An Expert-Approved Guide to the Best Sleep Ever

Holding back a yawn as a result of Daylight Savings Time? We're right there with you. Thankfully, this week is National Sleep Week, so you can catch up on all the zzzs your alarm clock robbed you of last night. The National Sleep Foundation launched Sleep Week in 1998 to coincide with the first day of Daylight Savings Time and raise awareness of the importance of sleep and rest. Dr. Abhinav Singh, Medical Review Expert at the Sleep Foundation, suggests trying to wind down earlier this week to give yourself an eight-hour opportunity to sleep. "Be prepared for feeling fatigued and sleepy this week," he says. "Take a short nap 15 to 20-minute nap if possible."

But if you need a lot more than a nap or week to celebrate, you have the remainder of March to make getting the best night of sleep a healthy habit. So that means taking a break from your blue light exposure to replenish your body with high-quality sleep. If you're worried that your surroundings are interfering with your sleep, (whether it's your bedroom's design or back pain) there's hope for your sleeping woes! We reached out to Dr. Michael Breus, Purple’s Chief Sleep Advisor to share the life-changing tips that will change your sleep for the better. Dr. Breus shares, "I believe that sleep is a performance activity, similar to running. When you have the right mattress, pillow, sheets, lighting and sound, and temperature, you will sleep better. It’s all about the environment. Here's a guide to your best sleep yet—plus the products we've tested ourselves that elevate our nighttime routine. Sweet dreams!

Healthy Rest Habits for Sleep Week 2022:

1. Make Good Habits: "Sleeping better is all about priorities and creating healthy habits in the right environment," says Dr. Breus.

2. Avoid Mid-Afternoon Caffeine: "Who doesn’t love a good cup of coffee in the morning? But unfortunately drinking it too late in the day can negatively impact your sleep. Caffeine has a half-life of about six to eight hours. That means 50% of the caffeine is still in your system after eight hours. Since your body can take eight hours to eliminate half of the caffeine in your system, even if you don’t notice it, the caffeine is still present and will disrupt sleep."

3. Exercise Daily: "Moderate physical exercise can make a big difference in your sleep quality. Many of my patients who exercise regularly sleep better and feel more alert and rejuvenated the following day. Exercising during the day will not only help you fall asleep more quickly but will also lead to longer, deeper sleep with fewer awakenings during the night."

4. Don't Drink Alcohol Too Close to Bed: "Drinking alcohol too close to bed can prevent you from reaching deep sleep by reducing your REM and Stages 3 or 4 sleep. It can also dehydrate you, making you wake up thirsty. And, it can cause snoring."