by Blake Herzog
Everybody has a restless or sleepless night once in a while, but if your issues last more than a couple of weeks it could be time to take action. Quality sleep is vital to the proper functioning of everything our body does, so you can’t ignore what your long nights and groggy days are doing to you.
Luckily there are many tools at your disposal to try before seeking out a sleep specialist, ranging from old-school luxury to advanced sleep technology.
The best in bedding
Silk pillowcases and sheets, silk pajamas, silk sleep masks — the queen of fabrics is the go-to when it comes to decadent amounts of sleep that don’t mess your hair up or cause bed wrinkles.
But silk is far from the only fiber that will let you glide through the four to six full sleep cycles you need to be fully rested in the morning.
Lower body temperature has been linked to high-quality sleep. Cooling sheets are cut from newer creations like viscose bamboo and lyocell as well as more traditional fabrics like cotton and linen. Silver-infused sheets are used and marketed largely for their antimicrobial properties but can also have a cooling effect.
Pillows are even more important, so invest in a well-regarded brand that makes products filled with latex, premium down or, for the pinnacle in opulence, threads of mulberry silk.
However luxurious your sheets and pillows are they pale in importance against your mattress.
These should keep your spine in alignment and provide the support you need while still providing the comfort you need, criteria which becomes even harder to fit when you’re sharing your bed with someone else.
Adjustable air mattresses allow quite a bit of customization between the two halves of a couple while other customizable mattresses have a dual-chambered construction that allows each sleeper to choose their own firmness without there being a remote that can easily be sat or stepped on.
Sleeper technology
The gadgets and apps meant to promote and analyze your sleep are multiplying as we speak. The entry-level ones have you track your own data, while more advanced tech can monitor your vitals while you sleep.
Lots of people use their fitness trackers for sleep tracking as well, and many do an admirable job of keeping up with your patterns. For more in-depth and long-term analysis you may be better off with a dedicated device.
The first thing a sleep tracker should do is not awaken you while you’re sleeping, so wearable tech works better for some people than others. Most are worn on the wrist but others come in the form of rings, headbands or earbuds.
There are fewer nonwearable devices to choose from, but some ingenious ones are out there, including one that can be slipped under your mattress and another that can record your breathing and movement through bio-sensor technology.
It may take a little experimentation to find the right fit for you, but the data can be very useful.
