Choosing the right pillow: Why it matters, and how to pick one that’s right for you.

We’ve all heard it: Getting a good night’s sleep should be one of our top priorities when it comes to taking care of our bodies. It’s absolutely essential for maintaining optimal health and longevity. Sleep is our body’s time to restore itself—both physically and mentally.

So often, we hear about the importance of finding the right mattress for our unique bodies and sleeping preferences. While certainly crucial for supporting ideal sleep habits, the mattress is just one piece to a larger puzzle. This is where the pillow comes in. Equally as important but less often discussed, finding the right pillow is absolutely essential in achieving high quality rest when it’s time for lights out.

Why finding the right pillow is so important
Kinesthetically speaking, the pillow’s purpose is to keep our upper bodies aligned while lying down. By counteracting the supine position of the body while you sleep, the pillow relieves our joints and muscles of unnecessary pressure and strain. Without this time to properly recover from long days of physical and postural pressure build-up, our bodies risk falling into often irreparable disrepair.

Studies have shown that those who suffer from sleep deprivation or disruption have increased risk of developing conditions like depression, anxiety, hypertension, cancer, and other metabolic disorders. Additional research has found that lack of high-quality sleep can also have a serious impact on our mood, motivation, judgment, memory, and can even cause increased rates of dementia.

How to find the right pillow for you
When it comes to selecting the right pillow, one of the most important factors to take into consideration is your sleeping position. Generally, people tend to sleep in one of three positions—stomach, back, or side—and the structure and material of your pillow should vary as a result.

Stomach sleepers
Stomach sleepers are best supported by thin pillows that don’t elevate the head too much, which can put strain on the neck. If you prefer a plumper pillow, make sure it’s soft enough (think down or down alternative) for the weight of your head to compress it enough to maintain proper alignment.

Back sleepers
If you’re a back sleeper, opt for a firm, medium to medium-thick pillow, allowing the head to be elevated in line with the spine. Since sleeping on your back can easily pull your neck out of alignment, having this structure and support is extra important. Memory foam or a memory foam combination is a good option for back sleepers, because the material easily molds to the shape of your head and neck.

Side sleepers
If you sleep most comfortably on your side, choosing a medium-firm pillow will allow your head to be elevated enough to keep proper alignment with your spine while supporting your neck and shoulders. Because you should aim to keep the same distance between your ear and shoulder as when you are standing upright, a contoured pillow can also be a great option.

Offering numerous combinations in both structure and material, the LUXOME LAYR Pillow allows you to adjust to any firmness and height depending on your unique shape, size, and sleeping position. One additional bonus: The LAYR Pillow fabrics and materials have all been designed to be breathable and stay cool throughout the night - so no more tossing & turning or flipping your pillow to find the "cool side!"

The LAYR Pillow comes with three unique & removable inserts for endless customization possibilities. Choose from a soft-down alternative insert, a memory foam and down alternative combination, or a firm, gel-infused memory foam option to support your specific needs and preferences. As the world’s first fully customizable pillow, the LAYR Pillow is sure to have an option that’s right for you.||

Patience is a virtue
One important note to keep in mind when it comes to customizing your sleep is that it may not happen in just one night. It may take a few tries to get the right combination that is unique to you. Once you do find that perfect mixture, it'll be worth it!