Dream Tools
People don't often think about how much time they spend in bed: One third of your life, roughly. Which means, with any luck, by the time you're 65, you've really been asleep for 20 years! (Hey! Wake up!!)Here's a selection of goods and such which may hel you get a better night's sleep. Orders through and fulfilled by Amazon:
Reading to Get To Sleep:
($189)Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology
Dreamer Note: The 'paperlike' screen is pretty good, but if you like higher contrast, you might be more happy reading your electronic send offs on a...
Velocity Micro Cruz Reader, Black (R101)
Both devices have extensive free libraries available for them, but we
recommend boring textbooks and long monographs on boring topics as it's
much more relaxing than a Dirk Pitt novel by Clive Cussler. Crescent Dawn (Dirk Pitt Adventure)
Or, sticking strictly with the sleepytime business, there's the The Harvard Medical School Guide to a Good Night's Sleep (Harvard Medical School Guides)
Dream Sounds:
Two parts to this shopping problem: Sounds and something to play them with. A couple of content ideas first.
Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre: The Complete Collection ($29)
Sadhana : The Daily Practice of Meditation
A little more practical for the self-improvement oriented dreamer
would be something like the Brainwave Suite (w/booklet)
And you'll need something to play these on... and if you already have a CD player in your bedroom, neat. But, what if your partner doesn't like your taste in sounds? Got just the thing here:
Pillowsonic Stereo Pillow Speaker
A note on speakers: You can get a really cheap under the pilloow speaker, but the cheap ones tend to sound really tinny and don't last worth a hill of beans.
Next, there's the whole area of 'sleep machines' which generate a wide range of ambient sounds (ocean, river, wild life...that kind of thing):
Sound + Sleep (Ecotones Duet) Adaptive Sound Machine
Clocks
OK, you wake up in the wee hours and have no clue what time it is. Solution to that runs the gamut. Low end is a good luminous dial watch:
Timex Men's T49261 Expedition Rugged Field SHOCK Analog Watch
Or we can get into the whole projection clock space, but if you're going to do that, wouldn't you like to have some basic weather information so you can figure out if it really is cold in the house tonight, or if you're just having a hot flash? Just the ticket here
Oregon Scientific BAR338PA ExactSet Projection Clock with Cable-Free Weather Forecaster
Radio
Of course, if you can't get back to sleep, there's always the radio and overnight radio shows like CoastToCoast AM come in peachy on a...
C Crane Co CC2B Radio-2 AM FM/Weather and 2-Meter Ham Band (Black Mica)
Linens and Such
We seem to be accumulating an aweful lot of technology beside, so how
about something a little softer and more comfortable? Like the ObusForme by Homedics OFPL-SOY-ST The Ultimate Comfort Pillow
And then let's get some sheets...something with a high thread count
(number of threads per square inch) like these:
Royal Tradition's King Size 550 Thread Count Solid Chocolate Sheet Set 100 % Egyptian Cotton (Deep Pocket) By Sheetsnthings
Of course, not everyone likes to slip into a bed of crisp, sun-dried cotton sheets, "crispy people" we call 'em - no matter how tired they are.
So this second class of sleepers are what we might call the
"Sungglers" and they're drawn to flannel like this set:
Supima Cotton 4-Piece King Flannel Sheet Set, Sage
The microfiber sheet sets are OK, too, except we're not too sure what's in the fibers.
Oh! Last sleep style would be the slippery/slinky/sensuals who
can often be found regrouping after a little
pre-sleep...er...exercise...on Divatex Home Fashions Royal Opulence Satin King Sheet Set, Black
(More items coming - send your suggestions to us!)
Where next? Blog or DreamBase?