The Connection Between Goals & Better Sleep, Part 4: Implementing a Step-by-Step Plan of Action

Posted on February 19, 2015February 19, 2015 by Joey Donovan-Guido

Now that we have a clear understanding of what our goals are, it’s time to set a plan of action to attain them. Often times, once someone’s clarified their goals, it becomes apparent that there is a huge chasm between where they are and where they want to be. And that’s OK.

Bite-sized Steps

The problem arises when we start to look at leaping across this chasm in one fell swoop — which is typically impossible, unless your goal is very small. Instead, let’s look at breaking down your goal attainment into bite-sized steps that will have you consistently moving forward without getting frustrated.

What we’re really talking about is keeping each step in the process manageable. Sure, outside forces may cause obstacles, setbacks and frustration. But setting steps that are manageable helps diminish these things.

Let’s be clear about something before we move forward. Manageable does not mean comfortable, so don’t be surprised if your bite-sized steps make you feel uneasy. Discomfort is not necessarily an indication that you’re trying to do too much, it just means you’ve left your comfort zone — which is good. This is the only way you will fulfill your potential in life. The key ingredient here is to give yourself a step-by-step plan of action that you can handle. If it turns out to be too much, or too little, make the necessary adjustments.

Everybody has different limits, so don’t get caught up in comparing yourself to others. Instead, learn what works for you and what doesn’t, and do your best every day. Remember, most people can’t eat an entire pizza in one bite. We all eat pizza by the slice, one bite at a time — but we all take different sized bites, right?

How to Create a Step-by-Step Plan of Action

Although everybody’s plan is different, there are some high-level strategies everybody can do to get a clear plan in place. We learned these strategies from a man named Zig Ziglar, and they work whether you’re looking to reduce neck and shoulder pain, create an incredibly supportive pillow, or grow your business. Mr. Ziglar was an expert on goals, and this process has worked for thousands of people.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

First, identify EXACTLY what you desire. We talked about this in Part 3 of this series.
Spell out the exact reason(s) why you’d like to reach these goals. In other words what’s driving you to accomplish them?
Identify the obstacles you need to overcome in order to get there. These can include actual current obstacles, as well as potential obstacles that may arise.
Identify the people, groups and organizations you need to work with to get there. For example, do you need to go back to school, or join local networking groups? Or maybe you just need to find a good physical therapist?
Identify what you need to know (learn) in order to reach these goals.
Once you have steps 1 through 5 answered, write down your plan of action. First do it on a global level (the big steps), then begin to break down each big step into several bite-sized steps. This is your road map, and no detial is too small.
Finally, set a date on it. When do you expect to get there? If you don’t set a date, you will be in a perpetual state of limbo with no actual deadline (people respond to deadlines)!

Create Mantras & Remain Mindful

Creating a short mantra for each of your goals is a good way to remain mindful of them. The more mindful you are about something, the more likely you are to act in alignment with what you are thinking about.

For instance, something as simple as, “I wake up free of any and all neck pain,” can be a great catalyst to actually manifesting this reality. What do you need to do for this to actually happen? Get a better pillow or mattress? Exercise more, or possibly less? Get more massage?

The Goal of Better Sleep

So how do we set a step-by-step plan of action into place for better sleep? Although a lot of it can be trial and error, following the suggestions in our article, Five Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep is a good place to start. We also have articles that address Managing Stress for Better Sleep, and Regulating Your Sleep/Wake Cycle for Better Sleep. Sometimes, simple changes can make a world of difference. Of course, speaking with your healthcare professional is also a good idea if you’re experiencing chronic sleep issues.

Thank you for visiting Natural Comfort Pillow! We wish you the best in setting your step-by-step plan of action and attaining your goals.

You may also like:

The Connection between Goals & Sleep, Part 1: How to Sleep Better

The Connection Between Goals & Better Sleep, Part 2: Discovering Your Goals

The Connection Between Goals & Better Sleep, Part 3: Clearly Defining Your Goals

Posted on February 11, 2015February 19, 2015 by Joey Donovan-Guido

Have you ever tried driving somewhere new without directions? These days, all we need to do is enter an address into a maps app on our smart phone, and step-by-step directions detailing how to get from where we are, to where we want to be, are instantly available.

But could you imagine making a cross country trip from New York to Los Angeles just by pointing your car toward the west? Without an exact address, your GPS cannot plan a step-by-step route to get you exactly where you want to go (we’ll talk more about a step-by-step plan of action in Part 4 of this series). Let’s say you’re trying to get to Rivera, one of Los Angeles’ more popular restaurants, simply by entering “Los Angeles” in your GPS. There’s a good chance you’d never find it. Instead, how about we enter 1050 S Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90015? Now we know exactly how to get there.

It’s the same with goals. “Kind of” knowing what our goals are is not enough. The more clearly defined they are, the better chance we have in attaining them.

How to Clearly Define Goals

For example, let’s say your goal is to be a doctor. What kind of doctor do you want to be? A general physician, OBGYN, pediatrician, or maybe a veterinarian? Once that’s clarified, you’ll have to decide which school you want to attend. Is it a large universtiy that will impress potential employers after you graduate? Or is it a universtiy that has an exemplary program that’s in your area of interest?

These are only a couple of the questions you may encounter when defining your goals. You may not have the answers to all of these questions, and that’s OK. The point is to acknowledge them and then investigate until you have your answer.

Here’s what Brian Tracy, a world renowned speaker, has to say about defining our goals …

“Imagine that five years from now your whole life has been made perfect in every respect. Every aspect of your life. All your dreams have been fulfilled. Every goal has been achieved. What would it look like if five years from now your life was ideal in every way?

– Where would you be in five years?
– Who would you be with?
– What would you be doing?
– How well would you be doing it?
– How much would you be earning?
– What kind of home would you live in?
– What would be your level of physical fitness?
– What would your family be like and your relationships?
– How would your children be doing?

If your life were perfect 5-years from now in every respect – what would it look like?”

Powerful questions, for sure. But often times, your answer to some of these questions may be, “I don’t know.” The good news is that if you feel like you don’t know, there’s one more question you can ask yourself that will help: WHAT IF YOU DID KNOW?

Make it hypethetical and see how it feels. Remember, you can always alter something if it doesn’t feel right, but until you get a clear picture of what your future looks like, how can you begin your journey there?

Whether you’re dealing with neck pain, insomnia, or opening your own business, we highly recommend you take some time to think about each of Brian’s questions. In fact, it’s optimal to write them down (or type them up) and answer them with as much detail as possible.

Once you’ve answered all of the questions, and possibly added some of your own, set the document aside for a day or two before revisiting it. Then see if you need to add or delete anything from it. Discuss it with people you trust, but only if you can depend on them to be supportive and positive.

The Goal of Better Sleep

At first glance, clearly defining what better sleep looks like may seem unnecessary. It’s all about sleeping through the night and waking up well-rested, right? But what does a good night’s sleep look like for you? Is your room dark enough? Do you meditate before bed? Avoid bright lights and screen time on your phone or iPad? As you look at your routine, what changes can you make to help yourself sleep more soundly?

Of course, two major players in better sleep are your pillow and your mattress — each of which should be supporting your neck, spine and body while you sleep. If you’re not currently using a supportive pillow, or if you’re waking up with neck or shoulder pain, feel free to peruse our website to learn more about how the Natural Comfort Pillow can help.

Thank you for visiting Natural Comfort Pillow. Until next time, sleep well, and good luck with defining your goals!

You may also like:

The Connection between Goals & Sleep, Part 1: How to Sleep Better

The Connection Between Goals & Better Sleep, Part 2: Discovering Your Goals

The Connection Between Goals & Better Sleep, Part 4: Implementing a Step-by-Step Plan of Action

The Connection between Goals & Sleep, Part 1: How to Sleep Better

Posted on January 15, 2015February 19, 2015 by Joey Donovan-Guido

In our last article, Resolve to Reduce Pain & Live a Happier, More Active Life in 2015, we talked about New Year’s resolutions, which in essence are goals. In this series, we’d like to dive deeper into the connection between goals and sleep, and offer a step-by-step process that can help you sleep better and attain your goals for 2015.

Let’s start off with strategies that can help you sleep better. Without proper sleep, attaining your goals becomes more difficult. And if you’re experiencing sleep deprivation, you’re facing a major obstacle that’s smack in the middle of where you are and where you want to be. And sometimes, better sleep and less pain are the most important goals you can attain!

In a previous post, we talked about 5 Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep, which include setting a schedule of when you go to sleep and when you wake up, staying physically active during the day, creating a bedtime ritual and being mindful about what you eat close to bedtime.

Another tip we covered is making sure you’re comfortable in bed. It’s one of the easiest things to do — if you know what to look for. But the kind of comfort we’re talking about here goes beyond comfy PJs and a soft down feather pillow. As a matter of fact, that soft feather (or foam) pillow may be doing you more harm than good.

Sure, down feathers and foam are soft, and we associate soft with comfort, but what your body craves when you lay down to sleep is support — especially in the head, neck and back areas.

Whether you’re a world-class athlete, or simply suffering from neck or shoulder pain, the trick to getting a good night’s sleep is alleviating the tension in your neck, shoulders and back. Once the tension is alleviated, muscles have the chance to relax, which can help speed training recovery in athletes and lower pain, stiffness and soreness in anyone who uses the Natural Comfort Pillow.

And with less pain, comes a much better opportunity for better sleep.

With such busy lives, it’s often a challenge just to get through the day. Add in the initiative to attain one or more goals, and good sleep becomes a critical component to succeeding. We encourage you to read more of our articles on improving sleep (see the “Better Sleep” category in the right-hand sidebar), and to explore the Natural Comfort Pillow website to gain a better understanding on how our pillow works and what types of issues it can help resolve. In addition to diminishing neck and shoulder pain, our supportive pillow also helps align your spine and can help with snoring, sleep apnea and more!

In our next installment of The Connection Between Goals & Sleep, we’ll be talking about how to discover and clearly define your goals.

Until then, sleep well!

You may also like:

The Connection Between Goals & Better Sleep, Part 2: Discovering Your Goals

The Connection Between Goals & Better Sleep, Part 3: Clearly Defining Your Goals

The Connection Between Goals & Better Sleep, Part 4: Implementing a Step-by-Step Plan of Action

Resolve to Reduce Pain & Live a Happier, More Active Life in 2015

Posted on January 8, 2015January 8, 2015 by Joey Donovan-Guido

Have you been suffering from chronic pain in your neck, shoulders or back? There’s no better time than now to make a few simple New Year’s resolutions that can help reduce that pain, and put you in a position to lead a happier, more active life.

What is a New Year’s Resolution?
We’ve all heard of resolutions before, but what exactly to they mean? Many people treat their resolutions as a wish list, but then never do anything to follow up on making their New Year’s resolutions a reality. We’re going to be honest with you: if you want to reduce pain in your neck, shoulders or back, you’re going to have to take action on making things better. Sure, pain reliever can make your discomfort bearable, but it’s not a solution.

The good news is that there are plenty easy strategies you can add to your life that can provide a lot of help. That being said, let’s take a look at a handful of New Year’s resolutions that you can implement to reduce pain in 2015 and beyond …

Physical Activity
There are a broad variety of physical activities that can help reduce pain. Your interests and physical ability should drive the type of activities you choose. Yoga is an excellent, low-impact, activity that both strengthens and stretches the body, and there are specific yoga positions that help reduce neck pain. Running, walking and cycling are also excellent choices, but keep in mind that any of these may exacerbate pain. Of course, you can also go the gym, but be sure to avoid overworking a muscle group that’s already causing you discomfort.

One of the main ways physical activity helps with neck, shoulder and back pain is by bringing additional blood flow to these areas. Something as simple as a stretching regimen each day can help you loosen up those tight muscles.

Eat Better, Drink More Water
A common New Year’s resolution is to eat better. But you might be wondering how eating better can help reduce pain. For starters, without enough water, your muscles are more likely to become tight. You’re also more likely to get headaches. In addition to drinking water, eating foods that are water-rich — like fruits and veggies — can help. Plus you’ll get the benefits of the nutrients these foods provide. Including foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, calcium, vitamin D and magnesium can also help reduce neck pain. In essence, we’re asking you to eat whole, fresh foods as opposed to junk food. If you are performing some form of exercise, it’s also important to make sure you’re eating enough protein to help your muscles recuperate.

Meditate
Meditating more is an excellent New Year’s resolution for many reasons. When it comes to reducing neck pain, meditation can help reduce your stress level. And since stress causes muscles to tense up — especially in the neck and shoulder region — reducing it with meditation is a good way to help keep muscles from tightening. Learn more about how to manage stress.

Get a Better Pillow
One of the main reasons we make the Natural Comfort Pillow is to help people reduce pain so they can lead happier, more active lives. Through the support of our pillow, muscles in the neck shoulders and back are more likely to relax during sleeping hours instead of tensing up because they’re out of alignment. Our pillow also helps align your spine, making it the easiest way to reduce neck, shoulder and back pain. All you have to do is get a good nights sleep!

Learn more about how our pillow can help reduce neck and shoulder pain.

Thank you for visiting Natural Comfort Pillow!

Simple Ways to Reduce Neck Pain

Posted on December 25, 2014December 25, 2014 by Joey Donovan-Guido

Have you ever seen someone use a bow and arrow? There’s a tremendous amount of tensile pressure involved in pulling back the bowstring before the arrow is released. In order for the arrow to hit its mark accurately, the bowstring has to be incredibly tight.

Those of us with chronic neck pain can identify with this, because that’s often what a tense neck feels like — pressure, pain, tightness.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of strategies to reduce neck pain and help loosen up a tense neck.

Get a Massage
In addition to helping relieve stress, a good massage is an excellent way to reduce neck pain and improve mobility. Make sure you go to an experienced professional. They’ll cost more, but the benefits you receive will be worth it. There are times that neck pain is caused by muscle issues in different parts of your body, including the back. Neck pain can also be caused by the tightening of your body’s fascia, which is a thin layer of tissue that runs throughout your entire body, covering your muscles and organs.

Stretch or Practice Yoga
Another way to combat tight muscles and tight fascia is to stretch or practice yoga regularly. To follow are some simple stretches and exercises you can perform during the day …

The TV Stretch
Retract your shoulder blades by sitting on the edge of your chair. Next, lengthen your spine, extending it as if you were growing taller. Put your hands on your lap and gently move your shoulders back, “pinching” your shoulder blades together. Hold for about 30 seconds, and remember not to overdo it. Repeat at least one more time.

Mimic a Turtle
If you’ve been sitting at your computer or driving for more than 45 minutes, this is an excellent strategy to help reduce neck pain. When in either of these seated positions for too long, most people tend to project their heads forward toward the computer screen or windshield. When a person does this, it puts stress on the back of the neck (remember your brain and skull are about ten pounds). In addition to neck pain, this can also cause headaches, which of course cause neck pain, too.

The turtle technique strengthens your neck and back muscles, and helps you form a new sitting habit with better posture. When typing or driving, think of yourself as a turtle “retracting” your head into your shell. Keep a level chin, move your head back and flatten the curve in the back of your neck. Hold this position for about 5 seconds, and repeat 10 times. When retracting your neck, do not retract down into your shoulders, as that will compress your neck. Instead keep your shoulders relaxed and remember not to force anything when performing the turtle technique.

Neck Roll
Although you can’t make a sandwich on it, you’ll enjoy the neck roll just the same. Simply, and gently, drop your chin to your chest, and slowly roll your neck to the left, to the back, and then to the right and back down in a smooth motion. Repeat in the opposite direction. Remember to keep your body straight when doing this, and not to lean into the neck roll with your shoulders or upper torso. Continue rolling one way and then the other until your neck feels more loose.

Use a Supportive Pillow
Most people have grown accustomed to sleeping on foam pillows, or even down feather pillows that offer no support. Using a pillow like the Natural Comfort Pillow helps relax the muscles of the neck to reduce tension, which reduces neck pain. And with less neck pain comes better sleep. Our pillow helps keep your spine in alignment, too!

Although these strategies can help reduce neck pain, it’s always a good idea to speak with a medical professional before embarking on any type of new exercise regimen, or if you’re experiencing chronic neck pain.

Learn more about how our pillow can help with neck pain and help you sleep better.

Thank you for visiting Natural Comfort Pillow!

Yoga Can Help with Neck Pain Issues

Posted on December 10, 2014December 10, 2014 by Joey Donovan-Guido

Most people know that yoga is an excellent way to improve one’s health. It provides the body with low-impact exercise that can increase strength, flexibility and improve one’s state of mind (much like meditation).

But did you know there are specific yoga poses that can help with neck pain? Plus, there are certain yoga poses, like savasana, which require neck support to ensure your muscles can relax instead of tensing up. Let’s take a look at some neck-friendly yoga poses and some easy ways to support your neck while you do yoga — and while you sleep!

Yoga Exercises the Strengthen the Neck
We’ve put together some of our favorite yoga poses that strengthen and stretch the neck. If you frequent yoga classes, you can also speak with your instructor for additional poses and tips on your form. Please be advised, that although these yoga exercises can help with neck pain, they do not replace the care of a medical professional.

Breathing & Posture
Let’s start with an easy one, which isn’t really a yoga pose, but is extremely helpful all the same. Breathing deeply and mindfully is an effective way to relieve neck tension, which can be a cause of neck pain. Shallow breathing causes neck muscles to contract, while deep breathing moves the contractions into the diaphragm where it belongs. It can also help relax your body as a whole, and help bring composure to your mind.

While breathing deeply into your diaphragm, focus on your chest and collarbones. Be sure to broaden the collarbones, which in turn will raise your chest, helping your body align. Check shoulder blades and be sure to relax them if they’e raised towards your ears.

With posture, make sure your chair and desk at work are ergonomically correct. We’ve got some tips for this, as well as how to improve your posture while standing and walking in our article, Tips for Better Spine Alignment.

Savasana (Corpse Pose)
Another simple pose, all that savasana requires is for you place your body in a neutral, supine position. In other words, lie on the floor. Adjust your back and neck until they are straight, hands facing upward at your side, and your feet slightly apart. In order to accomplish the neutral position, you will need support for the head and neck. Our pillow does an excellent job of this, and is perfect for yoga.

Cat Pose & Cow Pose
With cat pose, the first think you’ll need to do is get on your hands and knees. Use a yoga mat if you have one. Then, exhale while rounding your spine towards the ceiling, gently bringing your head in toward the chest. Cow pose is a “continuation” of cat pose. Simply inhale as you drop your belly towards the mat. Lift your chin and chest, and gaze up toward the ceiling. Sequentially continue these two poses for a couple of minutes.

Downward Dog at the Wall
Face a wall, and place your hands on the wall at waist height. Take small steps backward into a “table top” position. Your feet should be directly under your hips. Lift your sitting bones towards the sky and press your hands towards the wall. If your hamstrings feel too much tension from the stretch, it’s a good idea to bend your knees slightly. Hold the position for six long, deep breaths, while putting your attention on opening the chest and lengthening your spine.

The Clock (Pec Stretch)
Another good yoga pose that can help with neck pain is the pectoral stretch. First, stand along side a wall with your right hand pointing in the 12 o’clock position (arm should be straight, touching the wall). In slow motion, move your hand from from the 12 to 3 o’clock position. Take your left hand and place it on the right side of your rib cage. Breathe in deeply, and as you exhale “pull” the rib cage forward without moving the right arm. Your front, right shoulder should feel the stretch, or possibly down your right arm. Hold for six deep breaths. Once done, repeat the pose on the other side of your body. If you experience any tingling in either arm, move away from the wall until the sensation goes away, or stop the pose immediately.

The more you do these poses, the better off your neck will be! Another way to easily reduce neck pain is to use a supportive pillow …

Support While You’re Sleeping
Just as in the savasana pose, The Natural Comfort Pillow supports the neck, as well as spine alignment, while you sleep. Even better, it works for back- and side-lying sleepers. Supporting the neck while you sleep can go a long way in loosening muscles instead of them tightening up. Learn more about how our pillow.

What is Insomnia?

Posted on November 24, 2014November 24, 2014 by Joey Donovan-Guido

If you suffer from insomnia, you know how frustrating and debilitating it can be. Of course, everyone experiences a restless night here and there, but when it’s constant the need for a solution becomes critical to one’s overall health and happiness. Let’s clearly define what insomnia is, and in doing so help you determine whether or not you might be suffering from it.

INSOMNIA DEFINED
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 30 percent of adults experience sleep disruption of some kind, and insomnia is more common than you may think.

Insomnia sufferers fall into two main categories: those who have difficulty falling asleep, and those who have difficulty staying asleep. Adults who struggle with insomnia may also wake up several times each night, or wake up too early in the morning feeling tired.

In addition, insomnia may only occur occasionally, or can be an ongoing problem.

Acute Insomnia does not last long. It typically occurs in association with a stressful or big event, like a job change, job loss, final exam or getting married. And although many people experience this type of insomnia, it often resolves itself without any formal treatment.

Chronic insomnia typically occurs a minimum of three nights per week for a minimum of three months. There are many factors that can cause chronic insomnia, including unhealthy sleep habits, 2^nd or 3^rd shift work, certain types of medication, as well as neck and shoulder pain. Sufferers of chronic insomnia can often benefit from treatment that addresses the underlying causes of their sleep disorder.

Common Insomnia Symptoms

Fatigue
Low energy
Difficulty concentrating
Mood disturbances
Decreased performance in work or at school

Common Causes of Insomnia

Depression
Anxiety
Stress
Poor sleep habits like watching TV in bed
Stimulants like tobacco, caffeine and alcohol
Neck and shoulder pain

Let’s take a closer look at that last point — neck and shoulder pain. This can have many causes, including overexertion, stress, your pillow and your mattress.

Many people don’t realize that using a non-supportive pillow can be detrimental to spine alignment. In addition, a non-supportive pillow can also cause muscles in the neck and shoulders to tense up causing pain and stiffness, which can lead to insomnia.

The Natural Comfort Pillow can help with both of these issues. Whether you’re a back- or side-lying sleeper, our pillow supports your neck and aligns your spine, helping your body’s muscles relax instead of tense up — helping you sleep better and wake up more refreshed (and less stiff).

Learn more about how our pillow helps with insomnia, as well as how it can relieve neck pain and shoulder pain.

Thank you for visiting Natural Comfort Pillow!

Decreasing Migraines by Improving Neck & Shoulder Health

Posted on November 13, 2014November 13, 2014 by Joey Donovan-Guido

In a recent article, we talked about reducing migraines through diet. This week, we’re going to focus on simple ways to reduce neck and shoulder pain, which often leads to decreased migraines — not to mention a better quality of life. But first, let’s take a quick look at some common causes of neck and shoulder pain …

Common Causes of Neck & Shoulder Pain

Stress or tension, which causes compression of spinal nerves (known as a “pinched nerve”)
Arthritis
A herniated disk
Muscle strain caused by overuse (sports- or labor-related)
Any kind trauma injury
Shoulder instability (joint slippage in and out of sockets)
Poor posture when sitting or standing
Spinal misalignment when sleeping (caused by use of a non-supportive pillow)

Reducing Neck & Shoulder Pain
One of the easiest ways realize better neck and shoulder health is by using a supportive pillow. In addition to reducing pain, a supportive pillow can also help you sleep better. This combination of proper support, which aligns the spine, and better sleep is a highly effective way to reduce migraine occurrences.

How Our Pillow Helps

For Back-lying Sleepers: A multi-bolster system, created by leading Australian physiotherapists, cradles the neck for proper spine alignment
For Side-lying Sleepers: The non-bolster side of our pillow supports your shoulder while maintaining spinal alignment
With proper spine alignment, your muscles are in a position where they can relax, instead of being tensed up, which helps decrease the occurrence of pain and migraines
Migraines are often triggered by a poor night’s sleep; using a pillow that reduces pain can go a long way in helping you sleep better

Additional Ways to Reduce Neck & Shoulder Pain
Speaking with your doctor is always a good idea when addressing chronic neck or shoulder pain. Seeing a licensed massage therapist, physical therapist, or a chiropractor are also smart strategies. When choosing one of these specialized health professionals, look for experience and a proven track record, as opposed to who’s offering the best price. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for.

Stretching and exercise are also two options that help reduce neck and shoulder pain. But if you’re in pain, it may be difficult to stretch or exercise without causing more pain. Again, forming a plan with a health professional can assist in helping you feel better, while avoiding further injury or pain.

Aerobic conditioning is often an excellent way to help the neck and shoulders loosen up, reduce pain and increase range of motion. This occurs because aerobic activity increases blood flow to the muscles and soft tissues of the neck and upper back (your whole body, actually). It also helps release endorphins (after approximately 30 minutes of aerobic activity), which naturally reduce pain in the body.

We hope these strategies help reduce pain and improve the quality of your life!

Learn more about how our pillow can help with neck pain and shoulder pain.

What Does Formula One Racing Have in Common with Your Pillow?

Posted on October 20, 2014October 20, 2014 by Joey Donovan-Guido

You may be wondering, what could Formula One Racing possibly have in common with your pillow? The answer to this question depends on what type of pillow you use. If you’re using a typical, department store pillow, probably nothing. But if you’re using a therapeutic pillow, the connection between one of the fastest moving sports in the world and the restful slumber of sleep becomes clear — it’s all about support.

Let’s examine the similarities between some of the gear used in Formula One racing, specifically the driver’s seat and the Head and Neck Support (HANS) system, and the Natural Comfort Pillow.

Formula One Gear that Supports the Head, Neck & Spine

Did you know that those little tiny cockpits in Formula One racecars contain a custom-made seat? At their core, they’re made of a single piece of plastic for the strongest possible support. The next step is adding a custom-made seat cover that’s crafted to fit the exact shape of each driver — it actually molds perfectly around their bodies! This offers stability when driving, as well as support for the entire back.

While the spine is supported by the custom seat, the neck and head are supported and protected by the HANS system. This system includes a carbon fiber shoulder collar that sits under a driver’s safety belts, and is securely connected to his or her helmet with elastic straps. If impact occurs, the straps reduce head movement preventing vertebrae from stretching, and the collar absorbs and redistributes force away from the driver’s skull and neck muscles.

How Our Pillow Supports Your Head Neck & Spine

While the products mentioned above support a person when they’re driving fast, our pillow helps get you up to speed for your day. Speaking of driving, did you know you can use our pillow in the car? Just sit it vertically on our backrest, and the pillow will mould to your back — supporting it much like a custom Formula One seat!

As far as sleeping is concerned, consistently using a supportive pillow like the Natural Comfort Pillow can help with a variety of issues including:

Neck pain
Shoulder pain
Osteoarthritis
Insomnia
Sleep apnea
Snoring
TMJ
Migranes

Support for Back- and Side-sleepers

Here’s a quick overview on how our pillow works for both back- and side-sleepers. Feel free to visit our How this Pillow Helps page for more info.

We understand that when you’re sleeping, you’re not risking your life like a Formula One driver does during a race. The question is, by sleeping on an inferior pillow, how are you affecting your life negatively by not addressing issues lie insomnia or neck pain?

We created the Natural Comfort Pillow because we want to help people lead happier healthier lives. We also want you to be as successful as possible. Being well rested, and reducing pain can make a big difference in the amount of success each of us enjoys.

Since our pillow has an unconditional money-back guarantee, there’s no risk involved in giving it a try. All we ask is that you use the Natural Comfort Pillow for at least 30 days to see how it can improve your quality of life.

Thank you for visiting Natural Comfort Pillow!

Is Your Pillow Causing or Relieving Neck Pain?

Posted on September 23, 2014September 23, 2014 by Joey Donovan-Guido

Not all pillows are created equal. As a matter of fact, some can actually aggravate neck pain, cause headaches, insomnia — and even misalign vertebrae. The good news is that a well-made, supportive pillow has a wealth of health benefits. Let’s examine what goes into the making of a well-made pillow, and what types of benefits it can offer — including proper support of the head and neck, as well as relaxing neck muscles and de-stressing joints.

A well-made, supportive pillow should:

Support the head and neck — in both back- and side-sleeping positions
Relax the muscles of the neck, lessening stress on joints
Mold to your neck and head, with no recoil or spring back
Never stress the joints of the neck
Be comfortable, yet supportive
Be breathable

Benefits of a supportive pillow include:

Relief from neck pain or stiffness, neck injuries, headaches, insomnia and shoulder pain
Improved performance for athletes
Helping vertebrae remain aligned
Improved airflow and blood flow, while reducing breathing obstruction in the throat
A better night’s sleep

Hallmarks of a quality pillow:

A blend of natural down and feathers
100% cotton casing
Bounces and fluffs into shape
Easily conforms to the size and shape of your head and neck (unlike molded foams and rubber)
Feathers and down also “breathe”
Absorbs body moisture

A non-supportive pillow isn’t only less comfortable, it can also have the opposite affect of a supportive pillow. In fact, a non-supportive pillow can exacerbate headaches, neck pain, or any of the conditions we’ve mentioned in this article. Learn More About How Our Pillow Can Help Visit the Natural Comfort Pillow homepage for specific information pertaining to neck pain, shoulder pain, osteoarthritis, insomnia, sleep apnea, snoring, TMJ and migraines. Try our pillow at no risk … When you try our pillow, we want to make sure you’re completely satisfied with your purchase. That’s why we offer a no-risk, 60-day money back guarantee that allows you to return the pillow for any reason. All we ask is that you use your pillow for at least 30 days to allow the feathers and down to mould to your unique neck and head shape — and for you to get accustomed to the special support the Natural Comfort Pillow offers. Thanks for visiting Natural Comfort Pillow!