The Shape of Things to Come... January 05 2017 1 Comment

The Shape of Things to Come...

No doubt, if you've been to The Right Pillow website, you've encountered a pillow that looks nothing like what you're currently sleeping on. The Right Pillow is NOT conventional, meaning it's not a rectangle. It is also not filled with polyesters and flame retardants that "offgas" while you sleep. So, there is never any icky chemical coming from the pillow. 

The patented design of The Right Pillow was created to keep you comfortable while you sleep with less tossing and turning. If the ergonomic shape has you puzzled, it was created to cradle your head and neck, giving you just the right amount of support where you need it most.  

You pick the size—King, Standard or Traveler. And then you choose your fill, depending on your sleep style—Wool (for those Back, Side and Stomach sleepers who like it firmer and a little flatter) or Latex (for the Back and Side sleeper who likes it loftier and a little more bouncier). It's just that easy.  

And because sleep really is personal, every pillow has a side zipper so you can actually adjust the amount of fill inside your pillow. Ingenious, right??! 

So, don’t let the shape fool you. Check out what our loyalists have to say in their reviews. And just to make sure that you're totally in love with The Right Pillow (because it would be my bad karma if you weren't completely happy), you've got the "99 Nights Obsessed" guarantee, if for some reason by night number 99 you really weren't sleeping and dreaming better.

Work of Heart February 03 2016

I recently found myself at a crossroads with an abrupt moment of truth. With the launch of The Right Pillow, I've come to realize that next to designing and creating the healthiest organic pillow available, there is a movement of change beyond sleep that is happening. Heart hunting....

Contrary to how other organizations and companies are run, The Right Pillow is heart-focused. The business was created with the idea that we would leave a small footprint, affect as few natural resources as possible, employ Americans and hopefully do our part in keeping landfills freer of chemicals and waste. Our loftiest goal is to inspire movement to healthier sleep for anyone who wants to be a better version of themselves. Our mission, to show our children that it is not only possible to leave the planet better than when we arrived, it is mandatory.

Finding heart in what you do and say and how it makes people feel has lasting energy and a ripple effect greater than any imaginable comprehension. Heart is in The Right Pillow logo but it's heart that makes the company go and grow.

#heartlife, #everydayhearts and #hearthunter is how we talk to people socially. We are continuously put in the path of hearts, natural hearts, hearts in nature (rocks, tree knots, shadows, freckles and veggies) and even photos of hearts handed to us by complete strangers. We are in awe of all who have found a heart and had the guts to share it with us, so that we could post it for others to remark at.

Work of heart is a calling. And it's never really work when it comes from your heart. Feel our energy, share your heart. #heartlife #TRPTribe

Chat back with your comments at chrissy@therightpillow.com

Napping, the Ultimate Luxury... December 14 2015

Napping, the Ultimate Luxury 

Not too much is written about napping. After all, we are a society that operates on the luxury of being around the clock, on-demand, 24/7, etc. Once you are past the age of 3, naps dwindle to mere rest time until age 5, then its full steam ahead… basically, for the rest of your life. 

A century ago, our forefathers’ circadian rhythms were in tune to daylight and darkness. Modern conveniences such as electricity and the glow of our screens (TV, computer, phones) have disrupted those natural rhythms, so that there is less time dedicated to rest and sleep. (Try prying the electronics away from your teenager at bedtime and you will see what I mean.) 

What if, in our rat-race-quest to hurry, be first, be best, we took 10-20 minutes a day for a catnap? Most mammals do it and so do other global cultures. In fact, in other parts of the world, it’s an acceptable part of the day. But here, we need to get over the guilt associated with napping as an extravagance. 

Naps can improve health, mood, vision, reflexes and memory. Napping is a chance to digest the breakup of a boyfriend, mull over a bad grade and separate from negative comments. It can solve problems and even create ideas. A nap can refresh the body’s energy supply and sharpen senses. 

So, give yourself permission. Pick a time and try it. 

Nap where it’s naturally comfortable but not where you could log-in an hour or more and lose track of your day. At the office, there might be a conference room with a sofa that you could reserve for 15 minutes. Try having your lunch at a park and sneaking the last 10 minutes in your car, parked under the tree. Wherever you are, have a small comfortable travel pillow, which helps induce sleep mode and maybe even some light music. 

Let’s decide together that napping is less of a luxury and more of a necessity. 

Chat back with your comments on how napping has improved your life. 

Chrissy@therightpillow.com

“The Children Were Nestled All Snug in Their Beds”… November 29 2015

“The Children Were Nestled All Snug in Their Beds”…

Who can resist reading the nearly 200 year-old classic poem Twas the Night Before Christmas this time of year?  In fact, we’ve devoured the book so many times in this house that we recite the lines by heart, all in anticipation of the magic that happens during the Christmas season.  

There’s nothing quite like American tradition and spirit from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.  In this part of the country, the holidays are decorated and celebrated promptly.  What’s highlighted for us is the frequent guests in and out, toasting to good friends and close-knit family, gift giving, merriment and lots of parties and gatherings.

No doubt, it takes energy, and lots of it, to get from Halloween to New Year’s Day.  From the endless list-making for groceries, gifts and doo-dads to the food prep, table setting, wrapping, stowing and sending.  What we tend to forget is the exhaustion that overcomes everyone from the most feeble-- babies and seniors--to the robust--- kids and parents.

This past Thanksgiving Weekend goes down in the history books as one of my very favorites.  I chose to reclaim my energy resources.  No out-of-town dash to see a parade, no run for the pies, no extra weekend parties, just time with our girls.  That meant walks, talks, movies, football games and sleep.  Yes, we all did it, teens and adults alike.  Shhhh, don’t tell anyone but….we all slept more and better than we ever have during these last 5 days’ break.  And there’s nothing quite like the feeling of being rested and revived for the whirl of the last 31 days of 2015.

“While Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in Their Heads…”

Sleep, Own it. September 26 2015

Sleep, Own It. 

Remember Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?? The pyramid that established needs of the human race? Sleep was one of the physiological requirements for human survival, tucked in there at the base of the pyramid with Breathing, Food, Water, Shelter, Clothing (and arguably Sex). 

Maslow believed that if these needs are not met, the human body cannot function properly and will ultimately fail. 

I believe Maslow. I know what my body feels like with lack of sleep. It hurts; it’s achy; my brain thinks irrationally. I crave weird things, like cheeseburgers for breakfast. Without my allotment, I am fussy, cranky and unmanageable to those closest around me. These are similar feelings when I am hungry or thirsty. 

I also know that I need a good 8 hours in the rack. Yep, I admit it; I am owning it. I know what I need. And apparently, I am not the only one. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the recommended amount of sleep is between 7-9 hours per night. 

When I met Deepak Chopra last year, he told me that his 5 Pillars of Wellbeing are Sleep, Meditation, Movement, Healthy Emotions and Non-Processed Nutrition, but that Good Sleep was number 1! 

That means, shut it down, relax your brain and your body. Turn off the screens, lower the temperature of your environment, make the room dark and womb-like and resist the urge to set an alarm. Your mind, body and heart will thank you. 

I dare you to take back your sleep; own it.

*******

Connect with Chrissy on Twitter: @Chrissy_Colton

Necessity is the Mother of Invention… July 12 2015

Most of my life, I was a stomach and side sleeper.  Those were my favorite sleeping positions.  Cozy, embryonic, fetal.  Most of you agree with me, because statistically, over 50% of the population logs time in the rack this way, too.  

At about forty, I started waking with neck pains from snoozing face-down, arms above my head, in the Super Man flying position.  It didn’t matter which side of my face was on the mattress, I still had neck and jaw strains most of the day.  It even threw off my equilibrium several times.   (Did you know that your head weighs between 7 and 10 pounds?— that’s a lot of pressure all night long)  Tossing and turning was part of the midnight dance.  I rotated side-stomach-side like a rotisserie chicken.  Worse yet, I was waking with dreaded forehead crease lines that stayed with me till about 1030 in the morning.    As a salesperson, that’s not cool.  Appearances matter.  Nothing like having your sleep style tattooed across your kisser that says, “ask me how I like sleeping on my left side.”  These were all sure signs of aging; was I now 100???

Over the last 8 years, I set out on a mission for better, more healthful rest.  After all, I couldn’t continue with my current habits as they debilitating.  Simple math has it that 30% (roughly 8 of 24 hours) of our day is spent in slumber or some version of it.  Contrary to popular belief, sleep is not a luxury.  Most of us have discomfort that keeps us from getting a full night’s sleep, no matter what.  Tossing, turning and re-adjusting pillows for height, dryness and support is more common than I ever knew.  And there are some striking statistics that continuous lack of sleep leads to obesity among other diseases. 

My intention was that if I could maximize time in a healthier version of sleep, then I’d be more exuberant, more alert, more patient and more present in my waking hours, ultimately, shining my light and pursuing my purpose.  

My hunch was that neck strains (from stomach sleeping) and crease lines on my forehead (from resting on my side) could possibly be reduced or eliminated if I didn’t go THERE.  The mission started with re-training myself how to sleep from stomach and side to back.  BACK SLEEPING???!?  Yikes.  That’s so unnatural for me (but for 18%+ of the population, not so much.)  I pored over research that showed if you were a relatively healthy person and did not suffer from sleep apnea, then back sleeping was the way to go.  Drainage, circulation and organ placement would all improve, not to mention reduced neck pain and wrinkles, too.   

For two years, I gave it my best back-sleeping try.  Dark, cool room, pillows propped, linens to my liking and prayers for uninterrupted back slumber.  As I dozed off, I had to remind myself not to flip nor roll, for fear of feeling achy and looking off-balance by morning.  Over time, it became habit forming, and there were fewer middle of the night monologues with myself on the benefits and allure of back sleeping.  The experiment proved beneficial and just as I thought, I had immediately reduced neck and jaw pain and far fewer crease lines from crushing my head in the pillow.

What I have found is that I am not alone in my pursuit.  There are countless others whom, for medical or aesthetic purposes, feel better after a good night’s sleep on their back but just don’t know how to do it on their own.  My chiropractor recommends it, so does my ENT.  Cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists recommend preserving their work by back sleeping, too.  Just about anyone whose had a surgery of any kind must also recover via back sleeping. 

And so I set out to create the best pillow possible for back (and the occasional side) sleeper.  The Right Pillow was created with you, and you and even you, in mind.  The unique structure, organic composition and customizable loft provides all the options for your best back (ok, and sometimes side :) )sleeping night.   And if that is not enough, each one is hand made in America with love, will last 10 years or more with proper care and can be recycled at the end of its life.  Cheers to a healthier you and a healthier planet!

“You’re a ….. July 06 2015

“You’re a …..

Workaholic.”   This statement rolled off my dear friend Lucy’s tongue, describing me and my NYC work ethic, as we were catching up over wine last night at The Blind Monk.  In a millisecond, I scanned my life over the 10 years we’ve known each other and with a smile on my face accepted the moniker.  Yes, my head bobbed, I am a workaholic.  And then with the finesse of an artist, she painted my life as she saw it, with broad, colorful brush strokes, ogling over my ability to put in a 50-hour week at the office, raise two babies to teenagers, love my husband and still show up for an after-work commitment looking freshly showered.  I filled in some gaps along the way reminding her that it’s not the work so much as it is the purpose behind it.

Workaholic is such a 90s term.  This is what people of Generation X know.  We are products of the last Baby Boomers, like my parents, who signed-on for decades with an employer, aspiring to fat retirement plans at the age of 65; only to cross the finish line and realize there’s a whole lotta living left to do and purpose to fulfill.   The term workaholic is not one I am subscribing to, but one I am redefining.  Recently, I Tweeted… “The intersection of Passion and Purpose is hard to miss.”    

All my life I’ve been driven to achieve.  Caveat here, I am not the scholarly one.  Grades were EARNED.  Nothing came easy.  But in my opinion, learning is cumulative, if you allow it in.  Early on, I realized that comparisons are always drawn and my best effort would always be needed, if I wanted to be the best version of me.   In everything.  In my 20s, I took this to a new level, what more can I do, what more can I handle?  I ran for fun.  I trained for sprints, triathlons and marathons.  Each time bettering myself.  When I worked in Manhattan, it wasn’t enough to be an executive at Ogilvy & Mather.  I occupied my after hours and weekends with waitressing at the fabled Rainbow Room at Rock Center, while training for long distances.  The more activities the better and the more people I met. In fact, I dated someone who thought I could use a little self improvement, too.  How dare he?  He highly suggested, ahem, that I get SCUBA certified, take a wine course and add in a cooking class while I was at it.  Challenge accepted, DONE.   He’s out of the picture, but my skill level was raised to new heights and my interest was peaked in what I could handle.   For that, I am grateful.

This sort of way has been my way for as long as I can remember.  When the girls were young, I’d lay in bed at night exhausted from crunching numbers all day at the office, yet had just enough energy to look at picture books, my version.  There was no way my brain could process the latest novel, but it could manage colors, prints, design and even some recipe suggestions.  My side of the bed had a mountain of mags with the latest in interior home design and menus.  For years, soothing paint colors, room designs and planning for dinners with friends became my lullaby.  I can whip up a small feast for a dinner party on late notice and even claim to know a thing or two about wine selection.  Same goes for interiors and paint colors, I know what I like and what works well together.  It’s my passion.   I do it because it’s fun, and it keeps me relevant.    

Today, even as a dedicated employee with 18 years at the #5 media company in the US, I fiercely continue to pursue what is my purpose with a passion……  

Summer Solstice June 20 2015

The front door clicks closed and the four-paw tap of toenails on the wood floor trails along as we settle back into the cool of our home and get ready for the night.  It was my last walk of the day at 945p with Tilloo, our family golden doodle, who is just 11 months.  Under haze of the milky way and 80-plus degree humidity, akin only to the tropics, the crescent moon bestowed her wishes on us as the warm tradewinds blew.  

Today is the eve of the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere, a time for big growth, healthy gardens and abundance all around.  Yet in Zone 10, we’ve had more than our share of blazing heat.  As a kid growing up in the Northeast, I always clung to the first day of Summer.  Summer break meant tan skin, warm nights, open windows with sandy-salty bed linens.  There was always a peach pie being made, a mosquito buzzing around and the sound of baseball on TV.  Every bedroom was equipped with a big square floor fan, the kind that sounds like a turbo prop.  I slept in a twin, a refurbished (hardly) World War II hospital bed.  It was some kind of hand-me-down or estate sale number that I thought was cool.  And it was. Technically, there were only about 11 weeks of this sense of awesomeness, from the day school let out till Labor Day weekend.  When you grow up in an area that has four seasons (which is most of the continental US), three of them can feel like forever while you wait for your favorite.  

Today, I no longer wait for my favorite season.  I am blessed to have it all year long, just in varying degrees of hot.  Summer in the peninsula brings fresh fish, tan skin, sticky nights, sandy bed linens and the refreshingly subtle hum of our air conditioner.