In the vast, squishy universe of bedtime rituals, almost everyone uses a pillow. I mean, come on, that's a given right? But did you know that a pillow can do so much more for you than just being something for you to lay your head on at night? Were you aware that there are a ton of benefits to hugging a pillow any time of the day or night? Bedtime or not, a pillow is like a secret handshake that not only transcends thread counts and Egyptian cotton, but can transcend our mind, mood, and body at any time it's needed. Yep, you heard me right - this isn't just about fluff and feathers; it's about embracing your inner "Zen Master", your "Stress Ninja", and your "Cozy Confidant". So, buckle up my friends (or should I say, "buckle down into your pillow fort") because we're diving headfirst into the fluffiest rabbit hole you've ever encountered. Ready? Let's hug it out and learn how incorporating a pillow into your daily routine can help you manage your life!
Whether you have Fibromyalgia, another chronic pain and fatigue illness, or you're one of the lucky ones who live relatively pain-free, we all still have moments of loneliness, pain, stress, fatigue, or a moment where we just need a hug! When we hug someone - or in this case "someTHING", it signals our brain to start releasing endorphins. The main one, oxytocin, AKA - "the feel-good hormone" doesn't just make you feel good. It's also a natural stress buster. It creates a feeling within us of warmth, and comfort, and creates an emotional connection for us. Well, that's just GREAT as long as we have someone around us when we hit a stressful moment or feel like our world is literally falling down on top of us. But what do we do if there isn't anyone around? Well, we grab our favorite trusty pillow is what we do!
It's been proven scientifically that hugging a pillow will release oxytocin just like hugging a real live, breathing person will do. By hugging a pillow your brain gets that signal to relax. Your heart rate will usually slow down. Your muscles might start to relax. Your breathing may become more rhythmic and deeper. This is especially true if you also incorporate deep breathing techniques and/or meditations that I can teach you to do while hugging your pillow. The level of stress that you feel, improves significantly.
If you're feeling sad, grab a pillow and hug it for 5 or 10 minutes. Are you down because you're missing someone? Hug a pillow while you chat with them on a video call, or play a recording of their voice while you hug a pillow. Maybe, it's just been one of those days where you feel like you need a good hug. Grab a pillow and hug it!
Do you wake up in the mornings stiff, sore, and have aching muscles? Do you feel as tired as when you went to sleep? - Boy is that one common in us Fibro Frogs! Well, you can help alleviate some of that by starting to sleep with a good-quality body pillow. -And NO, I'm not collaborating with a body pillow company trying to make a buck off this post lol. I'm just being real with you guys as I always am, and trying to help you if I possibly can. But it's been proven that a good quality body pillow, can give your body the support that it needs so that you wake up with less stiffness and soreness. This is especially true if you're a side sleeper like I am! Positioning the pillow correctly can help align your hips, and therefore reduce strain on your spine so you're not waking up feeling like there's concrete in your joints for the first couple of hours. -Man that's one of the first symptoms I ever had on my road to my diagnosis.
Oxytocin also helps improve the quality of the sleep we get. According to a survey that the Sleep Foundation conducted, people that started using a body pillow to sleep with reported that they had a 35% improvement in the quality of their sleep. The people in the survey reported having significantly less disturbances during their sleep, compared to before they started sleeping with a body pillow.
Do you meditate? If not you sure should, but that's a 'nother post for a whole 'nother day my friends lol. If you do, try hugging a pillow during your meditation. If you're feeling stressed, grab your favorite pillow and start hugging away! In the grand saga of sleep or wanting to feel a reduction in stress, our unsung hero - the simple pillow - deserves a standing ovation. It isn't "just" a pillow; it's a confidant, a snuggle buddy, and our silent partner in dreamland. So, dear reader, next time you snuggle up with your trusty pillow remember; that you're not just hugging fabric & fluff. You're embracing a slice of serenity, a dash of whimsy, and a whole lot of Zzzz's.
Sweet dreams fellow Froggies - and if your sleep isn't sweet let me help you learn how to get it that way! Remember, what's the motto of this blog? "Never Give Up HOPE. -Without HOPE, you don't have anything". Through live Zoom meetings, I can help you learn to reduce your physical pain, by incorporating #NLP and #CBT techniques into your daily routine. I can help you relieve your #stress by using various techniques along with #GuidedMeditation. I'm a #virtual #ProfessionalCuddler, #ConfidenceCoach and I can help you learn to #LoveYourself, build your #selfesteem and #selfworth, and really start living life again!
As seen on #Dragnificent on #TLC
Although my inclusive practice is ran through virtual meetings, I am also available in-person for corporate events, teambuilding #workshops, #healthconferences and keynote/motivational speaking. Below you will find hashtags for SOME of the certifications I have, and niche practices that I'm most passionate about! I have four individual niche #lifecoaching certifications that led to me obtaining an overall certification of a Master Life Coach, and four individual niche certifications leading to an overall certification of a Master #Mindset Coach along with many other individual coaching certifications. Although I have not yet started the credentialing process with private insurance companies to be listed as a provider for them, I HAVE obtained my NPI billing number so if your insurance will cover "out of network" some insurances may be accepted. Hopefully within a month or two I will be in-network for some companies. I've been concentrating on my courses and learning, and not on contracting with insurance companies credentialing departments yet lol. Gentle butterfly hugs to you all!
#ChronicPain #Fibromyalgia #ChronicIllness #Inclusive #MasterLifeCoach #HappinessCoach #GoalSettingCoach #HealthCoach #NutritionCoach #Corporate #TeamBuilding #EmotionalIntelligence #Coach #MotivationalSpeaker #KeynoteSpeaker #Rheumatology #MeditationCoach #Lgbtqia #ally #ComingOutSpecialist #BlackLivesMatter #TransLivesMatter #LifePurposeCoach #Ohiolgbtqia #OhioHealth #healthfairs #healthconference #mentalhealth #stress #fatigue #insomnia #mentalhealthmatters #REBT coach, #CBT coach #lifepurpose coach #NLPpractitioner
