When I first told my parents I'd got the gig as H&G's resident sleep writer, they were shocked: I'd always been such a bad sleeper as a kid. I used to lie awake for hours, especially in the summer, incapable of cooling down or calming down for sleep.
More than anything, my parents wanted me to fall asleep faster, but they didn't want to spend all their time and money replacing my bedding or buying a new mattress. Instead, they made a series of quick and easy adjustments to my bed and bedroom to create a cooler, calmer, quieter sleep environment. Spoiler alert: it worked, and I'm sharing their wisdom with you today.
Perhaps your sleep problems are seasonal: you're a hot sleeper, who struggles to sleep in the summer heat, or a sensitive sleeper, who suffers from seasonal allergies. Perhaps your sleep problems plague you all year round: you suffer from chronic pain or acute stress. When you make any one of these easy, affordable upgrades, you could learn how to sleep better and feel fresher come morning.
6 things I use to fall asleep quickly
I've tried to stick to little products that make a big difference to my sleep quality. If you're keen to make a more dramatic change, and invest in the best mattress, then you should consult our dedicated buying guides.
I can't fall asleep unless it's pitch-black inside my bedroom. When I first moved into my new apartment, I replaced all the flimsy old shades with a set of the best blackout curtains. I suggest you do it, too: true darkness helps to slow your racing thoughts and settle your circadian rhythm. Blackout curtains are also great for blocking noise and heat from your bedroom to create a cool, quiet sleep space.
Loop Ear Plugs are everywhere at the minute: in fact, they're the number-one best-selling earbuds on Amazon with more than 50,000 five-star reviews. One noise-sensitive customer raves that the Loop Ear Plugs offer 'a true balance of form and function', where 'the silicone is flexible but firm and the design makes them functional and comfortable'. I've just picked up a pair and I plan to use them on my next long-haul flight.
H&G sleep writers, past and present, rave about this sleep mask. It's the definition of affordable luxury: made from 100% silk, scented and weighted with lavender buds and flax seeds, for just $19.99. If you like the look and feel of the ASUTRA Silk Eye Pillow, then you could always invest in the rest of their sleep support range, which includes clinically proven melatonin lotion and calming aromatherapy mist.
I first tried Tisserand Aromatherapy on a sleep retreat. I liked it so much that I smuggled the little bottles home with me and I'm ready to order another set once these oils run out. I don't like anything that smells too sweet, so I appreciate the deeper notes of jasmine, sandalwood, and lavender. Every evening, I apply the oils to my pulse points: it's become a part of my night-time routine.
I was only supposed to test the Marlow Pillow for a month or so at the start of the year. Six months later, I'm still sleeping on it, and it's made its way into almost all of our bedding buying guides. That's because it's the ultimate adjustable pillow, suitable for all sleep positions. All you need to do is push and pull the zippers to let air into and out of the pillow until it reaches your ideal firmness and feel. I think it's the best pillow on the market.
I'm a hot sleeper, and the heat tends to go to my head. I'm looking for the best cooling pillow to keep me comfortable overnight, but I still haven't found the perfect fit. Until then, I'm relying on my Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Pillowcase to get me through the summer. Silk is naturally thermoregulating and uniquely moisture-retaining, so it doesn't absorb any of my nightly face cream or steal the shine from my hair.
Final thoughts
If you know you need to prioritize your sleep, but you don't have the time or money to go on a sleep retreat, you don't have to: I can teach you how to create a sleep retreat at home. It's all about eating well, moving often, and investing in a few essentials to help you wind down well.
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