Do you feel like it has been ages since you have slept well? Even after so many changes in your routine and habits, you are still suffering from insomnia? If yes, then I think we might have a solution for you.

If you’re looking for a mattress that offers the benefits of both foam and coil mattresses while avoiding the drawbacks, then a hybrid mattress might be perfect for you. This type of mattress combines foam and coils to provide you with support and pressure relief.

You have changed the room temperature, lighting, the fragrance of your bedroom, right? But you have missed an important factor. What? Mattress. It plays an important role to provide your body with proper back support while you sink in its goodness and enjoy your deep sleep. Without a proper mattress, you can even damage your body posture. So, it has not just become an option, but a necessity for you.

Still not convinced? Well, here in this article, we will discuss why you should consider investing in mattresses. So, stay with us till the end.

Importance Of a Mattress for A Good Night Sleep

A good mattress helps you to achieve a good body posture and hence is beneficial for your back health. It can provide you with the right support along with a perfect comfort level for you to get into a deep sleep.

If you haven’t changed your mattress for a long time you have to get alerted. If it doesn’t provide you the correct support it can result in bad posture. And you will be left tired and sore even after a good sleep.

If you suffer from chronic pain then it can worsen the condition. Some people may even face difficulty in sleeping because of a bad mattress. Our body undergoes different changes and healing processes during sleep. But if it is uncomfortable then it can hinder the process.

Factors To Consider to Find a Perfect Mattress for You

Now that you are almost convinced to change your mattress, let us discuss how to choose one for you.

There is no such benchmark to find a perfect mattress for yourself. In fact, according to the neurologist and sleep medicine specialist of the Johns Hopkins Center of sleep, Sara E Benjamin, choosing the perfect mattress for an individual is a matter of their personal choice. You cannot come on to any decision before trying it out.

You have to match your personal requirements with the mattress. For example, if you are overweight or obese you have to look for a mattress that provides extra support to your body.

Bonus: If you are looking for an ideal mattress for you or your overweight loved one, then you have to check out this mattress guide for a 500-pound person.

But still here are some important factors that you can consider to have according to your preference.

• Type of Mattress

You can find different types of mattresses in the market. But before you could choose anyone, you have to know each one of them.

There are mainly five types of mattresses: foam, innerspring, hybrid latex, and airbed. Let us discuss each one of them in detail.

• Memory foam

Memory foam mattresses are built with memory foam. These materials are known to provide a slow response to pressure and extreme comfort to the person. It is probably one of the most popular types of mattresses.

Some love them because of its deep contouring hug feel and some use it for pressure relief. So, if you are a person who likes to sink in the mattress, then look no further than this.

• Innerspring

Another popular and widely used mattress is innerspring mattress. These matches are bouncy, firm and supportive. It is made up of a coil-based support system including pocketed coins and support coils.

• Hybrid

If you want to enjoy the advantages of the above types without facing the negative impacts, then this one’s for you. Hybrid mattress is a combination of foam and coils. It can provide you form support and help in pressure relief.

• Latex

If you want to choose all-natural material and eco-friendly mattresses then you can go with a latex mattress. It is a lively and bouncy mattress that makes it easy for you to change positions while sleeping. 

• Airbed

Airbed mattress, as the name suggests, is built up with air chambers. You can adjust the mattress according to your preference with the air pump.

• Firmness

Another important factor that you can consider while buying a mattress is its firmness. It varies from person to person. So, you have to consider your personal choice and your body type to choose an ideal one.

• Body Weight

You should also consider your body weight while purchasing a new mattress. Why?

If you are under 130 pounds, sleep on a mattress and you won’t sink in it. You will need a softer mattress to provide adequate support to your body.

On the other hand, if you wait between 132 to 230 pounds, then you may consider a firm mattress.

But if you wait over 230 pounds you cannot sleep on a soft mattress as it can risk spinal ailments.

• Sleeping Position

This may sound weird but you should also consider your sleeping position while purchasing a mattress.

• If you are a back sleeper, then you need a mattress with medium firmness.
• And if you are a side sleeper, then you have to purchase a soft to medium firm mattress.
• Lastly if you are a stomach sleeper then you need a firm mattress.

If you are a combination sleeper, then you can do fine with any of them.

• Size

You also have to pay equal attention to the size of the mattress. For example, if you are a tall person or have a wide-shoulder, then you have to choose a mattress in which you can stretch your body comfortably.

Additionally, you sleep with your partner when you have to choose a matter that provides enough space for you both to sleep comfortably.

• Price

You also have to consider your budget while purchasing any mattress. But don’t let the low cost or high-cost sway you. You have to consider other factors before coming up with any decision.

Final Words- When Is the Right Time to Change Your Mattress?

Ideally, you have to replace your mattress every 10 years. But you should listen to your body. For example, if you don’t find your mattress comfortable enough to help in deep sleep then you have to change it now only.

Do share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Starting a small business is only the first step on the road to success. After that comes the day-to-day grind of everyday operations and, hopefully, growth. But growing your business isn’t always easy. You may consider investing in equipment or upgrading that you require. Small business loans are a great way to close the gap if you don’t have cash. Beyond the basics of how to get a business loan, there’s a lot to take in. Here are some of the basics.

How to Use Your Small Business Loan

There are numerous ways you can use a small business loan. That said, there are six primary methods.

1. To grow your business. You can invest in new equipment or facilities to expand your business with a loan. You can use the money to pay for new hires or upgrade your company’s computer software.
2. To purchase inventory. If you’re a retailer or reseller, you need to buy products at wholesale before you can sell them. A loan will give you the money to make that upfront purchase.
3. To manage your cash flow. If you run a seasonal business, your finances can be feast or famine. You can cover your operating expenses until you get back into the season by taking a loan during lean times.
4. To maintain an ownership stake. Many small businesses grow by obtaining outside investment. This is an effective way to raise money, but it also gives a third party a stake in your company, possibly even a majority share. By taking a loan instead, you maintain control.
5. To build business credit. Maybe you don’t need a loan now, but you might need one in the future. You’ll build credit by taking a small loan and paying it back. Then, you can take a larger loan in the future with some benefits.
6. Creating a cash reserve. Like people, businesses should have a cash reserve for an unforeseen event. If you’d rather not spend a year or more building that budget, you can take a loan and have immediate access to the cash. 

Choosing the Best Type of Loan for Your Business

Small business loans come in different forms. If you want to get the best bang for your buck, it’s essential to understand which type of loan is best for your needs.

• SBA loans are provided by the Small Business Administration, part of the US government. These loans are given to new businesses with a solid plan but no credit history.
• Commercial loans and lines of credit. Private banks offer these commercial loans and require an established credit history. A business line of credit is an option to have cash when you need it.
• Microloans are small loans of $50,000 or less. You can’t use it to buy property, but they’re easier to obtain than larger loans.

Things to Consider Before Think in a Loan

Before you apply for a small business loan, you’ll need to have a business plan. This is crucial for new brands, but even established companies need to demonstrate a plan. If your company is already operating, you’ll also need to show your lender your financial records.

Even if you’re offered a large loan at a generous rate, it’s wise not to borrow more than you need. Regardless of the great interest rate, you’ll end up paying more over time than you would with a smaller loan. Also, ensure you have a repayment plan. If your budget doesn’t allow for repayment, you’ll need to cut expenses elsewhere or forego the loan. (1)

Conclusion

Small business loans are an effective way to grow your business and carry your brand to the next level. Now that you better know how they work, there’s only one thing left to do. Apply for your loan, and get ready to grow your company!

There being more than 200 rehab centers to choose from in Virginia, which include various services like outpatient addiction rehab service centers, detox services, and residential services, finding drug rehabs in Virginia can be quite a daunting task for many, but not anymore. Here are the top 10 rehab centers that offer reliable services. (1)

1. The Farley Center in Williamsburg

This is a Virginia treatment center that deals with alcohol and drug addiction which sits along Mooretown Road in Williamsburg, Virginia. It provides various treatment options such as residential treatment services, inpatient services, and detoxification. For the inpatient option, the patients can stay in the hospital from a few days to a few months where they receive the 12 step recovery treatment process for accelerated recovery, group as well as individual psychotherapy, and other essential skills that not only help the patient recover but also ground their lives and become more sober, dependable and morally upright. The hospital has a license from the Commonwealth of Virginia and its accreditation is from the Joint Commission provided via the Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program.

2. National Capital Treatment & Recovery in Arlington

This addiction treatment and recovery center in Arlington, VA was previously known as Phoenix House Mid-Atlantic and has been in operation since 1962. They offer outpatient and residential services, with more gender-focused programs such as men’s and women’s residential programs. They use treatment approaches like medication-assisted treatment and medication management as part of their treatment options. Patients who can make it to visit the assessment center are assessed in person by the assessment team or over a phone call for those who can’t make it to visit the center. The assessment takes about one hour and a half and usually costs $200. The fee can be paid by insurance if the patient has a cover. The assessment has been accredited by the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

3. Bridging The Gaps in Winchester

This is a drug rehab center located in Shenandoah valley that offers different treatment services including residential, outpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs. The outpatient program is designed for those patients who are receiving other forms of treatment within the same or another hospital while the intensive outpatient program is designed to be given for half a day. The intensive outpatient program is for patients who are well advanced in their recovery journey or those who don’t prefer structure in their treatment. The partial hospitalization program also called the day treatment, offers the whole treatment plan but with the exclusion of residential services.

4. Life Center of Galax in Galax

Life Center of Galax provides alcohol abuse treatment in Virginia and has been in business for over 4 decades now. It provides services such as residential addiction treatment, drug, and alcohol detox, co-occurring disorders program, Christian-focused treatment, Driving Under Influence (DUI)/Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) program, methadone maintenance treatment, outpatient treatment, and opiate-focused treatment, among others. Doubling as a dual diagnosis treatment center in Virginia, they treat varying mental health disorders and addictions to drugs like meth, cocaine, synthetic marijuana, opiate, prescription drugs, stimulants, heroin, inhalants, and PCP (Phencyclidine). They also offer gender-focused solutions and group therapy sessions that involve educational lectures and workshops for those on whom it is recommended.

5. Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington

This is an award-winning hospital that has been serving patients for over 75 years. The main hospital can be found at 1701 N George Mason Drive but there are also other centers spread out all over the country. It is also a member of the Mayo Clinic Network, which is a network of well-known national health organizations. It has received certification and accreditation for a variety of services such as the accreditation as a brilliant robotic center by the Surgical Review Corporation and the joint certification recertification. For drug rehab, the hospital provides inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment programs with the options of detoxification, meditation, massage therapy, and rehabilitation, among other interventions for long-term recovery.

6. Mount Regis Center in Salem

This health center majors in inpatient treatment for both men and women who are struggling with addiction and behavioral health issues. The other services it offers include drug and alcohol detoxification, residential treatment, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, aftercare, and US military veterans services. Most of the services are aimed at people over the age of 18. They treat addictions to alcohol, cocaine, amphetamine, codeine, meth, opiate, marijuana, synthetic marijuana, prescription drug, and co-occurring disorders. Therapies that are included in the treatment programs are individual therapy, group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, rational emotive therapy, family therapy, spiritual therapy, and other therapeutic techniques and after rehab services. There is also a free online assessment for alcohol and drugs which shows how severe the patient’s addiction is.

There are hundreds of cultures around the globe over the past thousand years that have used crystals for healing and meditation purposes. Its mystical allure has not faded over time, and during times of ambivalence, people turn to alternative therapy such as meditation through the use of healing crystals.

If you are just getting acquainted with the use of these crystals, then worry no more as we give you several things you need to learn before you start your crystal healing journey.

Choosing the right crystal

There are sure to be many people who find brilliant-tinged gemstones fascinating. But it may not be that helpful when you try connecting with your higher self, or it may be less effective in quieting your thoughts during your meditation. When looking for the right crystal, you should feel connected with it. 

One of the first steps you can do is to assess your goals during meditation, then do some research on what crystal would work best depending on your needs. For example, if you have trouble sleeping, moonstone and amethyst are among the best crystals for healing and overcoming insomnia.

Placement of crystals

By this, we mean the physical placement of the stone in your body. Whether it is best to put it in your palm, wear it around your neck, and so on. For this, you also have to be familiar with which stones resonate well with body chakras. 

Rose quartz, for example, is well known for its association with the heart chakra. We also have Citrine and Tiger’s Eye, which have a connection with the solar plexus. If you already have the perfect stone, focus on the chakra point in your body and use the crystal to channel your energy.

Cleansing your crystals

Just like your body, these healing crystals need cleansing for them to work as intended. Practitioners clean their crystals before meditation by using sage or incense smoke. Others would take their crystals outdoors and leave them under the sun for a few hours. Some practitioners immerse the stones in saltwater. You can also do this to your crystal after you meditate to be clean the next time you use it.

Creating crystal barriers

Most practitioners prefer their thoughts to be undisturbed during meditation. For the practitioners to have a clear perspective, they practice creating an energy field. They can create an energy field by placing the crystals around the practitioner. It is a good way for you to strategically place your crystals if you do not want any of them to be touching your body. The crystals placed around the practitioner may vary.

Final Thoughts

Crystals can be more than just their usual label as pretty rocks. The effectiveness and efficiency of these gemstones are not limited to the metaphysical field but other things like technology and medicine. After all, their thousand years old presence is proof of their versatility. In the end, there is nothing wrong with incorporating different mediums when you meditate as long as you are doing it correctly. 

Smoking can harm your health, not just the health of those around you. Smoking is one of the most common forms of substance abuse in America and it’s said that more than 17 million Americans smoke cigarettes. But quitting smoking for good doesn’t have to be as hard as everyone makes it out to be – here are 7 self-help tips that will help you quit today!

1. First, Find Your Reason

Why do you want to quit smoking? Is it because everyone around you smokes and you hate having to walk outside every hour for a cigarette break? Or is it something more serious, like wanting to live longer for yourself or your children? Whatever your reasons are, make sure they’re strong enough that quitting will matter. If not, chances are you’ll relapse in the future when things get tough. Thankfully, today there are so many replacement options that make quitting easier and can serve as a first step. You can opt for zero nicotine vape options that give you the feeling of smoking cigarettes without the harmful chemicals. People choose these replacement options because they help them get rid of cravings while they ease off cigarettes gradually, without triggering any withdrawal symptoms.

2. Try Focusing on Breathing Exercises 

When cravings hit, try focusing on controlled breathing techniques instead of reaching for a cigarette. This will help relax both mind and body which can help stop the need to smoke before it even begins. A few deep breaths every time I had an urge helped me stay strong throughout many quit smoking attempts. Breathing exercises are also important because smoking often causes shortness of breath, which is how people get started in the first place.

3. Tell Your Loved Ones

Make sure to tell your friends and family that you’re quitting smoking so they can support you along the way. If you make it public, everyone will be watching to see if you succeed or not. Having people expect me to fail gave me even more reason to stay strong every day for my health, as well as theirs. This also helps with the social aspect of quitting smoking since you’ll be reaching out to your friends and family for support. Your loved ones are essentially the ones who will help you succeed.

4. Take It One Day at a Time

Quitting cigarettes is tough – but staying smoke-free is tougher. When things get hard, remember that staying smoke-free for one day should be all you focus on – because anything more than that should be treated as a huge accomplishment in itself! Focusing on one day at a time helped me stay strong through tough days and tough urges. Also, try not to focus on quitting altogether – set small goals like only smoking half as much or cutting down to one cigarette per day, instead of quitting completely.

5. Find a New Hobby or Activity to Take Up Your Time

Take up a new hobby to take your mind off smoking! When I quit, I exercised more because it helped me relax and focus on something other than cigarettes. If you don’t want to exercise, any activity from painting to skateboarding can help get your mind off of smoking every once in a while.

Play an instrument

A piano, guitar, or even drums might be just what you need to keep your hands’ busy while also getting some exercise in with those fingers! The key here is finding something where there’s no risk of being tempted to light up while playing because this habit could lead back down the path of smoking again. 

Learn a new skill

You may have always wanted to master the art of baking or painting – or maybe you want to learn a new language? Whatever it is, take up that hobby and spend your time learning instead of smoking. It’s amazing how many hobbies there are in the world and if we’re not careful we’ll live our whole lives without discovering even half of them! Find something you love and stick with it for at least a few weeks before deciding whether or not it’s worth quitting smoking for good to pursue.

Read more books

Many people undervalue the power of reading because they’ve never given books a chance. Reading doesn’t just open your mind to new ideas but also helps relax the mind when cravings hit hard. Try reading anything from mystery novels to self-help books. 

Practice meditation 

Meditation is another method that can help ease cravings while calming the mind and body, allowing you to avoid smoking again without feeling too anxious or stressed out about it. It also helps because meditation can bring your focus away from nicotine addiction and onto other positive personal changes like releasing negative thoughts, increasing self-esteem, and improving your overall physical health.

6. Remember the Benefits

If you don’t remember why quitting is important to you, write down all of the benefits that come along with being smoke-free – Not only does it help remind why quitting matters in the first place, but looking at your list whenever things get tough will show how much stronger you’re getting every day in your quit smoking journey. You can also write down all the benefits for your loved ones to help you stay strong.

7. Create a “Help Me” Jar

When things get tough, write down on a slip of paper all of the reasons why you want to quit smoking and put it in a jar. Then when you reach for another cigarette, read through your slips one by one to help keep yourself motivated! This helped me during many tough moments in my quit smoking journey and is a simple way for anyone to stay motivated. Also, remember to reward yourself for staying strong and reaching certain milestones in your quit smoking journey.

Remember that everyone’s journey is different, but these self-help tips can make quitting cigarettes much easier – even if you’ve tried before without any luck. But with support from friends and family, as well as focusing on staying healthy, there should be no reason for anyone to ever have to smoke another cigarette again.

A new study has revealed Floral patterns to be the most popular embroidery style in the United States.

Researchers at the online creative resource and digital embroidery designer Design Bundles analysed the average number of internet searches in the US for a range of different embroidery styles between November 2021 and January 2022.

Six of the top 12 most searched for embroidery designs were of a floral embroidery pattern, with Flowers, Sweet Peas, Roses, Sunflowers, Leaves, and Cacti all featuring on the list. Three of the top 12 were fauna – related to animals – with bees, pandas, and butterflies all making the list.

This means that nine of the top 12 most searched embroidery styles in the US are related to natural imagery, which perhaps reflects a wider trend in the world of embroidery.

At the top of the list was Flower embroidery. With an average of 12,100 searches per month for the period of the study, Flowers were found to be the most popular embroidery pattern in the US by a considerable margin. This fits well with the remainder of the list containing more specific searches related to plants. Embroidering your fabrics with a range of freshly stitched flowers is a great way to bring colour, life, and beauty to your designs check on justcraftingaround. 

Second on Design Bundles’ list of the most popular embroidery styles in the US were Sweet Peas. The Sweet Pea embroidery style saw an average of 5,400 searches per month between November 2021 and January 2022. Sweet Peas are delicate beautiful flowers which makes them a perfect design for embroiderers’.

Roses came in joint third place on the list along with Logos. Each had an average of 2,900 searches over the course of the three months during which the study took place. Rose represented both third place and the third floral design to be included in the list of most popular embroidery styles in the US.

Just behind Roses were Sunflowers, another floral design. Sunflowers had 2,400 searches per month on average in the US. Sunflowers have long been a popular floral design in all manner of crafts. This is perhaps due to their striking bright colours, tall height, and their immortalisation by Vincent Van Gogh in one of his most famous paintings, ‘Sunflowers’.

Leaves came in fifth place along with Butterflies, both of which had an average of 1,900 internet searches per month in the US between November 2021 and January 2022. This meant that the top five most popular embroidery patterns in the US are all floral designs.

The next and final floral design to feature was Cacti, which came seventh overall with an average of 1,300 searches per month in the US. The colourful, intricate and distinctive look of cacti makes for stunning patterns when they are embroidered.(1)

Most popular embroidery patterns in the US

Source – Design Bundles

What is embroidery?

Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabrics with a needle and thread to create patterns and decorations. Other materials such as sequins, buttons, feathers, or anything else that will stitch, can be used as part of an embroidered pattern. Embroidery is used for decorative not functional purposes.

Early evidence of embroidery dates back to over 30,000 years ago. Archaeological remains of the first European settlers, known as the Cro-Magnons, were discovered with evidence of embroidery on the clothes.

Although embroidery is now predominantly used for designing clothes, cloth, curtains, and other everyday fabrics, it was once also used to design and decorate book covers.

What is digital embroidery?

Digital embroidery is a digital design stored in a file that is used for creating patterns with an embroidery machine. So you can choose a pattern that you like and simply send the file to an embroidery machine and it will perfectly recreate that pattern on any piece of fabric you give to it.

Embroidery machines create intricate and accurate patterns in very little time and are far more precise than hand embroidery. Most machine models can complete around 6,000 stitches in just ten minutes. We have certainly come a long way since the early humans were threading simple patterns onto their clothes all those thousands of years ago!

So whether you want to embroider flowers, plants, or any other pattern for that matter, why not try using an embroidery machine next time to guarantee incredible results?

How to import digital embroidery designs to an embroidery machine

Using an embroidery machine is a great way to create fast and precise embroidery patterns. So, if you have a machine you can do away with your embroidery hoop and trust technology to bring your next project to life.

First, you need to choose a digital embroidery image or design that catches your eye and that you think would work well for the piece you are making. You will need to buy this image or download it from a site that offers free patterns.

Then you save the image onto your computer and transfer it onto a USB stick. Make sure you safely remove the USB stick so as to ensure you don’t lose any files saved onto it.

You then insert the USB stick into your embroidery machine. There should be a USB port on the side of the machine.

Next, you need to scan or import the image from the stick to the machine. Depending on which embroidery machine you have this is done through methods. Try to locate the USB drive on your machine’s screen and there should be an import option from there. Select the image you saved earlier.

Then you can set the image. Your embroidery machine should then give you the option of setting the size and parameters of the image.

You should then be able to preview the design and have the machine transfer it onto the fabric, and you’re done! (2)