Sleep On It

When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, it’s important to understand the difference between sleep accessories that are just going to add to the clutter of your home, and ones that will actually make a difference to the quality of your overall sleep.

A good night’s sleep can help improve focus, mood regulation, athletic performance, and even heart health. One way in which you can make sure you’re focused on building a good night’s sleep is by ensuring you have the right sleep accessories for the job. Here are a couple of must-have items for a good night’s sleep:

The best pillow for complete support

Choosing the right type of pillow for your sleep can vastly improve the quality of rest you’re getting each night. The best pillow for your sleep can ensure you stay in a stable sleep position all night long, prevent unnecessary strain to your neck and back.

According to most experts, a good pillow can not only encourage better sleep, a poor pillow can actually lead to chronic pain, depending on how soft or firm it is. Picking the right pillow for you can therefore have a profound impact on the overall quality of your sleep.

A wake-up light

Your circadian rhythm plays an important role in the quality of your sleep. New smart lights mimic the sun rising and setting to make it easier to get in and out of bed. This can be useful when you’re struggling with longer evenings and shorter days during the winter.

The Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-up Therapy Lamp Light is a good example of an effective light for your sleep cycle. An especially useful tool if you struggle to get out of bed in the mornings with just an alarm alone, you can even DIY your own wake up light by opting to use softer, ambient light in the evenings as you’re winding down.

A reliable sleep app

One of the most important ways you can ensure you’re able to regulate your sleep cycle is through the use of a reliable sleep tracking app. Apps such as Calm or Headpace are useful for engaging in some relaxing meditation to unwind after a long day.

These apps are particularly useful for people who have trouble sleeping, and require an easy-to-follow guide for mediation.

Blue-light blocking glasses

Another sleep cycle regulating tool, blue-light blocking glasses will ensure you’re able to get through that late-night Netflix session without having to pay with sleep deprivation. These glasses prevent melatonin disrupting blue light from messing with your sleep cycle, and are useful for those of us who can’t tear away from our devices in the evenings.

Blackout curtains

These blackout curtains from Amazon can ensure you’re not woken up before you need to. These can be especially useful during the summer months, when there are naturally longer days, and you’re going to be seeing sunlight much earlier in the day.

Blackout curtains can also prevent your bedroom from overheating, which is another important aspect of getting a good night’s sleep.

When investing in sleep accessories that are going to make an actual difference to your wellbeing, it’s important to think about how you’re going to ensure you’re getting enough sleep each night. A great night’s sleep does more than just keep you feeling recharged and well-rested.

It can impact your physical and mental health, and ensure you’re performing at your best in other spheres of your life. With these sleep accessories, you’re going to find it a lot easier to get a good night’s sleep, and in turn, balance your wellbeing.

Sleep deprivation has become an increasingly common affliction in the US, where at least 35% of adults report sleeping for less than seven hours a day. Sleep is a vital component of our well-being, and getting the right amount of rest each night allows you to feel focused, energized, and adequately equipped to take on the day’s challenges.

So how much sleep do you need, and how many days can you go without sleep before you really start to feel its effects? Here’s everything you need to know about why sleep makes up such an integral part of our lives, and how we can ensure we’re getting the right amount of rest every night.

Frequently Asked Questions About Poor Sleep

There are a ton of risks associated with poor sleeping, and it’s important to be aware of how much sleep you actually require, and what your risk by staying awake late into the night.

Here are a couple of frequently asked questions about sleep:

1. How much sleep do I need?

Most healthy adults require anywhere between seven to eight hours of sleep each night to function properly. That being said, your personal requirement of sleep can vary from this average, so your best bet is to use a sleep calculator that tells you the different times you might be able to go to bed and still wake up feeling refreshed.

2. How many days can you go without sleep?

The longest period of time an adult has gone without sleep is over 11 consecutive days, for 264 hours. The effects of sleep deprivation start to show with just one day of poor sleep, however, and can result in poorer focus, irritability, and even hallucinations.

3. Can you survive without sleep?

Studies show people who get less sleep on average are at a higher risk for a number of illnesses, including obesity, diabetes, strokes, and even heart disease.

People who aren’t getting enough sleep also tend to be at an increased risk of poor mental health, with higher statistics for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression being concurrent with poor sleep.

Long-term sleep deprivation can therefore lead to debilitating, life-shortening illnesses.

4. What happens when I get the right amount of sleep?

Proper sleep can be life-changing. Not only will you find yourself with more energy and focus to devote to different tasks, but it can also allow better mood regulation, and boost athletic ability.

How To Get A Proper Night’s Sleep

Now that you know the importance of a proper night’s sleep, it’s important to try and make sure you’re set up for success. Some key changes to make for a better night’s sleep include:

Keep your bedroom set for comfort: A comfortable bedroom can make all the difference to the quality of your sleep. To make sure your bedroom is ideal for a good night’s sleep, be sure to check you have the most comfortable mattress for your sleep and have set temperatures nice and cool.
Set a consistent bedtime to follow each night: Your body’s circadian rhythm, or internal clock, responds best to a schedule. By sticking to the same sleep time every night, you’ll find it a lot easier to catch up on your rest.
Stay away from blue light in the evening: Try your best to keep your room a device-free zone. The blue light present in your phones, laptops, and other devices, can disrupt the melatonin production in your brain, and make it harder to fall asleep.

With the help of these tips, you should be able to catch up on the sleep you really deserve. All you have to do is make time for sleep - the rest will follow naturally.