20 Things That Will Help You Get Better Sleep
Tossing and turning at night? These handy products can help you get a better night's rest.
Quality sleep is crucial to our short-term and long-term health, and stress and anxiety can also affect our sleep patterns. If you're struggling to fall asleep and stay asleep, these handy natural sleep aids might just offer the relief you need. From cooling weighted blankets to blue-light-blocking glasses to white noise machines, these natural remedies will help you get the good night's sleep you deserve.
Sometimes you don’t need sounds so much as background noise to fall asleep. The LectroFan features 20 fan sounds and white noises that are great at masking noises outside such as construction or rowdy neighbors.
Due to the ultra-soft material and ergonomically-designed shape, these silicone noise-canceling earplugs can fit your ear perfectly. They're also extremely easy to set and comfortable to wear; just spin and insert. They feature a noise-reduction rating of up to 32 dB to protect hearing during loud events or set up a quiet environment when you need it (like at bedtime). Plus, they’re washable and reusable!
For side sleepers, earplugs aren't as comfy. But Loop has fixed that with a chic design that lays flat. And each order comes with multiple sizes to attach at the end so you get the best fit for your ears. I also love the fun colorways, from bright mint to preppy navy. These are always in my travel bag to ensure I get a silent night in hotels, especially when my room is near the elevator.
The Best Earplugs for Sleeping
If you struggle with anxiety, sometimes it’s hard to turn your brain off for sleep, but sleeping under an evenly distributed weight is an effective way to feel calmer, fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Weighted blankets use deep touch pressure to increase serotonin and dopamine and decrease cortisol levels, so you'll wake up feeling well-rested. Many people are hesitant to sleep with a weighted blanket for fear of overheating, but there are a ton of great cooling weighted blanket options, including this one from Baloo Living, which is made of breathable cotton and contains glass beads.
Are you in the habit of scrolling or watching TV in bed? The blue light emitted by our phones, laptops, tablets and TVs can disrupt the production of melatonin, the hormone primarily responsible for inducing sleep. Blue-light-blocking glasses, like this affordable pair from Anrri, filter out 90 percent of blue light and can also reduce eye strain and headaches caused by staring at screens.
The goal for every sleeper is to maintain spinal alignment, and your pillow directly influences that. If your pillow is too high or too low, your neck gets strained so you wake up sore in the morning. With the Coop Home Goods' Original, you can customize your pillow to achieve your ideal loft and density for deep sleep and energized mornings. Just add or remove the fill, and fluff it to evenly distribute. Trust us — you'll never look back.
The Best Pillows for Side Sleepers
For even more customization, there's Pluto. The pillow brand is unlike any other bedding shopping experience because it's completely customizable. You answer a series of questions and details about your sleeping habits and preferences, and then a tailor-made, just-for-you pillow is delivered to your door. There are over 35 design variations for every kind of sleeper, from core materials to pressure and size. I've gone through the process and was shocked when the perfect pillow (for me) arrived at my door. I'll never buy standard pillows again. This is 100% worth the cost.
You’ll Ditch Store-Bought Pillows Forever Once You Try This Customizable Brand
Pluto lives up to the hype, addressing your specific sleep needs with a concierge-esque pillow matchmaking experience.
Magic cocoa. That's what I call beam's Dream Powder. I'm usually skeptical of any serums, concoctions or even calm apps that claim to lull you to sleep. Because they never work on me. But beam does. This hot chocolate mix is packed with five good-for-you, natural ingredients that help regulate the nervous system and the body's circadian rhythm. And it tastes good, too. If you're looking for an alternative nightcap to a glass of wine, this is it.
Research shows that those who bathe or shower one to two hours before bedtime fall asleep faster. Want to level up your shower game? Try a shower steamer. These little miracle workers are, essentially, the same thing as bath bombs but feature flat bases so that they stay put on your shower floor while they work their magic. Steamers are forged from baking soda, citric acid and essential oils and come in endless colors and scents. The steamers react to the steam in your shower and release rich, therapeutic fragrances into the air as they fizzle away.
Silk pillowcases not only feel super luxurious, but they're hypoallergenic, breathable and great for your skin and hair. Some options are pretty pricey, but this top-rated, 100-percent mulberry silk pillowcase from Alaska Bear is budget-friendly and comes in a ton of colors.
The Best Silk Pillowcases
If you’re sensitive to light, an eye mask is essential for falling and staying asleep, especially if you can't or don't want to hang blackout curtains. But if you run hot at night and don’t want a bulky piece of fabric on your face, try the Slip Silk Sleep Mask. It’s made from 100-percent mulberry silk which is cooling, hypoallergenic and super lightweight so you don’t even notice it’s there.
The Best Sleep Masks
If you require 100 percent darkness when you sleep, blackout curtains are a godsend. These budget-friendly panels from Amazon Basics are made of innovative triple-weave 240 GSM polyester fabric, so they not only block light but also act as an insulating barrier. Plus, they can be tossed in the washing machine for hassle-free care.
The Best Blackout Curtains for Every Style
The lamp mimics the rise and setting of the sun, so at night the lamp gradually dims its soft light to lull you to sleep. In the morning, it gradually increases in brightness to wake you up like a sunrise, sans blaring alarm.
If you like the idea of a sunrise alarm clock and a sound machine, a Hatch lamp is both and more. This rounded smart light features sunrise lighting to wake you up, sunset lighting to help you unwind, sound machine modes and an app full of ambient, soothing content to play. And unlike other smart lamps, it's actually cute and won't be an eyesore on your bedside table.
Aromatherapy is a great way to unwind and relax before bedtime. Fill your room with calming lavender, damask rose or peppermint with an essential oil diffuser.
The Best Essential Oil Diffusers
If you experience cold symptoms, sinus issues or stuffiness from allergies, you should consider adding a humidifier to your bedroom. Because it works to add moisture back into the air, humidifiers can help alleviate sore throats and coughs, clear up sinuses and keep skin hydrated, which in turn, will help you sleep better. If you're wanting to spend less than $40, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is a good option. Its 1.5-liter tank will cover most small rooms and runs for 16 hours on continuous mist, meaning it can work well through the night. It has an optional night light and a 360-degree nozzle that allows you to point it where you like.
The Best Humidifiers
Good sleep hygiene is a phrase that's often used when talking about a good bedtime routine, but what about your bedroom's actual air quality? Make sure your bedroom is a healthy environment to sleep in with an air purifier. This is clutch for those with severe allergies or even seasonal allergies. I'm nearly tethered to my Dyson Pure tower. It's been a godsend for sleeping through the latest wildfire season. And the fan settings are, in my opinion, the best white noise sounds.
The Best Air Purifiers
If nasal obstructions, like congestion, a deviated septum or narrow airways, are disrupting your sleep or contributing to snoring, then Mute may be right for you. Mute gently opens the nose to increase airflow during sleep to reduce the reliance on mouth breathing which is synonymous with snoring. Mute comes in three sizes and will stay comfortably in place all night.
It's an obvious one, but, if you're tossing and turning at night, it could be your mattress. I upgraded to a Purple mattress this year, one of the biggest home purchases I've ever made, and now I measure time in two periods: Before Purple and After Purple. Of course, there is a way to hack your current mattress if you can't buy a new one just yet. A quality mattress topper can give you much-needed support and make an old mattress feel new. We ranked the TEMPUR-Pedic Supreme Topper as one of the best mattress toppers on the internet. Shoppers say it's a more budget-friendly way to get the TEMPUR-Pedic feel without the price tag.
The Best Mattress Toppers
Another obvious culprit for tossing and turning? Your comforter. We're big, big fans of the classic Buffy Cloud Comforter, but I'm obsessed with the new Breeze Comforter. It's made from eucalyptus and engineered to be more breathable and temperature regulating than cotton or linen. And that's crucial for deep sleep as our bodies actually drop a couple of degrees before and during sleep. As someone who runs hot but still loves to burrow under a plush comforter, I believe the Buffy Breeze is worth the splurge.
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