Using an Eye Pillow When Sleeping Can Stimulate Lucid Dreaming

Have you ever been in a dream and realized you were dreaming? This is called a “lucid dream.” Those who’ve experienced it say you can control what happens in the dream world. People have reported flying, walking through walls, meeting celebrities and deceased loved ones—the possibilities seem endless.

All of this is pretty mystical, but research has shown that lucid dreaming can have benefits in the waking world. In this post, we consider these benefits and how wearing an eye pillow when sleeping can stimulate lucid dreaming.

Benefits of Lucid Dreaming

Let’s briefly go over some of the research showing how lucid dreaming stimulates creativity, may improve physical ability, and helps to reduce the frequency of nightmares. Then, we consider how using an eye pillow when sleeping stimulates lucid dreaming.

A 2014 study by P. Bourke and H. Shaw shows that “frequent lucid dreamers solve significantly more insight problems overall than non-lucid dreamers.” Insight problems are those that require novel ways of thinking to be solved, which means lucid dreaming stimulates creativity.

Lucid dreaming may also improve physical ability. A 2010 study by D. Erlacher and M. Shredl had 40 participants toss coins into coffee cups after physically practicing the toss, practicing in a lucid dream, or doing nothing to prepare. Both the physical practice group and the lucid dream practice group “had statistically significant higher improvements in contrast to the non-dreaming group.”

Finally, a 2006 study by V.I. Spoormaker and J. Van den Bout argues that lucid dreaming “seems effective in reducing nightmare frequency.” This is a crucial therapeutic benefit if we are to believe research showing that childhood nightmares and other forms of being roused during sleep may indicate “susceptibility to psychotic experiences.”

How Your Sleep Mask Can Help You Have Lucid Dreams

Various studies by Stephen LaBerge show that lucid dreaming tends to occur during the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep. Since sleep masks block out light and aid the conversion of serotonin into melatonin, using an eye pillow when sleeping helps you enter the REM stage faster, and prevents light-based interruptions in the process. This also means that once you enter the REM stage, your eye pillow will help keep you sleeping and dreaming for longer.

Even if your sleep is interrupted, an eye pillow may help with dream recollection. Lucid dreaming enthusiasts say that stimulation of the optic nerve on waking is what keeps us from remembering our dreams. So whether you want to dream faster, longer, or more memorably, wearing an eye pillow when sleeping can help.

Further, your sleep mask is useful for a version of the “am I dreaming?” test to trigger lucid dreaming: if you wake up with the mask on, you’ve truly woken up, whereas if you “wake up” and aren’t wearing a sleep mask, you can realize you’re still dreaming. This is known as a false awakening.

Conclusion

Wearing an eye pillow when sleeping can stimulate lucid dreaming, which we’ve shown has health benefits. Lucid dreaming not only helps with creativity, skill development, and nightmares—for some, it also leads to more restful sleep. We hope this post has piqued your interest about the benefits of lucid dreaming, and how using an eye pillow when sleeping can help.

Blog source: http://www.nodpod.com/blog/using-an-eye-pillow-when-sleeping-can-stimulate-lucid-dreaming/

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Your Eye Mask Isn’t Just for Sleeping

Sometimes it’s hard to buy a product that seems to have one purpose. The dreaded unitasker, you think. What else can I do with it?

However, many of products have more uses than you realize. Take an eye mask. Have you ever considered just how versatile this can be? Sure, it’s first and foremost designed to ensure a great night’s sleep.

But have you ever thought to bring an eye mask on your next flight? If not, read on to learn why a travel eye mask can be your best friend on your next trip.

Why Bring an Eye Mask for Travel?

If you’ve traveled by plane, you have probably experienced a cabin full of sunlight while you’re trying to catch some sleep. A travel eye mask is a great way to comfortably block light during plane, train, or even car trips. The nodpod, for instance, attaches to a pillow so you can block out light while also supporting your head and neck. Not only are your eyes protected from damaging rays, but you’ll be free of aches and pains once you reach your destination.

Blocking out light is also crucial when you do need to sleep on a plane or other means of transport. Travel often involves erratic schedules and long flight times, and an eye mask can be the crucial when you really need to nod off.

Once you reach your destination, a travel eye mask is perfect for hotels. Often bright with city light filtering through thin drapes, a hotel’s environment is very different from a traveler’s home. A travel eye mask can provide that light-free nighttime environment you need to be refreshed for a new day. Also, if you use an eye mask at home, bringing that same mask on your travels helps to create a consistent sleep environment, ensuring a soothing slumber.

For Your Health

They are great for those whose travels are often disrupted by common medical problems. For instance, they can curb the effects of motion sickness, since the mask will block the visual information that contributes to queasiness.Eye masks can be therapeutic, as well.

Eye masks also can be soothing for those who suffer from migraines. They are recommended by physicians as part of an emergency migraine kit for the estimated 30 million people who suffer from them. This is because migraine sufferers often experience great sensitivity to light. Those with migraines should also consider using an eye mask for sleep.Researchers at Missouri State University showed a link between sleep deprivation and migraines, with a lack of sleep increasing the levels of a protein associating with chronic pain.

Cooling eye masks can reduce the puffiness that often results from fatigue and jet lag. A warming mask can help relieve nasal congestion and sinus pain, since the heat and pressure of a warm mask opens the nasal passages.

Eye Mask: Don’t Leave Home Without It

So now you know just how versatile a travel eye mask can be. From curbing sleeplessness to combating migraines, a travel eye mask can ensure your time away from home is filled with fond memories. Before you book your next vacation or business trip, consider purchasing a versatile eye mask like the nodpod and travel in comfort and style. Now, that’s a must-have in the travel bag!

Blog source: http://thenodpod.blogspot.in/2016/09/your-eye-mask-isnt-just-for-sleeping.html

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