National Napping Day

The title of this post is not a joke!  I am so excited to join Global Influence in announcing that today is National Napping Day.

As someone living with invisible illness, napping is an essential part of most every day for me.  I usually take a nap before the kids get home from school so I can give them the best of me.  Fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptoms of MS (and lupus) that I display on most days.

The really cool thing about National Napping Day is that it is for everyone.  So, all you tired mama’s have permission to take a break today (and a nap!)

One company is acknowledging this special day with a giveaway!  Protect-A-Bed has decided to make National Napping Day even sweeter with a giveaway of their mattress pad.  Below are some details about Protect-A-Bed and their products.

Napping Day is the first Monday after daylight saving time begins. It’s the day when the majority of us, a bit weary from losing an hour of sleep, desperately long for a short siesta. And, those of us at Protect-A-Bed believe you should cave to that longing.

Studies abound tout the benefits of napping, from enhancing memory and learning, to improving work performance, and increasing mental acuity and overall health. That’s why on the first Monday after daylight saving time begins, it’s fitting to celebrate the benefits of the nap and those who take them.

However, those who nap the best understand a sleeping place needs protection from allergens and dust mites. After all, waking from a nap with the sniffles is no way to wake up at all.

Research shows 10 percent of the general public and as many as 90 percent of people with allergic asthma (depending on the study you read) have an allergy to dust mites. And, dust mites love spoiling our napping refuge, taking up residence in mattresses and pillows. In fact, as many as two million dust mites can thrive in an unprotected mattress.

Besides dust mites, it’s not unusual for other allergy triggers like pollen and pet dander to become trapped within mattresses. By using a mattress protector, allergy sufferers can create an impermeable barrier between themselves and the allergens within their bed. By coupling mattress protection with pillow protectors that seal allergens within pillows, people can create a virtually allergy-free nap space.

So today, harness the creative power that comes from napping, and embrace your inner Da Vinci. And remember, the art of napping needs a canvas, and that canvas comes from Protect-A-Bed.

About Protect-A-Bed®

Protect-A-Bed offers consumers a complete line of protective bedding products to create a Healthy Sleep Zone. The unique technology featured in Protect-A-Bed’s mattress and pillow protectors was developed in South Africa in 1980 before the company was officially established in the United States in 2000. Now selling in 27 countries, Protect-A-Bed is a worldwide leader in mattress protection innovation. The company developed the proprietary Miracle Membrane® and patented Bug Lock® and Secure Seal®, which help create a dry, bed bug free, anti-allergy sleep zone for people of all ages. Protect-A-Bed products are listed as a Class 1 Medical Device with the Food and Drug Administration and have received the Good Housekeeping Seal. For more information, visit www.protectabed.com.

Pretty cool, huh?  Protect-A-Bed is offering two contests today.

1.  Follow protect_a_bed on Twitter and use the hashtag #nappingday anytime today (Monday, March 15) and share the funniest place you have ever taken a nap.  Tweeting this will give you the chance to win a set of Premium Pillowcase Protectors for Protect-A-Bed.

2.  Leave a comment on this post telling me why you need a nap between today March 15, 2010 and Friday March 19, 2010 for a chance to win Queen Size Protect-A-Bed Premium Mattress Cover (a $79.99 value).  This giveaway is open to US residents only and winner will be chosen via random.org on Saturday March 20. 

Thanks to Protect-A-Bed for this awesome giveaway opportunity!  I am off for —you guessed it—a nice, long nap =)

**I partnered with Global Influence for this campaign and received a Protect-A-Bed mattress protector for review and one to giveaway to a reader.  All opinions expressed are mine and are not influenced by receiving the product.**