DIY Life

Sleep is one of the most important parts of our day, so why do we take our pillows for granted?

You may say that it doesn't matter, that you can sleep on any old pillow, be it fluffy, flat, firm, or mushy. However, your pillow can -- and usually does -- affect your sleep quality. In this busy time, don't we want to get the most renewal points possible out of our night's rest?

Believe it or not, there is a method to choosing the perfect pillow for yourself: Web MD says you can alleviate headaches, neck and back pain, and even allergies by taking the time to learn how. I'll share some guidelines after the break.

The last few weeks, I have been waking up at night, cold and unable to figure out why. Part of it is that with the warmer weather, the heat comes on less. I get that. I think, though, that the real culprit is my down comforter.

What used to be a fluffy, warm, and cozy part of my bed now looks flat and lifeless; all the insulating properties have gone with the poof.

I know I was not supposed to lay or sit on top of the comforter so as not to damage the down fibers. Since we neglected to tell the 90-pound dog who sleeps with us, we've got one flat comforter. So I took these steps to help re-fluff it, hoping for more insulation and warmth: