My favorite sleep products from A to Zzz
I've always needed a lot of sleep. A couple of years ago when I was getting sick very often, I needed a lot of sleep. Like a lot. I started to become interested in (okay, okay, kind of obsessed with) the idea of creating the perfect sleep environment. After all, good sleep is at the core of health and vitality, in so many ways. It's a key element of productivity, success and sanity. I know if I get 8 hours+, I am a better mother, wife, leader, human and friend. Aren't you?
So many things compete for the elusive good night's sleep: crying children, snoring spouses (I'm the snorer in my house!), the second glass of wine too close to bedtime, caffeine consumption, being too hot/too cold and the latest culprit: blue light. What's a girl to do when the thought of not being able to drift off peacefully -- or worse -- stay asleep through the full night causes panic? A lot is written about tactics and strategies to ensure a good night's sleep: get to bed in a regular routine, use blackout curtains, keep your phone out of sight, count sheep, take an Ambien....the list goes on. But what about the tools and products you can order up on Amazon right now that will help you get a better night's rest, or at least feel better while you're laying in bed awake? That's what this is about.
I give you: the elements of the (mostly) perfect sleep environment.
The sheets count as much as what's between them. In support of my quest, my husband surprised me at Christmas with a well-researched, amazing set of sheets that I am in love with! Check out Frette for the long-standing favorite of luxury hotels (I see why). Some of the sets can get outrageously priced but they do have a couple of sets in a more decent range. The Italians really know how to sew sheets.
Get your temperature right and you'll eliminate waking. Especially in regions with all four seasons, it can be hard to get comfortable in the hottest and coldest months of the year. Piling on flannel usually amounts to piles of sweat by the middle of the night. And throwing your leg out and tossing and turning in the middle of August is just the pits. Allow me to introduce you to the ChiliPad - a single or dual zone mattress topper that helps you sleep at the perfect temperature to wake refreshed (usually cooler than you think!) After playing with it for a couple of weeks and trying different temps, I decided 67 degrees is my ideal. It's nice that it comes with a remote because I can warm it up in the winter to be cozy while reading and then cool it down before lights go out. This has been a game changer.
Side sleepers! Get yourself a body pillow. Stat. I'm a left-side sleeper and was waking up with hip pain (I sound so old) from the angle that side sleeping positioned me in. I bought an amazing shredded memory foam body pillow from Amazon and it keeps my body positioned just right. Disclaimer: my husband is not thrilled with this large object in our bed. And, sometimes the kids try to knock each other out with it. But momma's happy.
Silence the noise. Even if you are in a quiet neighborhood on a still cul-de-sac in the country, I bet there are noises disturbing you that you aren't even aware of. I discovered the beauty of truly quiet sleep with the help of this anniversary gift from my husband: Bose Noise Masking Sleepbuds. They are small, wireless ear buds that are preloaded with many soothing sounds and songs. The best part is they are equipped with an alarm feature so I can wake up early without waking the rest of the house. I wake up without realizing how much time has passed. It can be way too easy with these little guys to sleep through an external alarm.
Take a load off with a weighted blanket. Here's the latest addition to my collection, thanks to my mother-in-law's Christmas present to me. A 20-pound weighted blanket that helps "hug" me and calm my nervous system (I don't know about you, but I can always use my system being calmed) to relieve stress and anxiety. I sleep with a FitBit, so I get sleep data. After all, I wouldn't be a good sleep-obsessed-nerd if I didn't, right? The data shows that the nights I use the weighted blanket have far fewer tosses and turns. It's hard to turn over with an extra 20 pounds on top of you! I wake up feeling completely refreshed. Check out this one from Gravity. It's sure to be a mood-boosting deep, restful sleep.
I think good sleep has a lot to do with a successful career and a happy life. I'm grateful to these products and my current routine to ensure I don't spend time worrying about the oh-my-god-I-can't-sleep-pergutory of the middle of the night that I used to endure. What are your favorite products or strategies to get good Zzzzzs?