12 innovative products to help you get your best sleep ever

© Getty Images stock Serene couple sleeping in bed

Sleep Better TODAY continues with Better Basics for a great night of sleep!

Lifestyle expert Jenn Falik stopped by Wednesday with picks that will help you upgrade your nightly routine. From bedding and pajamas to your bedside lamps, these are Falik's genius recommendations for superior snoozing!

Sleep Accessories

1. NodPod Weighted Sleep Mask, $30, Amazon

Looking for the benefits of a weighted blanket, but hesitant about weighing down your entire body? This sleep mask is like a focused version of the blanket! It contours to your face to stay in place all night long, providing relief from insomnia, headaches, eye strain and stress. Scent-free and double sided with one cooling option and one cozy fleece option, it'll keep you comfortable no matter what the temperature is.

This gel bead mask offers soothing comfort to the sensitive skin around your eyes. The microwave-safe beads can be heated up to help you relax, increase blood flow to the eye area and provide relief from congested sinuses. It can also be cooled in the fridge to help with puffy eyes and make waking up easier. The super soft plush backing means that no matter what temperature you use, it'll be comfortable on your eyes!

3. Nite Nite and Wake Up Patches, $12 for set of 8, UncommonGoods

Try upgrading your sleep aids with these soothing, sleep-inducing patches. Designed to help you wind down, the patches hold a calming combination of melatonin, hops, and valerian root. The ingredients are slowly released for up to 12 hours, and your body only absorbs what it needs.

There's also a morning version, which combines B12, B1, caffeine, and green tea extract to help wake you up.

4. ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, $25, Amazon

This pillow spray will bring your nightly routine to the next level. The blend of wild chamomile, lavender, and vetivert oils can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep.

A clinical study showed that 97 percent of users slept better, 89 percent fell asleep faster, and 98 percent felt more refreshed in the morning — and 100 percent of the users would recommend the deep sleep pillow spray to a friend.

Pajamas

Originally a swimwear brand, Summersalt uses innovative fabrics to give you the best fit. These new pajamas in a classic piped design feature a blend of polyester and stretch terry, creating a highly absorbent, sweat-wicking material.

"When it is hot, skin stays cool, but on chilly nights, the soft pile yarn feels warm and cozy," said Falik. "The material is also designed with maximum stretch and recovery so the shape keeps, and the pajamas look and feel fresh even after many wears."

2. Lunya Restore Pajamas, $58+, Lunya

Lunya's latest sleepwear line is restorative and replenishing, helping your body relax while you sleep. The collection features a Celliant fabric blend featuring a proprietary mix of FDA-regulated minerals which absorb and convert body heat into infrared energy. That energy is then recycled back into your body to help you sleep more comfortably, while also increasing your oxygen levels to recharge.

"Basically, it's as if you plugged yourself in and woke up with 100 percent battery," said Falik. With tons of style options and multiple colors, you'll be sure to find a set you love.

Bedding and Blankets

1. Cloud Comforter, $120+, Buffy

Try swapping a basic comforter for this innovative one from Buffy. Millions of microscopic, natural minerals embedded in the comforter work to regulate body temperatures and keep sleepers cool on hot nights, or warm on cold winter ones.

The silky eucalyptus fabric and the air-blown, layered fill will make you feel like you're sleeping in the softest, fluffiest cloud.

2. 5-Piece Bedding Set, $149+, Primary

This sheet set actually makes making the bed easier — seriously! The flat top sheet and duvet snap together, meaning you can adjust them in just one movement. Plus, the sheet won't bunch and twist while you're trying to sleep.

The set includes a duvet cover, top sheet, fitted sheet, and two pillow shams, and comes in a variety of colors and patterns.

3. Baloo Queen-Size Weighted Blanket, $169, Baloo

Instead of a throw blanket, try one of these Baloo organic weighted blankets. Made with certified organic materials and lead-free glass beads, these blankets are cool and breathable. Weighted blankets can also help with a variety of troubles, including anxiety, insomnia, and autism.

Pillows

1. Ravmix Silk Pillowcase, $24, Amazon

Upgrade your basic pillow case with this affordable option from Amazon. Beauty insiders swear by silk pillowcases to protect skin from aging and keep hair smooth overnight. This pillowcase comes in dozens of colors and has a hidden zipper closure so you don't snag hair or skin while you sleep, and is even machine washable!

2. Pilo Classic Ergonomic Smart Music Pillow, $170, Amazon

With built-in speakers, this is a pillow and sound machine all-in-one! With 52 multifaceted contour cuts, it offers comfort for all types of sleepers and gives great head and neck support, while also providing superior pressure relief. It also comes with a smartphone app pre-loaded with the ambient music and sounds that are most conducive to deep sleep.

Lighting

1. The Glow Light, $99+, Casper

Casper's Glow Light softly lulls you to sleep with a warm light that gradually dims so your body winds down before bed, and turns itself off so you won't have to get out of bed to flip a switch. The light's ambient light sensor also helps users in the middle of the night by letting off just enough light to help you find your way. In the morning, it gently wakes you up filling the room with soft light.

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On World Sleep Day tips to help your child get more shut eye

The 12th World Sleep Day, which is being celebrated today, aims to shed light on the importance of sleep across all age groups. While in the adult years, sleep issues may trigger serious health impacts including cardiovascular issues, hypertension, depression and fast cognitive decline, in case of kids, the consequences of poor sleep are reflected mainly in their brain development and academic performances.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine lays the following sleep-duration guidelines for children across different age brackets:

4 to 12 months — 12 to 16 hours

1 to 2 years — 11 to 14 hours

3 to 5 years — 10 to 13 hours

6 to 12 years — 9 to 12 hours

13 to 18 years — 8 to 10 hours

Well, if you want to ensure that your children get the right amount of sleep based on their age, your secret to success lies in following sleep guidelines on a regular basis. A recent review of sleep research conducted at the University of British Columbia (UBC) found that this rule works wonders for all age groups including adolescents. Their review found several studies which revealed that adolescents who were bound by strict sleep guidelines set by their parents snoozed better than those whose parents hadn't created a regular routine. The review by UBC was focussed towards analysing the data of sleep hygiene followed by 16 countries in North America, Europe and Asia. It involved around 300,000 kids in four age groups: Infants and toddlers (four months to two years), preschoolers (three to five years), school-age children (six to 12 years) and adolescents (13 to 18 years).

Here are the top 7 sleep rules that will give better sleep to your little ones. Celebrate this World Sleep Day by setting them up today and sticking to them. Every day.

Create and follow a regular bedtime routine This routine could include reading a book together or listening to a calming music. However, the duration of this routine shouldn't be more than 30 minutes and end in your little one's bedroom only. Stick to this schedule every day. This ritual will send signals to your child's brain that it's time for sleep while helping him relax. Make sure that he doesn't indulge in any sort stimulating activity immediately before bedtime. Also, it is extremely crucial to follow the same bedtime and wake-up time every day. Don't let this change on weekends, or else, it will be difficult for your child to get back to the previous schedule on Monday. A variation of 30 minutes to an hour, however, should be okay. 

Reward your childIf your child follows the bedtime routine that you have set up for a week, reward her with points. If she sticks to the routine for seven days, she earns seven points. After she earns seven points surprise her with a gift. This will work as an incentive for her to follow the routine set up by you.

Switch off the screens The blue light from various screens confuses the brain and interferes with the production of sleep hormones. So, make sure your child is away from TV, mobile, laptop or tabs at least an hour before going to bed. A recent European study revealed that kids who were hooked on to screens in a dark room before bedtime had a higher chance of getting inadequate sleep. Their quality of sleep was also found to be low. The research involved 278 children in the age group of 4 years. This practice was also linked to long daytime nap.

Inculcate healthy eating habits A large-scale research from last year that involved 177,091 Greek children in the age bracket of 8 to 17 found that 40 per cent of them were sleep deprived. This study found that there was a link between their insufficient sleep and eating habits which included skipped breakfast, fast-food addiction, and regular.

Keep your kids active Get your little ones into the habit of working out during the day. This will give them better shut eye during the night. Make sure that they do not become couch potatoes. Keep your kids active through the day.

Don't let them indulge in caffeine If your kids are finding it difficult to fall asleep regularly, then probably it's time for you to monitor if they are indulging a bit too much in caffeine-based drinks. Caffeine can mess up with their sleep even if they have it hours before going to bed. This should be strictly limited. Coffee-based chocolates and ice creams can also interfere with your child's sleep time.

Prep up his bedroom Everyone needs a cool, dark and quiet room to fall asleep. This applies to kids as well. Make sure your child isn't feeling too cold or hot while he hits the bed. So, it's essential to keep an eye on what he wears while going to bed. Also, make sure that there is pin drop silence in his room as kids are extra sensitive to noise.

Published: March 15, 2019 6:36 pm

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DJ Will Clarke Shares His Favorite Places To Eat, Sleep, And Party In Detroit

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If Detroit isn't on your current list of must-visit cities in America, remedy that immediately. Even in its fallow years, fans and creators of experimental underground electronic music have always held the city in high regard. It maintains a legendary status amongst the early techno artists who once called the Motor City home. Now the rest of the world is catching up — the city has been going through a quiet renaissance with new restaurants, clubs, and hotels helping revitalize the downtown area.

To help get you hip to what's popping in Detroit, we tapped Bristol-born electronic musician and DJ Will Clarke who now calls the city home. The Dirtybird Records luminary is about to drop his latest single "Feeling Good," on March 15th. With the launch fast-approaching, he offered to break down some of his favorite spots in his adopted city.

Where to Stay

The Shinola Hotel

A super brand new hotel that has been opened by Detroit-based leather watch brand Shinola and real estate firm Bedrock. The Shinola Hotel has some sdope rooms and great restaurants like Penny Red's. Also, it's in the heart of downtown which is perfect to check out the ever-evolving city of Detroit.

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Every Inch of This Room Was Designed to Give You the Best Sleep of Your Life

There are tons of gadgets out there aimed at helping us with the daunting task of falling asleep—weighted blankets, sound machines, noise blocking pillows, you name it. But these apartments in London take it one step further—okay, multiple steps—by designing entire rooms around the idea of falling and staying asleep.

Design-focused serviced apartment brand Cuckooz teamed up with a UK-based mattress company, Simba, to create three apartments in Spitalfields, which is close to Liverpool Street in London. The Cuckooz website describes the rooms as "expertly designed to take you on a journey to your perfect night's sleep," which honestly, sounds like something I could use right now—and every night.

"The Woom Room" bed is the most interesting part of the sleep-inducing apartments—the frame itself uses slats of plywood fitted together to create a sense of being enclosed in a mother's womb, mimicking a cocoon-like design.

In an interview with Dwell, co-founder of Cuckooz, Fabiene O'Neil, reveals some details of each specific design.

"Designed to encourage REM-rich slumber—the type of sleep which increases brain activity, promotes learning, and creates dreams, the rooms engage with every sensorial touchpoint of the body," said O'Neil. "[This creates] a holistic ecosystem that enhances your sleep from the moment you step through the door, helping you to power down, recharge, and fight fatigue."

As soon as you walk in, you'll hear a curated playlist of cello music wafting through the rooms, which has been proved to reduce stress levels. Blackout blinds are fitted to each window with sound-absorbing curtains, and the apartments actually each have certain scents and colors that are supposed to help you nod off.

There are yoga mats, rocking chairs, dream-inspiring prints on the walls, and the meditation app Calm is ready to go on all devices. The rooms specifically use Lumie alarm clocks to mimic natural sunlight—so no annoying beeping will wake you up in the morning. You might want to borrow some of these ideas for your own bedroom, if you can't try it out firsthand.

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Day In The Life Of A Sleep Seeker: Searching For Calm From Hitting The Alarm To Lights Out

ALPINE, Utah, March 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Meet Jane. Well, Sleepy Jane to be exact. Haven't heard of her? Not surprised, as you won't catch her at the coffee shop or out late bar hopping. She's the type of person who prefers to be well-rested, who is perpetually in search of the calm in life. She lives the idealistic life of a sleep seeker, optimizing her daily routine to make sure every decision supports that lifestyle.

Join us on a 24-hour adventure in the life of Sleepy Jane, who lives in a state of perpetual sleepiness day-in and day-out, because she values her rest above all else. Why is she letting the world in on her sleep-centric secrets? There's really no better time than Sleep Awareness Week happening now through March 16. Sleepy Jane wants to show others how they might be able to infuse a bit more relaxation into their day, even if they understandably don't live their life to the extreme as she does. There are a ton of ways to enjoy moments of calm all day long, even when you're far from a nighttime slumber, and it's up to you to see what works best.

Follow a day in the life of Sleepy Jane for a bit of sleep-spiration, where each aspect of her day is focused on rest, rest and more – you guessed it – rest:

7:00 a.m. Wakes up…kinda. She uses a sun light-mimicking alarm, which helps the mind awaken slowly and gently.7:10 a.m. Ta-da! Gets up!7:30 a.m. Drinks passionfruit tea for its ability to calm the mind. (fun fact:Our ancestors used it for its sedative effects.)8:00 a.m. Eats cereal with milk as it helps produce the sleep aid serotonin, helping Sleepy Jane better regulate her sleep schedule so she can catch some Zzzs with ease.9:00 a.m. Goes outside to help regulate her circadian rhythm and heads out for a 0.1-mile-long run (so she can say she went for a run, technically speaking), but turns on the tunes to enjoy soothing music that guides her steady speed, including "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven, "Stardust" by Willie Nelson, "Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis and "Badzium" by Erykah Badu.9:45 a.m. On her way back home, Jane passes through a botanical garden to enjoy the natural repeating patterns – such as those found in a field's worth of flower petals – which have a uni quely calming effect.10:15 a.m. Enjoys a post-exercise recovery snack of bananas that helps her muscles relax and better regulate sleep patterns.1:00 p.m. Makes lunch comprised of a salad with chickpeas, another serotonin-producing power food to make sure her nighttime sleep is restful.2:30 p.m. Takes a quick power nap, but making sure to limit it to 20 minutes to prevent from becoming groggy or throwing off her sleep cycle.3:00 p.m. Practices mindfulness with yoga to help her control her thoughts and relax. Even takes a few minutes to stare out the window and get lost in the outdoors. This is also the reason she has many bird feeders in her backyard.4:00 p.m. Inspired by all the chalk art on her neighbor's driveway, she goes outside to blow bubbles, a child-like activity that actually is akin to a deep breathing exercise.5:00 p.m. Conveniently walks through a nearby 10-acre field of lavender for the ultimate calming effect (or if raining, simply lights a lavender-scented cand le).6:30 p.m. Has breakfast. I mean, dinner. No, I meant breakfast for dinner (aka "brinner"). Foods such as bananas (filled with muscle-relaxing potassium), eggs (high in protein which is known to help aid sleep) and toast (a light source of carbs to regulate blood sugar) helps her get better sleep.8:00 p.m. Dims all the house lights so her body isn't tricked into thinking it's still daytime, while her phone's blue light turns off automatically in preparation for bedtime.8:30 p.m. Turns the thermostat down to within the 60 – 68 degree range so she can slip into a faster sleep.9:00 p.m. Takes a warm bath to raise her body temperature slightly before cooling down quickly, mimicking the natural drop in body temperature caused by the brain as it readies the body for sleep.9:30 p.m. Pops a cup of cherry juice, a sleep-inducing concoction that helps her fall asleep, and stay asleep, for a good, peaceful rest.9:45 p.m. Turns on the 8-hour album called "Sleep," developed for listen ing while snoozing.10:00 p.m. Slips under the sheets to get the recommended seven to nine hours of shut-eye and makes the most of it with a proper night's sleep on her Purple bedding – which is soft where she wants it and stays firm where she needs it – no matter where or how she falls asleep.

Good night and sweet dreams, Sleepy Jane.

About Purple Purple is an innovative comfort product company that designs and manufactures products to improve people's lives. It designs and manufactures a range of comfort products, including mattresses, pillows, and cushions, using its patented Hyper-Elastic Polymer® material designed to improve comfort. The Company markets and sells its products through its direct-to-consumer online channel, traditional retail partners, and third-party online retailers. For more information on Purple, visitpurple.com. 

Media Contact Savannah HobbsDirector of Communications, Purplesavannah@purple.com

ICR Public RelationsAdam BelmontAccount Director646-277-1294PurplePR@icrinc.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/day-in-the-life-of-a-sleep-seeker-searching-for-calm-from-hitting-the-alarm-to-lights-out-300810052.html

SOURCE Purple, Inc.

Copyright (C) 2019 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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5 ways to fall asleep faster, according to sleep doctors

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March 11, 2019, 8:09 PM GMT

By Wendy Rose Gould

At BETTER we take care to recommend items we hope you'll enjoy! Just so you know, BETTER may get a small share of the revenue.

Using interviews with specialists, online reviews and personal experience, BETTER editors, writers and experts take care to recommend items we really like and hope you'll enjoy! BETTER does have affiliate relationships with various online retailers. So, while every product is independently selected, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the revenue.

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Sometimes it seems like the world is conspiring against your ability to get some sleep. The birds, as lovely as they are, start chirping way too early and the landscapers and car-honkers always seem to follow suit. That construction zone down the street somehow sounds as if it were directly outside your window, that weekday party went way too long, and to top it all off, the government has literally stolen an hour from you via daylight saving.

While many external factors aren't within your control, you can do a few things to help lull yourself to sleep and, once your there, ensure that your sleep is the kind that will have you feeling energized the next morning. We tapped a handful of experts for advice on how to get more zzz's — and the products that will help you doze off.

1. Consider Meditation (For Real This Time)

You've heard this advice ad nauseum, but there's a reason meditation has been prescribed to treat the human condition since roughly 1500 BCE. "The art of falling asleep is actually not trying so hard," says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, who's board-certified in both psychiatry and sleep medicine. "Knowing how to clear your thoughts and focus on breathing will always help. The trick is to practice by day — not when it's mission-critical at 3 a.m." Meditation can be as simple as sitting in a quiet space and taking meaningful, deliberate breaths or listening to your favorite music for five minutes.

For some guidance, try an app like Headspace, which walks you through sessions and even has special category for Sleep Sounds and Meditations.

2. Eliminate Allergens from Your Bedroom

The accumulation of allergens in your bedroom can contribute to subpar sleep. "Reducing your exposure to allergens — such as dust mites, pollen and pet dander — while you sleep will reduce itchy watery eyes, eczema, nasal congestion, and coughing," notes Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network. "The bedroom is most important place to keep allergen free since we spend most time at once there." To help, keep windows closed during peak-pollen seasons, keep pets off the bed, and wash your bedding, dust and sweep once a week. Also, Dr. Parikh says that any HEPA air purifier will help combat mold and animal dander. Since pollen and dust mites are too small to be filtered, she recommends a dust mite cover that zips around your mattress and box spring.

3. Avoid Blue Light Around Bedtime

We're surrounded by blue light via smart phones and light bulbs, and it notably contributes to wakefulness. "Your body needs to know that it's nighttime so it can prepare for sleep. This is why, when you are camping, it's hard to stay awake," says Dr. Amy Serin, a neuropsychologist and author of "The Stress Switch." "The brain uses sunlight to know when it's day or night, but unfortunately artificial light can trick your body into thinking it's daytime. It's not just your screens doing it — lamps and overhead lighting trick your brain as well."

Camping every single night (or resisting the urge to scroll Instagram) isn't an option for most of us, but blue-light filtering glasses can help.

4. Eliminate Drama Right Before Sleep

A spike in cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, can contribute to an inability to fall asleep. For that reason, it's best to eliminate all sources of stress before going to bed. That includes highly dramatic TV shows and movies (save the Free Solo documentary for the afternoon), stressful text messages or conversations, and racing thoughts. "Because sleep is dependent on nervous system regulation, reducing stress and restoring someone to a state of calm can promote sleep onset, and can help someone go back to sleep if they wake up prematurely during the night," says Dr. Serin, who invented a neuroscience device, called TouchPoints, that helps stabilize cortisol levels to help you fall asleep more easily. "Anything relaxing can help someone fall asleep like gentle music, aromatherapy and deep breathing, meditation, even journaling and winding down with herbal tea before bed can help."

Dr. Dimitriu adds: "If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes, get out of bed and do something boring and relaxing. A dim light and a book are ideal."

5. Keep Cool — Literally

"Your body naturally wants to cool down as you enter deep sleep, and anything you can do that increases this cooling helps with getting deeper, more restorative sleep," says Dr. Dimitriu. This can be as simple as taking a warm shower about an hour before bed, which triggers your body to lower its internal temperature. "I'm a minimalist when it comes to devices and special products to improve sleep. Essentially, I try to encourage my patients to keep their sleep routines simple and straight forward," adds Dimitriu. As far as products which can improve sleep — quite simply a comfortable bed (softer for side sleepers), and a good pillow to match can help. While cooling pads and blankets are available, it might just be simplified to using a light enough blanket made of breathable fabric to facilitate good cooling and breathability. Room temperature is essential too, and should be kept on the cooler side, generally below 70 degrees."

If you are interested in testing out cooling bedding, there is an entire range of products out there. For example, the Buffy Cloud Comforter is constructed from highly breathable materials that help regulate temperature while also shield-guarding against allergens and Nest Bedding's Cooling Mattress Topper cools you while you sleep (while adding extra comfort) via two inches of their SmartFlow Gel Memory Foam.

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How To Fall Asleep Listening To Your iPhone Without Draining The Battery

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If you're the type of person who loves to fall asleep while listening to a perfect sleepytime playlist, you're not alone. According to studies, music enhances activities like sleep and workouts, especially if the beat matches the mood you're looking for.

The problem with sleeping while listening to music is that leaving a playlist running for more than three hours is not good for your phone's battery and general well-being. Luckily, there's a hack that allows your phone to stop playing music without needing your intervention, saving you some battery life and giving you and your iPhone a much needed rest.

RELATED: 5 Of Apple's Most Popular Products Were Developed By Other Companies

To get started, select the music or playlist you want to listen to, whether it's from Apple Music, Beats 1 radio or Spotify. Once you've done this, tap on the clock app on your home screen. Here, you'll see several functions at the bottom of the screen. Select the Timer function and set it to the approximate amount of time it'll take you to sleep, be that 20 minutes or 40. Select the When Timer Ends function, which will take you to another screen that contains your phone's ringtones. Scroll to the bottom of it and select Stop Playing.

This method ensures that the music you chose will play until your timer expires, hopefully saving you the trouble of an overheated phone, or the stress of waking up to a random rock song because you managed to sleep through your entire sleep playlist.

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