9 Game-Changing Items to Help You Get a Better Night’s Sleep
From supplements to magic glasses
For the first time in what seems like months, you have eight whole hours to devote to sleep. But instead of having a much-needed snoozefest, you spend the night fidgeting with your comforter, adjusting the blinds and running to pee. We’ve been there. Here are nine tools to get you to sleep (and stay asleep) every single night.
A White Noise Machine
When you’re trying to fall asleep, the smallest noises become huge distractions, from the buzzing fridge to a passing car. The solution? Fill the room with white noise and create a calming, womb-like environment. This sleek gadget has six soothing sounds (rainstorm, anyone?) and a slot to charge your phone, so win-win.
Melatonin Chews
Eat one of these sweet bites before bed (just maybe do it before you brush your teeth), and in about 15 minutes, you’ll be lulled into such a calm state, you’ll be out before you finish the next chapter of Today Will Be Different.
Walgreens ($10)
A Really, Really Comfy Pillow
This one’s tricky, because pillows are a really personal thing. Your best friend might love a firm, flat pillow, while you love a puffy one. The National Sleep Foundation suggests a pillow that cradles your neck if you sleep on your back; a firm, gusseted pillow if you sleep on your side; and a thin pillow if you sleep on your stomach.
A Fancy Alarm Clock
Hey, sometimes you have to splurge. This “smart sleep system” uses colored light and sound effects to gradually soothe you to sleep and bring you back out again the next morning, and if you hook it up to your smartphone, you can track your sleep patterns to make sure you’re always getting A+ rest.
Withings Aura ($190)
An App to Maximize Your Zzzs
Or if you’d rather go the frugal route, download this free app for iPhone or Android. It creates interactive graphs of your patterns of light and deep sleep throughout the night and even records sounds to see if you’re snoring or talking in your sleep. Whoa, technology is amazing.
Sleepbot (free)
Tart Cherry Juice
We were skeptical about this one, but now that we’ve tried it, we’re officially converts. Drink an 8-ounce cup of tart cherry juice in the afternoon and one about an hour before going to sleep. It provides a natural source of melatonin and tryptophan, which helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Indian Summer ($48 for a pack of eight)
Moisture-Wicking Pajamas
Story of our lives: It’s freezing, so we bundle up in blankets. Then we wake up an hour later covered in sweat, so we throw them off. Then, 15 minutes later, we’re freezing again. These moisture-wicking PJs from Soma will keep you cozy but cool, even under flannel sheets and a comforter.
Soma pajama top ($40)
Amber Glasses
OK, you’re not going to win any beauty contests with these babies, but if you wear them when you’re watching TV or cruising Facebook before bed, it filters out the blue light that may be causing sleep disturbances. Pretty cool, huh?
Egyptian Cotton Sheets
Dreaming of cool, crisp sheets that keep you toasty but don’t trap in too much heat? Try 100 percent Egyptian cotton sheets with a high thread count (at least 350) and a percale weave to stay warm—but not too warm.