Written by: Ruby Russell, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Almost 70 million Americans have sleep disorders, with 40% of adults experiencing insomnia. Trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep is a $94 Billion a year problem. Sleep deprivation
Is a commonly known problem. The world is full of books, pills, video’s Ted Talks, and more on sleep deprivation with no clear direction on how to solve it.
There are a lot of myths about sleep, confused as fact, which can make it harder to sleep.
In this article, we will debunk some of these myths so you can get a good night’s sleep.
Myth: You need complete silence to sleep.
Fact: Because sleep is so critical to good health, you need to give thought to what is best for you. I cannot fall asleep without noise and tv. Some people need total darkness and no noise. I turn to a boring channel, set the tv timer for ½ hour, and I am singing z’s in a matter of minutes. Test yourself, figure out what is best for you. But get some restful sleep.
Myth: The bedding that you sleep on does not matter.
Fact: Your bed linen should enhance your sleep. Natural fibers such as cotton I have known to be the best. I have tried several linens and have always gone back to cotton. Another myth is the size of the thread count. The bigger, the better, not so. That luxury feel you get in 5-star hotels is 300 Thread Count on average. Between 250 & 350 TC sateen or percale is a perfect weight.
Myth: Making a bed is a simple process.
Fact: If it is so simple, why are there hundreds of videos and millions of viewers on how to make a bed. Not since 62 years ago, with the invention of the fitted sheet, has anyone given real thought on how to make a bed simple. At the age of 85, Ruby’s partner injured his back and found it difficult to make the bed but would tear it up each night. Ruby’s solution was a top bed sheet called Stayput Beddings™. Ruby later has cataract surgery that left her legally blind in one eye. That is when she began research on the blind and made changes to all bedding to make it simple and effortless. She also recognized the complexity of the duvet cover, a patent-pending for Befitted Bedding, and made changes. Due to the ease and accessibility, her designs have been accredited by the American Council of the Blind.
Myth: Your surrounding doesn’t make a difference to your sleep.
Fact: It does! Does it matter what size shoe or brand you wear? That’s right. People will spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on a pair of shoes but only $29.99 for your bed sheets and then wonder why they can’t sleep. Ladies and gentlemen, you are dressed to the 9’s when you go out. Why not put some style in your bedroom. You can change your entire bedroom with simply new curtains, lampshades, throws, and pillows for less than a night out on the town. Invest in your good looks, good health, get some good sleep. Invest and impress with cleaning up and putting some excitement in your bedroom, not just your bed.
Myth: That if you are sleeping, you’re getting high-quality sleep.
Fact: Not so. If you are tossing, tuning, or feeling uncomfortable, you are not getting restful sleep. Pay attention to what is causing the problem, or it won’t get solved. Should I turn the tv off or, do I need distraction or silence? Is my sheet clean, and is the smell keeping me awake? Are the sheets I am sleeping on/under comfortable, or should I be making a change? Some thought. Try taking a shower in the evening and not being woken up with a very productive day ahead. Clear your mind. Think of something that happened good no matter how small.
Myth: You cannot make up time, but you can make up sleep.
Fact: Not really. Losing sleep takes its toll on your body: your looks, health, mental state, and sex drive. Lack of sleep also contributes to health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and depression.
In other words, if you're not sleeping, investigate why. Make the necessary changes because your well-being depends on it.
There is no one size fits all for sleeping. Figure out what works for you and stick to it; your health depends on it. Test yourself and your surroundings. Stay away from a bright bedroom with wild and bright colors. Keep your room warm and inviting. Make an effort to take a shower and fall into clean bedding and think about the experience. If you wake in the middle of the night, reach for that same experience. In other words, your bed should be an awesome experience, like purchasing a new dress or pair of shoes. When you wake the next morning and remember that feeling and did it work, invest in your bed and bed lining and experiment. Most importantly, find what works for you and use it. Your quality of life and longevity depends on it. Is everything on my bed what I need to get a good night’s sleep? And remember, you don’t make the bed; the bed makes you. Sweet Dreams!
Ruby Russell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Ruby is a 70-year-old senior entrepreneur and a chip off the old block. Her parents were entrepreneurs, and she wanted to follow in their footsteps. When her domestic partner suffered an injury, he would toss and turn in the bed, tearing the bed up. Ruby used fabric from another bed sheet to extend the top sheet. To make the extension fit correctly, she left out the corners, leaving a long tail. What she created was a top sheet is now a one-step process that centers itself. After using Ruby’s invention, her partner could no longer tear the bed up. One patent and a little ingenuity later, and RR Distinctive Beddings was born.
Like all entrepreneurs, there is always a hit and miss. One thing all entrepreneurs have in common is perseverance, a head full of ideas, and a dream. However, Ruby was holding on until there was a life-changing moment.
