having a positive attitude toward sleep, even looking forward to it and not dreading it.

Think back to what you did when you were a kid. What did you do to get ready for bed? Did you have a special pair of PJ’s you loved? Maybe you had a favorite snack or drink your Mom made for you. How about trying one or two of those things and see how they work on your sleep pattern.

Do you have some sleep secrets of your own? Tell me about them. I’d love to hear from you.

Best Sleep Masks in the Quest for Better Sleep

2011-12-05T17:01:00.001-08:00

The secret is out!!! Bucky's great little Sleep Mask was recently rated #1 by Good Housekeeping. Bucky 40 Blinks sleep mask earned the highest score for its contoured shape (which let testers blink comfortably) and its adjustable velcro strap.

Blocking out light and noise is essential for a good night's sleep. Many uncontrollable elements like light and noise can keep you awake at night. So Good Housekeeping also rated flush to the face masks with soft padded lining as top of the line products that will get you to sleep in no time flat.

Sleep masks have by far been the most simportant discovery in my quest for better sleep. Now all I have to do is lay my head on the pillow, drown out any streeet or room noise with earplugs, slip my sleep mask over my head, and I'm asleep in no time flat.

Give these masks a try. You'll be very glad you did!!

Sleep Tip #1

2011-09-20T17:14:00.001-07:00

I'm a sucker for sleep tips. Because I am such a sleep obsessive, I'm always on the look out for concise lists telling me how I can get better sleep. Here's one I just found from the Mayo Clinic. It is a list of 7 things that you can do to improve the quality of your sleep, thereby improving the quality of your life.

The first sleep tip is particularly difficult for me though when I am able to do it -- stick to a sleep schedule even on weekends and holidays -- everything works out better. I'm more productive, in a better mood all day long, and generally just much happier. I have learned to do what this tip suggests, if I don't fall asleep fairly quickly (within 10 to 15 minutes of going to bed) I get up and do something else. Most of all I don't worry about it like I used to do. Like the article says, if you "agonize" over falling asleep (and what sleep obsessive worthy of the name hasn't don’t that), it will take much longer and more effort to do something that frankly should happen pretty naturally.

Writing in my journal is particularly effective, especially when I know there are things that I haven't "processed" during the day that are keeping me awake. Reading a fast paced, interesting novel is also really good because it makes me sleepy pretty fast.

What is your favorite thing to do when you can't sleep?

Cure for a Stiff Neck

2011-05-20T23:11:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been suffering from a very stiff neck. I don't know why, maybe I'm spending too much time hunched over my computer, or it's stress from thinking I have to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders, or maybe I need a better pillow or to do more yoga or . . . well who knows what it's caused by.

One of the best remedies I've tried is the neck wrap by Bucky that you heat in the microwave. It's filled with buckwheat hulls and the warmth of the wrap immediately penetrates and soothes my tired, stiff neck. It's nothing short of heavenly.

Sleep Poems

2011-05-09T01:09:00.000-07:00

Thought it would be fun to look for poems by famous poets on the topic of sleep. Here's one I especially liked.

A long, long sleep, a famous sleep
That makes no show for morn
By stretch of limb or stir of lid,
An independent one.

Was ever idleness like this?
Upon a bank of stone
To bask the centuries away
Nor once look up for noon?

Emily Dickinson

When Light Keeps You Awake (aka "When it's Better to be Kept in the Dark!")

2010-08-23T13:07:00.000-07:00

Light is often a bigger problem than people realize when they're trying to fall asleep. Even the dim green or red light from your alarm clock on your bedside table can keep you awake.

So, what should you do? "Limiting your light exposure in the evening tends to transition you into sleep," says Helene Emsellem, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology at Georgetown University and Director of the Center for Sleep and Wake Disorders in Chevy Chase, MD. And surrounding yourself in darkness all night helps you stay asleep.

Here are some more tips to keep you in the dark (a good thing when you're trying to sleep!!):

Cover your eyes with an eye mask big enough to cover your eyes completely. Contoured foam masks like Bucky's 40 blinks are ultra lightweight and very comfortable. If you need to block light completely, soft padded masks work best but cost a little more.

Use a low power light instead of a bright bedside lamp if you read in bed before sleeping. Low power lighting encourages your brain's shift to sleep. Clip on lights work particularly well (maybe that's why you feel so tired after flying at night with the little light button on).

Seal off your windows, especially important if your bedroom gets early morning light or if you have a streetlight right outside your window (like I do), with blackout shades or drapes. Heavy wooden plantation style shutters work well too, but cost a bit more.

Up next: Why what you wear to bed matters for how well you sleep

Lack of Sleep may Make you Fat!!

2010-05-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

According to Anahed O'Connor in her recent blog article in the New York Times, lack of sleep is associated with weight gain. In a study published this year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a small group of men who slept only 4 hours took in more than 500 extra calories (that's 22%) than those who got 8 hours of shut eye.

A 2009 University of Chicago study had similar findings for both men and women. Subjects in this study took in significantly more calories from snacks and carbs after 5 1/2 hours than after 8 1/2 hours of sleep. I don't know about you, but I definitely crave carbohydrate rich foods when I don't sleep well.

O'Connor goes on to say that some studies blame hormones, aruging that decreased sleep creates increased ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite and a decrease in leptin, which signals fullness. However, more study is needed.

The Bottom Line: Don't skimp on sleep and avoid carbs and snacks at bedtime if you don't want to gain weight (and you'll also probably be happier too!!)

Bucky Questions and Answers

2010-01-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

There is some useful information on Bucky's website that I thought would be worth sharing. Some people who enjoy Bucky products don't know a lot about how they're made or how eco friendly they are so I thought I'd post an abbreviated version of the FAQ's for your reading pleasure and educational benefit.

Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers) about Bucky's Wonderful Products:

What's inside my Bucky?
Bucky uses only natural grain fillings in its pillows. Your pillow may be filled with whole buckwheat, buckwheat hulls, millet hulls, flax seeds or other botanicals.

Can I microwave my Bucky?
Bucky’s travel, kids, and bed pillows are designed to provide unsurpassed comfort without heating, and can not be microwaved.
Bucky’s spa and gift items, which includes the Neckwrap, Bodywrap, Heartwarmer, HotWaterBottle, Serena, Eyelove and the kids' Woopsise are designed for hot and cold therapy. They contain whole buckwheat seeds, without zippers or metal parts and can be safely microwaved. However, please do not heat the aromatherapy sachets. The essential oils used to scent the sachet can cause the Hottie to burn in the microwave. For best results, tuck the aromatherapy sachet into the Hottie after it is heated.
*Please read and carefully follow all heating/chilling instructions.

Are buckwheat hulls hypo-allergenic?
Yes! Less than .016% of people have a reaction to buckwheat hull pillows. That's 1 in 6000.

How do I clean my Bucky?
Read and carefully follow the care instructions found on packaging or on the care label sewn to the pillow. NEVER wash any grain or grain hull filling.

Does Bucky use buckwheat hulls that are sprayed with pesticides?
Bucky’s buckwheat hulls are pesticide and herbicide free, as these are not needed when farming buckwheat. No chemicals or radiation are used in the cleaning of the hulls.

Why does Bucky use buckwheat hulls?
Buckwheat hulls are lightweight and durable and adjust easily to fit the contours of your body. Their unique triangular shape allows the hulls to lock together to provide firm, even, restful support. Buckwheat hulls allow constant air circulation through the pillow, keeping you cool and dry. Those with allergies to feathers or synthetics will appreciate buckwheat's hypo-allergenic nature. Unlike other pillow fillings, buckwheat hulls (and millet hulls!) do not compress under pressure which reduces stress on your head and neck. Best of all, buckwheat is natural AND environmentally friendly.

Why does Bucky use millet hulls?
Millet is best known as bird seed in America, but this tiny, nutritious grain is eaten daily by many cultures. Milling millet releases the half-spherical hulls from the seed. The hulls are smooth and durable, able to support the weight of your head without losing shape. They're quiet and slightly heat conserving. Like buckwheat, millet is hypo-allergenic. Millet hulls are also rich in silicic acid which, when released through body heat, can soothe muscle pain, stimulate the metabolism and improve the immune system.

Will the fillings break down?
Buckwheat hulls, millet hulls, and flax seeds are durable and will give years of exquisite comfort with normal use of your pillow.

Rave Reviews

2009-08-27T18:02:00.000-07:00

I've written before about Bucky sleep masks. I discovered them when we moved into our dream home only to discover that light from the the ever so charming vintage street lamp out front seeped in through the windows keeping me awake. But once I discovered Bucky masks, like a charm I fell into deep and restful sleep every night. I even decided to start a sleep business so that others could also experience quality sleep on a consistent basis.

So when I ran across this review from a satisfied customer, I smiled and thought maybe you would too.

Oh, Heavenly Bucky. How do I love thee? I swear, if I come in to a pile of money, I shall buy one of these for everyone I love.

What is it? A sleep mask. With earplugs. And a special pocket in the mask to store the earplugs in it. Sounds pretty regular, doesn't it. No way, Jose. This might be the key to my sanity. I know that my bedroom doesn't get as dark as I'd like it, certainly not as dark as 'they' say we need it to be while we sleep- pitch black. Well, with my fabulous mask, I could sleep in the middle of a lighting store!

The mask itself is beautifully designed- it's neoprene or some squishy foam, has a sheet of stiff-ish (but not stiff, honest.) something in it, to help block light completely. It's also got an ingenious stuffed puffy ridge thing along the bottom, that both holds the mask up off your eyes (therefore not scrinching your eyelashes or ruining your makeup), AND blocks all light-bleed that inevitably comes up the gap between your nose and cheek! Gorgeous.
The strap fits comfortably, snugly but not too tight. Wide enough to really keep the thing on my head. The earplug pocket is the piece de resistance, really. No detail left ignored. A perfect 10.

The first night I slept with my bucky mask, I thought to myself, 'well, if it sucks, I'll return it and get my $25 back.' Now each night i think to myself that I'd pay for it every night again, if I had to. It's that good. I sleep better than I have in years with this mask on. Who knew that darkness was the key to good sleep? Okay, 'they' did. And now I do.

- Cristina

Dim the lights please

2009-08-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

It seems like everyday there's something in the news about sleep. Here are some great tips from Monday's San Francisco Chronicle. I especially like the one about avoiding bright light up to 3 hours before going to bed -- that means no more late evening workouts at the gym for me if I want to fall asleep easily.

Stanford's Dr. Clete Kushida, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, who has worked in the field of sleep research since 1977, offers these tips to a better night's sleep:

Maintain a regular schedule, getting to bed and rising at the same time as consistently as possible each day, selecting the number of hours of sleep that make you feel best, whether it's seven hours or 10.

Use bright light within five minutes of waking, for 30 minutes, to synchronize your internal clock.

Avoid bright light two to three hours before bedtime, which delays sleep onset. If you read, get just enough light to read and avoid halogen.

Avoid remaining in bed if you can't sleep. After 20 minutes, if you can't sleep or fall back asleep, go into another room and do something else until you feel drowsy.

Avoid reading or watching TV in bed (especially thriller novels or action shows) unless it makes you drowsy.

Avoid napping, unless you nap every day at the same time for the same amount of time or you are tired and about to get behind the wheel of a car.

Read the whole article here.

To learn more about insomnia, you can read Stanford Professor Dr. Rachel Manber's paper here.

2009-01-13T19:33:00.000-08:00

Bucky Hotties Body Wraps: Moist heat for the winter blues

2009-01-05T22:17:00.000-08:00

If it's cold where you are, Bucky body wraps are the answer. Moist heat radiates from the buckwheat warmed in the microwave, and these wraps save you money on your heating bills this winter too. What more could you ask for?

From Connie, soon to be owner of a Bucky buckwheat body wrap:

Thanks very much! We were in Soldotna at Christmas time, and the only Buckys I could find were the ones you can't put in the microwave. What's up with that?! I have the neck pillow, and it's grand. Grandma is 82 now, and when it's -22 in Alaska, you need all the heat you can get!

Bucky's 40 Blinks Sleep Mask Rated #1

2009-01-05T17:11:00.000-08:00

Bucky's 40 Blinks Rated #1:
Top Products to Block Light and Noise

The secret is out!!! Bucky's great little 40 Blinks Sleep Mask was recently rated #1 by Good Housekeeping. Bucky 40 Blinks sleep mask earned the highest score for its contoured shape (which let testers blink comfortably) and its adjustable velcro strap.

Read the whole article here.

Blocking out light and noise is essential for a good night's sleep; many uncontrollable elements like light and noise can keep you awake at night. So Good Housekeeping also rated contoured masks and flush to the face masks with soft padded lining as top of the line products that will get you counting sheep in no time.

Sleep masks have been the biggest sleep saver of all for me. Now all I have to do is lay my head on the pillow, drown out streeet noise with earplugs, and slip my sleep mask over my head, and I'm asleep in no time flat.

10 Reasons Not to Skimp on Sleep

2008-11-11T20:27:00.000-08:00

This is a great article from U.S News and World Report published October 16, 2008 summarizing ten reasons why good sleep is important for your health.

By Sarah Baldauf
Posted October 16, 2008

You may literally have to add it to your to-do list, but scheduling a good night's sleep could be one of the smartest health priorities you set. It's not just daytime drowsiness you risk when shortchanging yourself on your seven to eight hours. Possible health consequences of getting too little or poor sleep can involve the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and nervous systems. In addition to letting life get in the way of good sleep, between 50 and 70 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder—insomnia or sleep apnea, say—that affects daily functioning and impinges on health. Consider the research:

1) Less may mean more. For people who sleep under seven hours a night, the fewer zzzz's they get, the more obese they tend to be, according to a 2006 Institute of Medicine report. This may relate to the discovery that insufficient sleep appears to tip hunger hormones out of whack. Leptin, which suppresses appetite, is lowered; ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, gets a boost.

2) You're more apt to make bad food choices. A study published this week in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that people with obstructive sleep apnea or other severely disordered breathing while asleep ate a diet higher in cholesterol, protein, total fat, and total saturated fat. Women were especially affected.

3) Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance, its precursor, may become more likely. A 2005 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people getting five or fewer hours of sleep each night were 2.5 times more likely to be diabetic, while those with six hours or fewer were 1.7 times more likely.

4) The ticker is put at risk. A 2003 study found that heart attacks were 45 percent more likely in women who slept for five or fewer hours per night than in those who got more.

5) Blood pressure may increase. Obstructive sleep apnea, for example, has been associated with chronically elevated daytime blood pressure, and the more severe the disorder, the more significant the hypertension, suggests the 2006 IOM report. Obesity plays a role in both disorders, so losing weight can ease associated health risks.

6) Auto accidents rise. As stated in a 2007 report in the New England Journal of Medicine, nearly 20 percent of serious car crash injuries involve a sleepy driver—and that's independent of alcohol use.

7) Balance is off. Older folks who have trouble getting to sleep, who wake up at night, or are drowsy during the day could be 2 to 4.5 times more likely to sustain a fall, found a 2007 study in the Journal of Gerontology.

8) You may be more prone to depression. Adults who chronically operate on fumes report more mental distress, depression, and alcohol use. Adolescents suffer, too: One survey of high school students found similarly high rates of these issues. Middle schoolers, too, report more symptoms of depression and lower self-esteem.

9) Kids may suffer more behavior problems. Research from an April issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine found that children who are plagued by insomnia, short duration of sleeping, or disordered breathing with obesity, for example, are more likely to have behavioral issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

10) Death's doorstep may be nearer. Those who get five hours or less per night have approximately 15 percent greater risk of dying—regardless of the cause—according to three large population-based studies published in the journals Sleep and the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Related News

3 Ways to Get Better Sleep and Improve Your Health
Kids and Sleep: They Need More
The Athlete's Legal Performance Aid: Sleep

Bedroom Makeovers for Better Sleep

2008-06-05T18:23:00.000-07:00

Makeover mania continues to sweep our country. It seems everyone is looking for ways to enhance their living space. As the makeover trend grows, it seems the bedroom is often neglected in lieu of updating more "public" areas of the home. However, the bedroom environment has a major impact on the quality and quantity of sleep. Improving it should be a top priority!

The bedroom should be the most luxurious and personal space in your home - a soothing oasis that is conducive to relaxation and indulgent comfort. And creating a personal sleep sanctuary that will meet your needs for rest and rejuvenation is easier than you may think.

I have been working on making my bedroom more serene and inviting. I plan to post some pictures as soon as I get a little further along. The experts are right, for the sleep-obsessed and sleep-challenged, the sleep environment makes all the difference in the world -- whether you the restful, rejuvenating sleep you need and deserve, or wake up after a fitful night feeling tired and out of sorts.

While I was working on making my bedroom environment more relaxing I found some great resources for bedroom makeovers.

Women -- Are you Counting Sheep Too Often?

2008-01-23T20:49:00.000-08:00

This article from Johns Hopkins University is a great summary of common sleep related problems and solutions.

Most women have bouts of insomnia-the failure to fall asleep or stay asleep or both-at some point in their lives. I recall the experience of one woman I knew: Several weeks before her wedding, she began a nightly ritual of lying awake for hours, followed by hours of tossing and turning until at last she would become exhausted and fall asleep. This pattern left her little time for restful sleep.

Fortunately, my friend was able to return to her normal sleeping pattern after the big day. This type of anxiety-induced sleeplessness is a classic and straightforward case of short-term insomnia, and so an ideal candidate for those well advertised sleeping pills.

Many women, however, have prolonged difficulties achieving good sleep. As mothers, students, caretakers, and professionals, many of us lead hectic lives, filled with both obvious and subtler stressors that are on our minds as we attempt to settle into sleep. The sheer numbers of over-the-counter and prescription sleep aids give you an idea of how widespread insomnia is today.

But the problem with these sleep aids is that even though they induce drowsiness, they do not promote real sleep - deep, lasting, and refreshing. And some of these agents, if taken over the course of months may lead to dependency or stop working altogether. Don't be surprised if your physician is not inclined to prescribe them.

Fortunately, there are many measures besides popping pills that you can use to improve your chances of getting a good night's sleep. Here are a few:

Acknowledge your stressors. Consider transferring that list of items swirling around in your head at night onto a sheet of paper. This will help you feel as if you've gotten started with your tasks and let you get some rest.

Exercise regularly. It may seem counterintuitive, but upping your level of activity during the evening, when you think you're wiped out, will help you to gain a second wind and probably to sleep better when you do retire. Avoid caffeine after mid-day. Be wary, too, of sodas and teas, which often contain caffeine as well.

Go to bed when you're tired. Don't spend time staring at the ceiling and worrying about how you simply must get some sleep. Get up, do something relaxing in another room, and return to bed when you're ready.

Learn relaxation techniques. Consciously attend to your breathing; imagine being in your favorite place (think: "Calgon, take me away!"); relax your muscles, scanning your body from head to toe - Pilates and yoga classes often teach these skills.

Maintain a routine. Changing your sleep schedule dramatically on Friday and Saturday nights can lead to a shift in your circadian rhythm that carries into the following week. Consider melatonin. This hormone is a natural sleep aid. It appears to work particularly well for those who have trouble staying asleep, even though they may easily fall asleep. A dose of 0.3 mg nightly is recommended.

Talk with your doctor about your sleep troubles if they persist. Pain, snoring, frequent nighttime urination, or symptoms of anxiety or depression should be further assessed and may respond to other treatments.

© 2007 Johns Hopkins University. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.joyfulsleep.com/

What's the best kept secret in in your personal "sleep kit"?

2007-12-03T20:07:00.000-08:00

By far the one thing that's made the most difference in the quality of my sleep has been using a sleep mask. I'm still amazed at how fast I fall asleep when I slip that soft little sleep mask over my eyes.

It used to be that my husband had to turn out the lights at the same time I did, or else go to bed hours later, so that he wouldn't disturb my sleep. If I had to get up especially early, I'd make him sleep on the guest bed so that he wouldn't wake me up when he came into bed. I've been such a neurotic sleeper over the years!! But that one simple improvement, the padded, completely light blocking sleep mask has been enormously successful in allowing me to get a good night's sleep. These days my husband can read for as long as he wants after I've fallen asleep. Or he can come into bed, turn on the light, rustle around in the bedroom, and I don't wake up!!!

Exercise is the second greatest tool in my sleep kit. Most of our days are activity filled to be sure, but often contain precious little demanding physical activity. You have to get your body tired too, and the only way to do that is through exercise. People often tell me that they don't have time to exercise. I always wonder how they have time NOT to exercise. To quote one of my favorite books, "The Seven Habits of Higthly Effective People, exercise is one of those highly leveraged, "Quadrant II" activities. In Covey's words,

"What one thing could you do in your personal and professional life that, if you did on a regular basis, would make a tremendous positive difference in your life? Quadrant II activities have that kind of impact. Our effectiveness takes quantum leaps when we do them."

40 Blinks, Winkin' and Nod

2007-10-25T15:36:00.000-07:00

Winkin, Blinkin and Nod. Remember that nursery rhyme? About the misty sea, nets of silver and gold, twinkling foam of the sea, rivers of crystal light? It just takes a wink and a nod and you'll be off to sleep with Bucky's light-as-sea-foam mask.

40 Blinks is the name of Bucky's ultra lightweight premium quality foam mask. You can use it to darken the room while sleeping, or to get a quick catnap. It's also great to use while snoozing on the plane.

Talk about great colors -- it comes in some really upbeat colors like fuschia and ebony, which is actually a black and white floral pattern. It also comes in basic black, always a classic choice.

You'll love how light it is on your face. It's contoured so it doesn't even touch your eyes.

Enjoy the full rhyme Winkin' Blinkin' and Nod. It may well take you way back, as it did me, to that time when sleep came as easily as counting to three.

2007-10-04T10:10:00.001-07:00

JoyfulSleep SimplySleep Blog Launch

2007-10-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

Like many people, I've struggled with sleep for most of my life. At times it's become an obsession. I've worried about it, counted the hours I slept, counted the hours I didn’t sleep. I've tried all kinds of things to improve the quality of my sleep, some have worked really well, some haven't worked at all.

I started this blog about all things sleep for many reasons. To be a place for people to access useful and credible information about sleep and how to improve the quality of their sleep. To find resources you can use to know if you may have a sleep disorder. To share information with fellow sleep-obsessers about what works and what doesn't and why. To to provide information on natural remedies for sleep problems. To share quality information about dreams and dreaming. And to be a place tell your own sleep stories.

In the coming weeks I will be posting on all kinds of sleep related topics. I invite you to join me on this journey -- my first foray into the blogosphere -- and make it a rich and interactive one for all.

After all, a day well lived deserves a joyful sleep.

Do Sleep Masks Really Work?

2007-10-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

Well, I have to say that they do for me. I discovered my first mask, a lightweight, silky number, while shopping in a beauty supply store. We had just moved into our Spanish Revival house circa 1927. I loved eveverything about that house, with one exception – it sits on a very busy street with a streetlight in front. I’d always wanted one of those old fashioned street lights, just not in front of my house shining in my windows keeping me awake at night.

It did help to replace the disintegrating thin shades with wooden shutters but they still didn’t keep out all of the light. I used the silk masks for a while but they didn't hold up very well and I had to keep replacing them. Then I found Bucky sleep masks. They are absolutely fabulous sleep masks. My favorite is Bucky Shades which is soft cotton with a velour exterior. It's padded inside around the eyes so that it completely blocks out all light.

Here's a diagram of the Shades mask:

Bucky also makes a lighter foam mask called 40 Blinks which I will write about next.

Bucky Shades Sleep Mask Diagram