If it’s time to buy a new mattress — after you have assessed some of the above points and determined that it’s indeed time — how do you choose a mattress?

If you are choosing a new mattress based upon price and look alone, stop! Reconsider, you could be in for a world of hurt (literally). Sure, price is going to figure into the equation somewhat, and the look of your mattress may be trivially important, but you should definitely base your decision more upon how the mattress feels to you and if it’s going to hold up longer than the mattress you are replacing. Of course we are biased, but we believe that mattress materials like latex and memory foam are much better solutions than almost anything out there. You’ll get a very robust warranty so you can know your mattress will outlast just about anything else you could hope for at the pricing point they run, and you’re going to get much better pressure point pain reduction. If you have convinced yourself that it’s time for a new mattress already… it might just be time to look into memory foam or latex. And you might be surprised that in the long-run they’re less expensive in terms of cost per sleep hour than the alternatives.

According to this holistic practitioner, the average American adult is getting about 1.5 hours less sleep than the average American adult did 100 years ago. If we truly are a sleep-deprived nation, what can we do to turn this around, and does it really matter?

First, we need to prioritize our sleep, as mentioned in this article by the National Sleep Foundation. Much like we should pay ourselves from our own paycheck before we start paying all of our creditors, we shouldn’t have sleep as a bottom-rung priority, but work things in our daily routine around our sleep schedule instead. That’s about a 180-degree turn from what we usually do (we usually go to bed after we get everything done), but it needs to happen for our bodies and our minds to be able to function optimally.

Think about what’s preventing you from getting enough sleep — a lot of the time we are so stuck with inertia that we don’t realize that we can and should improve something like this in our lives. Do you not get enough sleep because you are spending too much time watching television? Does that extra hour of TV really give you that much more satisfaction that you are not willing to sacrifice it for a better, healthier life.

When we are faced with life-changing decisions like this — whether we should make a change so we can get enough sleep, it’s often helpful to evaluate/imagine what your life could and would be like if you were to adopt the new beneficial habit. Rather than thinking, “I really should get to sleep earlier,” think instead, “My life will be different in xyz way(s) once I start getting to sleep at 8:30 pm every night.” If you think in those terms instead of thinking that you’re bad for not getting enough sleep, it’s harder for you to make the change.

Do you get enough sleep? Do you want to? Then answer to yourself right now — “If I get an extra hour or two of sleep…” and get to making it happen!

Take for example this sleep study that suggests that 8 hours of sleep isn’t necessary. The funny thing about it is that the subjects were exposed to darkness for 14 hours, and they slept for 8 hours in 2 four-hour increments, interrupted by a couple of hours in between. So, the article seems to contradict itself by saying that 8 hours of sleep may be unnatural, but then that the subjects of the experiments did indeed sleep for 8 hours, though not continuously.

Sticking with the 8’s (8 hours of sleep, 8 glasses of water per day), the “new” wisdom on water is that you may not need to drink that much, the recommendation of 8 glasses per day is outdated, and you get much of your water in your food. Well, don’t you think that when the recommendation was made for 8 glasses of water, that it was known that foods (especially fruits and vegetables) contained a lot of water?

I always get a kick out of new studies! I don’t have time to go to bed for 4 hours, wake up for 2 hours and mess around, and then go back to bed for another 4 hours, do you? It feels pretty natural for me to sleep for 8 straight hours, and I think I’m pretty healthy because of it. It may be an interesting study, but how practical is it?

I’ll also not be drinking any less water than I normally do. Seems like a lot of speculation to me. Most people probably don’t drink enough water as it is (and drink too much soda!), and encouraging them to drink less is not a good thing!

I guess the point here is to follow your gut instinct, and don’t be too quick to jump on new fads and bandwagons. Whether you agree or disagree with me, weigh in with your opinion on our Plushbeds Facebook Page.

Discipline is a normal part of child rearing. If a child is not disciplined appropriately when his/her actions call for it, there are consequences that come later in life such as not being able to function normally in society, and thinking that the world revolves around the undisciplined individual. Some undisciplined children may grow up to believe that things should be given to them without earning them, and some believe that whatever behavior they engage in should be socially acceptable. Not being appropriately disciplined is a disservice to a child.

When discipline is done with love, it can have positive, far-reaching effects. Discipline done right can help a lot in the development of a child, and many of us probably remember a time when a parent disciplined us that we are today thankful for. Different children respond differently to discipline. It is important to not only be careful with the disciplinary actions, but to also tailor them to the individual child. One child may be disciplined well enough with a loving but stern reprimand, while it may require taking privileges away from another, and so on.

What every parent should be cautious of, is disciplining out of (or with) anger. When a child misbehaves, while it can upset a parent, the parent still needs to keep his or her temper in check especially as it comes to meeting out the punishment. Any punishment that is mean-spirited or that is given out of anger can be potentially dangerous. Even if the punishment is not physically dangerous, it could have lasting negative effects emotionally. The key in providing discipline for a child is intent. Is the intent to make the child suffer, or is it to help the child learn a valuable lesson?

Weigh in on the Plushbeds Facebook Page with your input about what kind of positive discipline has helped your child respond well, has reinforced good behavior, and has grown your relationship with them.

All of us have seeds of greatness. But not all of us reach the greatness of that potential that is incubating within us. The candle can be dimmed or even extinguished by ourselves, or by letting others blow out the flame.

In recent weeks there has been a star emerge in the world of professional basketball. This star, Jeremy Lin (have you heard of him yet?), has amazed coaches, teammates, analysts, and NBA fans alike. From the outside looking in, Lin appeared to be one of the least likely candidates to “break out” from the ordinary to extraordinary. If I have my facts straight, he had been cut from at least a couple of different NBA teams. His emergence seems to have happened suddenly, but is that really possible?

Have you ever had a “break out” moment, or are you still waiting for yours? In the case of Jeremy Lin, it is hard to understand how his talent was overlooked. And I may be wrong, but I have a theory of why it was. It goes something like this (with some background) – I don’t claim to know everything there is to know about Jeremy Lin. I love to watch the highlights from the games he plays in. He’s exceptional, very agile, and quite an athlete. But, apparently although he was good in high school and at Harvard, Jeremy had never shown that he was as good as he looks to be now. Here is my secret theory: Jeremy had a “break out” from ordinary to superstar because Jeremy was discovered right about the time he discovered himself.

It could be stated another way. Jeremy Lin had the stars line up in his favor. But, I don’t really believe it was luck. He had the skill set, and he had enough of a chance given to him, and in the right way at the right time, that he pounced on it, and it did his heart good. He proved to himself to be and let himself be as good as he is.

Just a theory, I could be wrong. But, what about your life? What makes you great? You are great at something (even if you don’t yet realize it). Did that greatness appear all at once? Absolutely not! It came from perseverance, and not dumb luck. Most of what we attain in life is earned from hard work. And sometimes, if we believe in ourselves even if it is in stops and starts, we have the chance to really “break out” and be great. But, if we aren’t ready for it by being just as great as we can be along the way, if we let the greatness within us become extinguished through impatience with ourselves, nobody (even ourselves) may ever realize how great we are or can be. Because being great is not just about being recognized as great, but knowing and practicing greatness all the way along.

Visit us on our Plushbeds Facebook Page and give your input about the “timeline” of greatness or how it is achieved.

• A new house – This has the potential to make a big difference in anyone’s life. Shelter is our top need for survival. Where you presently reside in the “housing chain” will probably determine what kind of output or result this gives you in terms of happiness and well-being. Can a house make you happy? I’d argue that it really could go a long way to contributing to your happiness if your current needs aren’t being met (if you have never owned a house, if you are so cramped you bump into a member of your family every time you turn around, or if you are moving because your present living conditions aren’t able to provide you with sanity and peace of mind).

• A new car – If car A can’t get you to point B, it might be time for a new (or used) car. If you want a sleeker looking car to attract a member of the opposite sex, then your resulting happiness is probably a big… maybe. Maybe it could help. But if that is all that he or she is focused on, maybe not such a good idea. And kind of like getting a tattoo, you could end up regretting it and get into too much car, becoming a slave to debt. If it meant the difference of not being able to find a job and meet basic needs, a new (or used car) would most likely contribute to your happiness and sense of self-confidence and fulfillment.

• A new job – In many cases, I believe this could be a real positive in contributing to your happiness and well-being. If you are changing jobs to better challenge yourself and furthering your career path, good on ‘ya. If you are changing jobs because those you are surrounded by don’t share your values or it is just not a conducive environment with which to help you grow and feel safe and comfortable in, a change is likely to help you be happier and lend more stability to your life. If you are job hopping, and have a very difficult time staying at any one place for at least a year, you probably will be no more satisfied or happy than that which you abandoned. Your happiness or lack of it will simply follow you. In some ways a job defines who you are (and at the very least the way you perform your job does), and change for the right reasons can be a good thing that may indeed help your contentedness and well-being.

• A new hobby – my personal favorite (well, the job is probably more important ). A new hobby for me is refreshing. And there is little negative about hobbies, unless of course they are addictive or unseemly. The only other drawback that I could think of with a new hobby is if you let it take over what needs to get done. Your priorities should be carefully apportioned. A hobby can potentially open up a whole new creative side of you that should be explored and nourished. I’ve changed hobbies many times, abandoning old ones and adopting new ones. This is just fine as long as you don’t do it too often that it becomes an excessive expense. Hobbies are great stress-relievers and a wonderfully productive way to channel your energies.

So, what of these four things would make the biggest difference in your own life right now? Or is it something other than those listed? Whatever it is, I’d like to hear about it. Weigh in on our Plushbeds Facebook Page.

Actually, I personally do believe time is somewhat of a factor. Especially when some are finding themselves needing to hold more than one job to make ends meet. But, everybody needs downtime, and most people have at least some. In that little free time they have claim to, what is it that is filling their time? And with all of the fancy ways we have to connect these days (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), are we more connected, or less?

When my sister “calls” to ask me a question now, it’s no longer her voice I hear on the other end. It’s a text usually. So, I text back. Should I call her with a response, or would that be bothering her?

What is friendship anyway? I’ll usually say something like, “I got this really cool idea from my friend who said to…” when in all reality it is not a friend. I’m not intentionally lying, but more often than not I am talking about an acquaintance. How many friends do I have? Honestly, I could count them on one finger… I mean hand. If you have more than that, you are so very blessed.

We’ve all heard that in order to have a friend that you need to be a friend. I feel like I am a friend, but that maybe I am not needed that much. Maybe others don’t need friendship as much as I would like to have them as a friend. Why are so many people living in such isolation?

Maybe it is a good thing that people are filling their friendless lives with family members as their friends. I see that as a noble thing – that is, to be taking care of family first. Not to say that this should be your main reason for cultivating friendships, but if you didn’t have your family to turn to in time of need, who else could you count on?

A friend is someone that you could call upon any hour of the day, morning, noon, or night, and they would be willing to help you out. And go out of their way to do so. How many people would you feel comfortable with calling at an odd hour in the middle of the night to assist you in an emergency?

Friendship is like a bank account that you either have some savings in or it’s empty. It seems that many folks’ friendship account is very meager, just like their checking account. Too many people are a paycheck away from homelessness; just as many are a friend away from being friendless.

Have an opinion on any of the points made in this article? Weigh in on our Facebook wall — Facebook.com/Plushbeds.

For those who haven’t yet heard, the Cyber Monday latex mattress sale here at Plushbeds includes not only $750 off a 100% natural latex mattress, but also 2 free pillows (while supplies last). These aren’t just scraps of leftover latex glued together to make pillows. They are high quality Talalay latex, used especially for producing a very fine pillow. And by adding an adjustable foundation to your order, the discount jumps from $750 off to $1,000 off. So, there is no doubt you are getting a really great deal at these prices. On top of those factors, your Cyber Monday order is tax-free as well as shipped to you free of charge.

And last, but not least, a newly-introduced accessory, our organic cotton latex mattress cover has been a real hit for those who have had a chance to “beta test” it and report back to us. Everyone who has had the opportunity to sleep on a latex mattress with this organic cotton cover can attest to its utility in helping the real personality and features of what a latex mattress can really do for a person. Because it is a knitted cover, and not woven, it is fully flexible in every direction and so allows the pressure relieving attributes of the latex to be able to do its job of letting it conform to the unique curvature of your body and spreading your weight out evenly. So, what are you waiting for? Our Cyber Monday mattress sale is almost over!

The reason the quality of a cover on a latex mattress is important is because it either helps or hinders the flexibility and elasticity of the mattress below it. Latex is superior at relieving pressure points, but in order for it to have the full effect it needs to have a cover on it that isn’t tight and woven. We searched long and hard for a supplier that could provide us with premium materials so we could produce a mattress cover that allowed the full personality of our Botanical Bliss latex to shine through. After some struggles to finally get what we expected, the end result has been very pleasing and does exactly what it should. We’re proud to introduce to our Black Friday shoppers our new organic latex mattress cover. Those who have had a “sneak preview” of it rave over it.

The reason why our new organic cotton latex mattress cover is so wonderful is because, among other things, it is the softest and finest quality organic cotton that can be found online. The cover isn’t mass-produced, either. It’s knitted instead of woven, so it can bend in any direction without stressing the fabric. It’s almost like it becomes part of the latex because it’s so stretchable, much as latex material itself it.

If you’re looking for some great 2011 Black Friday bedroom deals, you really should see all of the reasons there are to buy a Botanical Bliss latex mattress from Plushbeds. Keep in mind that the sale is only on for 72 hours, and it’s the best time of year to get our luxurious mattresses at an astonishingly low price! Hurry!

Many people like to spend their money on clothes, shoes, and jewelry. It’s paramount to them to look good. Others like to ride in style, and have a car that is souped up or even a deep, throaty sounding Harley Davidson motorcycle. Some people couldn’t care less about material things so much, but put more emphasis and spending on travel, and their money goes to the airlines, the cruise ships, hotels, and resorts. Some people love to eat! Their money is spent dining out on fine foods at fancy restaurants. Still others love to spend their money on toys, like boats, or ATV’s. And then you have people that dig collectibles, and can never get enough in their collection.

There is a group of people that are quite careful with their money, allocate it wisely, and don’t live it up as much. They don’t have money coming out their ears, but they do spend it and don’t skimp once they find something that is really worthwhile that they know will improve their quality of life. While these folks might choke when you tell them how much it’ll be for their college-aged kid’s textbooks this year or that they’d need to plan on spending $50 bucks to take their family to a movie and have some buttered popcorn, they don’t even flinch when you mention the cost of something that they understand is very high quality and will last (like cars that were once made of steel). We get to talk to a lot of these types of people. You probably know the type. Even those who are well-to-do behave in this manner much of the time. They believe in keeping the money supply in circulation, but are quite efficient in how they circulate it. Once they hone in on something that they can plan on having for a long time (we’re talking decades), their ears perk up.

We’re happy to be in the business of offering products that can last decades. And we love it when we can match up with a consumer who has the same mindset. Our latex mattresses will last you 20 years, or more. Ours is not a consumable product. We don’t plan on selling our customers the same thing over and over again. There is no built-in obsolescence. The only way we can get repeat business is through you understanding the quality of what we have to offer and buying a sofa mattress (or rv mattress) if you already have our latex mattress, or our latex mattress if you already have our rv mattress or sofa mattress. Of course, we get referral business as well. But we are unique in today’s world in that we don’t take your money over and over again. We are kind of old-fashioned that way.

Are your purchases giving you long-term fulfillment and value? The older you get, the more you’ll gravitate to this kind of spending. Try out one of our latex foam mattresses; you get a 100 night sleep trial, so you have nothing to lose. You’ll see the value in it, and definitely get your money’s worth. Oh, and after 20 years or 30 years, come back if your latex mattress needs to be changed out.