Summary

The article discusses the importance and benefits of replacing old bedding with new, high-quality pillows and sheets to improve sleep quality and overall well-being.

Abstract

The author of the article emphasizes the often overlooked necessity of updating bedding, particularly pillows and sheets, to enhance sleep and comfort. Highlighting personal experience, the author describes the realization of their bedding's poor condition and the subsequent decision to invest in new, high-quality bedding. The process involved careful consideration of personal needs such as comfort for side sleepers, hypoallergenic materials, and temperature regulation for hot flashes. The article underscores that new bedding not only refreshes the bedroom's decor but also offers health benefits, including better sleep, reduced neck and shoulder pain, allergen elimination, and improved skin conditions. The author advocates for mid-range, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing options, suggesting that such an investment is both practical and indulgent, leading to a more restful and luxurious sleep experience.

Opinions

The author believes that the quality of bedding significantly affects sleep quality and comfort.
There is a recognition that bedding should not be neglected and that investing in good quality is worthwhile.
The article suggests that replacing bedding every two years is advisable for optimal benefits.
The author expresses that new, quality bedding can improve one's mood and sense of well-being by triggering "feel good" hormones.
It is implied that sustainable and hypoallergenic bedding options are preferable for both health and environmental reasons.
The author indicates that updating bedding is a form of self-care and can help transition from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance and self-indulgence.

You Deserve a Total Bed Make-Over

Ten Ways that Replacing Your Sheets and Pillows Will Improve Your Life

“I can’t sleep any more. It’s too much like death.” — Cosmo Castorini in “Moonstruck”

We are all spending most of our time at home these days so I have to ask you: when’s the last time you replaced your pillows, bought new sheets or updated your bedspread?

I was in bed the other night, tossing and turning, when I had the sudden urge to use the restroom. Apparently when you hit your 50s, your nights become an endless series of bathroom trips.

Anyway, I looked down and realized I had my pillows folded over and bunched up like a bunch of rags. Frowning, I shook them out a bit and took a good look at them. My pillows were flat, misshapen and old.

My sheets weren’t much better. They were faded and threadbare. Those poor sheets have seen a lot of hot flashes and snuggling dogs (don’t judge me). I have rags that look better than my sheets did.

I haven’t slept well since 1980, but even so, I wondered how much worse my sleep was because of my ratty old bedding. I often find myself inexplicably itchy and with sore muscles from sleeping wrong on my pillows.

Why does my bed look like it belongs to a broke college student? I wondered.

I couldn’t even remember the last time I replaced my bedding. In the past I have tended to just buy whatever is cheap and sturdy and keep it for a few years, or maybe a decade.

Honestly I don’t think about my bedding a lot.

When I do think about bedding, it’s usually because I’m in a nice hotel with high thread-count sheets and high quality pillows. Then I’m thinking how great it’d be to have that at home until I go home and forget all about it.

That night, I resolved to treat myself to new bedding.

I decided to start with pillows. But how to choose? There are approximately a million pillows, so I made a mental list of things that were important to me, like suitable for side sleepers, chemical free, hypoallergenic and not too hard or too soft. I wound up trying a few different types before I found pillows that are comfortable and supportive for my body.

Then I moved onto sheets. After some obsessive research I settled on some soft and stylish bamboo sheets that are both hypoallergenic and moisture wicking (hot flashes, remember?).

I got rid of any sheets, blankets or comforters that were ripped, faded, had a funky smell, or looked like they had followed me around since the 90s.

I didn’t go crazy, but I also did not go cheap. I only purchased items that checked off everything on my list. Everything I bought had consistently good reviews, was sustainable and hypoallergenic, and was mid-range in price. Oh, and they had to be visually appealing.

When my new bedding arrived, I felt surprisingly excited. It felt kind of decadent, like I was really treating myself, except there was no chocolate or alcohol involved. It made me wonder why I hadn’t bought new bedding a long time ago.

Experts say you should replace your pillows, sheets and bedding after about two years of use. An upgrade of your bedding has several important benefits, including:

It’s an easy way to give your bedroom a decorating face lift, especially when you’re home all the time
Improving sleep so you wake up more rested
Alleviating neck or shoulder issues from broken down pillows
Removing allergens like dust mites and dander
Stimulating the “feel good” hormones that flood your brain when you feel indulged
Reducing skin issues like acne, wrinkles or rosacea
Minimizing night sweats or overheated sleeping
Protecting your mattress so it lasts longer
Supporting your head and neck may reduce snoring and sleep apnea
Counteracting the scarcity mindset that many of us start adulthood with — it feels good to move past the days of goodwill sheets and hand-me-down pillows

Tonight when I lay in bed, it’ll be on my fluffy and comfortable new pillows and my soft and luxurious new sheets. I may even get a little bit of sleep — until I have to pee again.