How to sleep better: 7 products for a good night's sleep
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How's your sleep? Not getting enough of it? That's why the National Sleep Foundation has its annual Sleep Week, to remind people just how important sleep is to our overall well-being. Contemporary life can leave us sedentary and constantly staring at screens, which doesn't create the best conditions for sleeping well.
For most of us, getting a good night's sleep requires a little bit of effort. Luckily, there is a whole market of products designed to help you get a better night's sleep. Some of it is a fad, but some of it truly works. So in honor of Sleep Week, here are products that actually help you achieve a better night's sleep.
A smarter alarm clock: Loftie alarm clock
Lead shopping reporter, Bethany Allard, is a big fan of the Loftie alarm clock. Once you set it up, there's no need to keep your phone in the bedroom as it serves as an alarm and a sound machine. The alarm has a two-fold system, first delivering a wakeup tone, gently stirring you out of sleep, followed by a get-up tone, signaling that it's time to get up. Loftie alarm clocks also feature a built-in Bluetooth speaker, bed signal alarm, and a built-in nightlight.
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Read our full review of the Loftie Alarm Clock.
An alarm clock that simulates the sun: Hatch Restore 3
Like Loftie, Hatch's Restore 3 gently wakes you up in the morning, but it also soothes you to sleep. Setup for the Hatch Restore 3 happens in the Hatch smartphone app, where you create a routine that starts in the evening with a wind-down routine and then eases you into the new day with a gentle wakeup routine. The built-in light even emulates the rising sun, ideal if you're waking up before the sun actually rises. Plus, it comes with a fun array of wakeup and wind-down sounds, but keep in mind, to gain full access to the Hatch library, you need a premium subscription.
Lighting to unwind: Red light bulb
You've incorporated red light into your skincare, so why not your bedtime routine? While the studies on the effects of red light in a bedtime routine are somewhat limited, evening red light exposure may help stimulate melatonin production, leading to a better night's sleep. A red light bulb is a cheap and easy thing to incorporate into your bedroom, creating a dim, relaxing mood that signals to your brain that it's time to sleep.
Gamma Light Therapy's red light bulb is designed as a sleep aid, but a smart bulb like GE's LED+ bulb features a red light setting in addition to warm and cool white light, so you don't always need the ambient evening lighting.
A sleep tracker: Oura Ring + Whoop
If you're trying to optimize your sleep to no avail, it's time to get some actual data. We have a full guide to the best sleep trackers, but our two favorites are the Oura Ring and Whoop 5.0/MG. Both track your health biometrics around the clock, plus you'll get special sleep insights.
After weeks of tracking, the Whoop learns your preferred wake and sleep times, eventually suggesting your ideal bedtime and wake time. Plus, the Whoop acts as an alarm, gently buzzing when it's time to wake up.
Meanwhile, the Oura ring tracks your sleep, eventually categorizing your chronotype. That chronotype then provides an optimal sleep schedule so you're not fighting against your own circadian rhythm.
Both the Oura ring and Whoop are strong sleep trackers; which one is right for you is just a matter of whether you prefer wearing a ring or a band.
Read our full review of the Oura Ring 4.
Keeping out the noise: Loop earplugs
Whether you're sharing a bed with Snorlax, have noisy neighbors, or just need to block out the noise, earplugs might be the meaningful difference between a good and bad night's sleep. Loop makes our favorite earplugs — the Mashable team has even worn them to see Beyoncé.
Loop's Dream earplugs are designed for overnight comfort, so even side sleepers won't feel them as they doze off. Each pair comes with two types of ear tips: the standard Dream foam silicone ear tips plus the Dream double tips, so you can play around with the level of noise reduction you need.
Read our full review of Loop earplugs.
Headphones you can sleep in: Sleep A30 earbuds
If you like to listen to music or a guided meditation while you sleep, but the person you're sharing a bed with doesn't, it's time to get a pair of sleep earbuds. The best pair we've tested is the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds, which, like the Loops Dream earbuds, are designed for optimal comfort while sleeping. But these are more than just earplugs. The Soundcore Sleep A30 have active noise cancellation to block out noise, plus come with built-in soundscapes including AI audio brainwave, snore masking, white noise, Calm app sleep stories, and Calm app meditations.
Read our full review of the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds.
A luxury bed setup: Eight Sleep Pod 5
Sometimes sleep requires a serious investment. If you want a high-tech sleep device, the Eight Sleep Pod 5 might be the answer. The Pod 5 is a mattress cover that is attached to a hub. Throughout the night, it regulates its temperature so you never get overheated (or too cold). But beyond temperature regulation, Eight Sleep has an extensive app, tracking all your sleep metrics for thorough insights into your health. It's an extremely pricey system, costing $2,999, but for those struggling to sleep well, it could crack the code to a good night's sleep.
Read our full review of the Eight Sleep Pod 5.
Topics Earbuds Fitness Trackers Health
Boston-based Shopping Reporter, Samantha Mangino, covers all things tech at Mashable, rounding up the best products and deals. She’s covered commerce for three years, spending extensive time testing and reviewing all things home, including couches, steam irons, and washing machines. She thoroughly vets products and internet trends, finding out if those cozy gamer chairs are really as comfortable as TikTok claims.
