We’ve all felt the effects of a bad night’s sleep. The morning grumpiness that coffee can’t fix. The mental fog, the stiff neck, the little things that suddenly feel a lot more irritating than they should. We tend to blame it on a bad night’s sleep. While that’s true, what’s actually causing that bad night’s sleep? Surprisingly often, it’s your pillow.
TLDR: Check out the infographic at the end of this article!
Why Does the Right Pillow Matter?
The right pillow for you isn’t just something that’s nice to have. It’s absolutely essential for a good night’s sleep and overall quality of life. At the end of the day (no pun intended) every pillow has the same core job: Support your head and neck while keeping them aligned with your spine. Do that well and everything else like comfort, pressure relief, and great sleep will follow. Sounds simple right? You’d be surprised at how frequently people get the incorrect pillow for themselves. The average person spends over 2,900 hours a year on their pillow (assuming 8 hours a night). If that support is off, the effects add up fast. Neck pain, headaches, teeth clenching, even TMJ discomfort. Suddenly those groggy stiff mornings are starting making a lot more sense huh?
Finding the Right Pillow
*Everyone’s preferences are different, this guide is a suggestion, not a strict rulebook.*
Our EcoWool® Sleep Pillows are designed to keep things simple. They’re the Original EcoWool® Pillow, a no frills fan favorite that’s handmade for comfort, durability, and natural performance. It’s our best value option, made to work beautifully for every sleeper night after night. With our EcoWool® Sleep Pillows, you get the added bonus of natural temperature regulation and no toxic fire retardants since wool is naturally fire retardant. So you can get a great night’s rest, naturally.
How to Choose Your EcoWool® Sleep Pillow
You really only need to know 2 things:
1. Sleep Position
Side Sleepers: High Loft
Side sleeping is the most common position and it requires the most support. You need enough loft to fill the space between your shoulders and head so your spine stays aligned.
- If your shoulder feels sore, compressed, or jammed, your pillow is too low
- If your pillow feels fine on your back but yours on your side, you need a higher loft
Back Sleepers: Medium loft
Back sleepers need a balance. Enough support to cradle your neck but not so much that your head is pushed forward.
- If your neck feels unsupported or arched backward, your pillow is too low
- If your chin tips toward your chest, your pillow is too high
Stomach Sleepers: Lowest Loft is Essential
Stomach sleeping can be tough on the body, but it’s a natural and comfortable choice for many people. When in doubt, less is more.
- If your pillow is too high it will push your head up and throw off your alignment
- If your neck or jaw feels strained, your pillow is too high
2. Mattress Size
Twin, or Full Mattress: Standard Pillow
The standard pillow will provide proportional coverage without overcrowding the mattress.
Queen Mattress: Queen Pillow
Two queen pillows fit perfectly side by side, offering better coverage without unsightly gaps that a standard would leave.
King or Cal King: King Pillow
These are the only pillows that will span the full length of the larger mattress and offer full coverage.
If you’re ever in doubt, check out the infographic below.
With that, you’ve taken the steps to choosing the correct Shepherd’s Dream EcoWool® Sleep Pillow and are on the way to better sleep and a higher quality of life!
