Yahoo EntertainmentAn Expert-Approved Guide to the Best Sleep Ever
- 1/9
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."
Alexandr Kolesnikov - Getty Images - 2/9
1) Sleep Aid Meditation Box
morphée
amazon.com
$99.99
"Research has shown that to maintain an optimal sleep space, all noise needs to be at a decibel level below 35.," Dr. Breus explains. "To help with this, white noise machines are a great sleep tool for masking unwanted noise, reducing awakenings, and increasing sleep amounts."
This tiny gadget will give you all the feels of a carousel music box from your childhood. Using three keys, you can unlock a great night of sleep by customizing meditation and sophrology techniques to help you wind down in a peaceful fashion.
amazon.com - 3/9
2) Purple Hybrid Premier 3 Mattress
Purple
purple.com
$2449.00
I can't say enough about Purple's best-selling mattress (I reviewed it and fell into deep and peaceful slumber). It's made with a soft gel that has airways to keep you cool while you sleep. You can feel the small grid as a sample yourself or test out the mattress for a 100-day trial.s
purple.com - 4/9
3) Glow Night Light (Double Pack)
casper.com
$31.50
"Limitations on light are essential to protecting sleep and creating an optimal sleep environment. Your bedroom should be dark for the duration of your sleep," Dr. Breus advises. This nightlight is a lifesaver if your partner gets up often and floods the room with light. The light grows softly using motion sensor technology and dims when you walk away.
casper.com - 5/9
4) Weighted Throw Blanket
Brooklinen
brooklinen.com
$169.00
We reviewed the best weighted blankets online and this breathable option was one of our favorites (we even gave it our Live Better award). It allows for airflow without feeling like a ton of bricks. If you've been waiting for a sign to feel this cooling hug-like blanket, here's your chance to snuggle deeper in bed.
brooklinen.com - 6/9
5) Gold 8 Desk Lamp with USB
Ocushield
wayfair.com
$124.99
If you can't help but look at your emails or scroll on social media before bed, it may be the very distraction ruining the flow of your sleep. "No phones lighting up on the nightstand, no environmental light flooding in from outdoors," advisesDr. Breus.
But, if you can't help but take a peek at your laptop, this sleek lamp designed by optometrists is flexible enough to fit in your daytime and nighttime schedule. It has a touch switch for three low blue light settings.
wayfair.com - 7/9
6) Silver | Silk Pillowcase
graceeleyae.com
$75.00
There's no better way to wake up on the right side of the bed than a luxurious silk pillowcase that smoothes out wrinkles and bed hair. You can hit snooze for one more dose of sleep since you won't have to spend an hour fixing your hair or makeup.
graceeleyae.com - 8/9
7) Snoozewearâ„¢ Blanket Robe
casper.com
$152.10
In need of a midday nap? You can sleep quicker with this amazing robe! The duvet-like robe has pockets deep enough to set an alarm on your phone when your nap is up!
casper.com - 9/9
8) Li'l Marsh Small Plush Blanket
UnHide
nordstrom.com
$65.00
Our editors reviewed the softest blankets we hold near and dear and this popular blanket stands out as a must-have for a cozy, yet breezy night of sleep. The blanket doesn't cling to you for a clammy feeling and is friendly to even the warmer seasons. You'll bring it with you everywhere.
nordstrom.com
