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A peaceful environment is one of the most important requirements for sleep quality. Unfortunately, getting a peaceful, undisturbed environment is a difficult task in today’s modern world. One of the biggest enemies of sleep today is the need to remain connected and be in-the-know all the time. Easy access to the internet, the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, and the rise of Netflix have made it harder for sleep to come and stay. Sleep loves attention; it loves peace and quiet; when it finds you fiddling with your smartphone in bed or staring at another episode of Game of Thrones while eating crackers in bed, it decides to leave.

Electronics have invaded our lives and our homes. Even till a few years ago, electronics world limited to the TV, the music system and the computer. But now, with smart televisions smart home systems, there is no end to the number of electronics we are surrounded by at a given time. We have even started to run the house with help from the digital assistant called Alexa. There is no part of our lives untouched by electronics, and sleep does not take it well.

If sleep were a person, it would be most offended by a TV in the bedroom. Imagine walking into a room to find the love of your life lost in the television while you try hard to get some attention and make conversation. Doesn’t it make you feel bad? It’s the same with sleep. When you’re watching television instead of inviting sleep into your bedroom, you are shooing sleep out of your life. And beware, if sleep leaves you, it spells serious trouble.

As if bingeing on Netflix shows isn’t bad enough, keeping a TV in the bedroom just makes it a whole lot worse. There was a time when one household had only a single TV, and the entire family sat together to watch their favorite shows at a certain time every day. These days, people want the TV all to themselves. So, there’s a TV in the living room, one in the master bedroom, and another in the kid’s bedroom. No one watches the same thing at the same time either. Mom watches Buffy the Vampire Slayer at 6, the kids watch SpongeBob SquarePants at 7, and dad watches ESPN at 10. If grandpa comes to visit, he demands the TV be all his when it’s time for Breaking Bad.

Preparing Your Bedroom for Sleep

There have been several studies that prove that environmental factors are a leading cause behind sleep disorders and deprivation. And the bedroom tops the list. Sleep is intrinsically associated with the bedroom; we do not associate sleep with the living room or the dining room or the kitchen. That is why the bedroom should have the right environment for inducing sleep.

Alas, not many people seem to follow this because putting a TV in the bedroom has become the norm. The TV has almost become like a piece of bedroom furniture. Ideally, it should belong to the music system somewhere in the corner of the living room, but many people prefer a TV in the bedroom even when there is one in some other room.

Why is this not the right thing to do? There are two most important reasons. The first one is that rooms serve purposes. Would you think of eating dinner in the bathroom or taking a shower in the kitchen? No, because these rooms are not meant for those purposes. Why then should the TV be placed in the bedroom instead of the living room or the entertainment room?

When we watch TV in bed, our brains get confused. It fails to understand if the bedroom is meant for watching TV and staying awake till late or if it is meant for switching off and going to sleep. This is how the dissociation between sleep and the bedroom develops. The brain does not associate the bedroom with sleep anymore when you keep watching TV there instead of sleeping. Therefore, even when you try to fall asleep in your bed, it does not happen, because the brain still associates the bedroom with staying awake.

The second reason is that exposing yourself to bright lights before going to bed disrupts the melatonin production and delays onset of sleep. Watching TV, working on the laptop, or texting on your smartphone within two hours of bedtime lowers the melatonin produced by the brain and makes you less sleepy. Melatonin production is always hindered by any kind of bright light and the light reflected from electronic devices is the worst. By constantly exposing yourself to the television at bedtime you are significantly affecting the melatonin production in the brain. Even if you stop watching television in bed, it takes a long time for the melatonin levels to return to normal.

Reasons for Not Having A TV In the Bedroom

There is more than one reason to not have the television in the bedroom. In fact, the bedroom should not have anything that’s not associated with sleep. People build a workstation right in their bedrooms– but it is only a signal for the brain to think that a bedroom is a place of high energy activity.

Having a TV in the bedroom also affects our relationships and our physical and emotional health. The following are only a few of the reasons why the TV does not belong in the bedroom:

It Affects Sex Life: When both partners watch TV in bed, it lowers the amount of sex you’d be normally having to half. When couples don’t have regular sex, it distances them physically and emotionally.

It Causes Fights: When you want to watch HGTV, and your partner wants to watch ESPN, it causes stress and arguments. When the season finale of the TV series doesn’t end the way you would have wanted, you spend the night arguing over it. This can even make way for discord in the relationship.

It Creates Unreal Expectations: Reality TV is known to paint an ideal image in our heads. From the ideal body to the ideal wedding dress to the ideal relationship, reality TV creates unrealistic expectations in us. Watching reality television before bed gives rise to resentments, disappointments, and pent-up emotions.

It Causes Eye Strain: As if working on the computer and staying glued to the phone isn’t bad enough, watching TV in bed creates additional strain and stress on your eyes. From eye strain, you can get headaches, watery eyes, and fatigue. Watching TV in a dark or dimly lit bedroom affects your eyes even more.

It Creates Loneliness And Depression: If you like to binge-watch TV instead of going out and socializing, you may be lonely or depressed. Watching ideal relationships playing out on screen might be fulfilling for the moment, but it adds nothing to your life.

It Leads To Unnecessary Purchases: Various studies have found that people are more likely to act on advertisements when they are tired and half asleep in bed. When you watch TV in bed, the advertisements seem to call out to you more, and you cannot stop thinking about them through the night.

Being Mindful

Watching TV isn’t all that bad if it isn’t in the bedroom. There is nothing wrong with watching television in the living room or in the basement, but you must do it deliberately. There are couples who watch their favorite soap together and then switch off the TV and go to bed. That is called deliberate TV viewing.

Even if you don’t have a TV in the bedroom, watching television before bed is acceptable only if you can focus your mind back to sleep once you go to bed. If you keep thinking about what you had watched on TV, your brain will find it difficult to relax and fall asleep. After you turn off the TV, try to meditate, or simply lie in bed and allow your mind to relax. This helps the brain calm down and settle into a state of sleep.

Removing the TV from the bedroom can also save cable costs and make time for more activity. This is especially true for kids who have a TV in their room.

Technology is an important part of our lives, and it’s hard to ban them completely. What is essential is to know the limits and practice mindfulness. Everything is good when done in moderation. It’s not wrong to come home and relax with your favorite show. But when it’s time for bed, you should learn to switch off the TV, go to bed, and invite sleep.

The television takes up precious space in the bedroom, increases clutter, and does not contribute to relationships or health. It’s hard to find a reason to have a TV in the bedroom, except if you are lonely or scared of being in the room alone (in that case, you have other problems to deal with). Remove the television – and all other items not related to sleep – from the bedroom to enjoy a better quality of life and sleep.

Sleeping Without a Pillow: Should You Really Do It?

When someone tells us that sleeping without a pillow is a great way to stay healthy, we instantly feel like that person is crazy.

I mean, we are not cavemen, so why would we ditch our pillows when we have the chance to enjoy all the delights of modern civilization?

Well, let’s not be skeptical, as sleeping without a pillow can actually be beneficial. After all, just like animals, our bodies are biologically wired to sleep like that. Want to know more? Keep reading, and perhaps you will spend the next night without a pillow too (and will love it!).

Benefits of Sleeping Without a Pillow

It isn’t a secret that a proper sleeping position is beneficial for your posture, spine health, sleep quality, mood, and overall well-being. Now, while this can be achieved using a proper pillow, there are situations when your pillow can become your enemy.

You see, to sleep in the right position (with a proper spinal alignment), you need to get yourself the right pillow. You need to find something perfectly thick and high enough for your specific (most frequent) sleeping pose. And while this task might seem easy, it takes a lot of time, plus countless tries and errors.

Here’s the thing, though:

You can avoid going through so much trouble by simply sleeping without a pillow.

And while this can save your time (and money), it might also bring you some other benefits. They may include:

• Reduced allergies. It isn’t a secret that our pillows collect dust, sweat, dead skin cells, hairs, and other stuff. Can you imagine how much buildup there is in your pillow? And your head touches it every night! This might lead to the dust mite allergy, with rashes, coughing, itchy skin and eyes, etc. By ditching your pillow, you can protect yourself from these unpleasant symptoms.
• Improved spinal health. When sleeping on a pillow, your head and neck get elevated, which creates a curve in the spine. And that isn’t healthy at all. In fact, our spine needs to be aligned properly, without any extra curves or twists. And when you are lying down without a pillow, your spine remains in its natural position, which means it can keep its healthy state.
• Fresher face. No matter how comfy your pillow may be, it is not doing any favors for your skin. By laying your face on it (given the fact that moving during the night creates friction), you put pressure on your skin. This results in some extra wrinkles and lines. Additionally, the bacteria on the cover (and the dust hidden in the pillow filling) can irritate your skin, which is especially dangerous for acne-prone people.
• Lower chances of neck pain. You see, when sleeping on an unsuitable pillow, you will experience improper back alignment, which results in reduced blood flow, tense neck muscles, and, consequently, neck pain. By ditching your old pillow, you will allow your neck to remain in its natural position, thus reducing the risk of waking up in pain.
• Less stress. When sleeping on an improper pillow, you might feel uncomfortable during the night. This leads to tossing, turning, fewer hours of sleep, and, as a result, irritation and bad mood in the morning. By ditching your old pillow, you can ditch all these issues and become less stressed.
• Fewer (or no) headaches. An unsuitable pillow can create a neck curve and reduced blood flow to the head. As a result, you wake up with a headache. And probably with a desire to throw your old pillow away. That’s actually a good idea since sleeping without a pillow keeps your neck and head in a neutral position, which means no more headaches in the mornings.
• Better sleep quality overall. When you don’t use a pillow to support or elevate your neck and head, your body naturally finds an optimal position during the night. As a result, you sleep better and feel more rested in the morning. I feel like this single reason is enough to start sleeping without a pillow!

How to Sleep Without a Pillow

Have you now decided to ditch your old pillow? Yay! Get ready to start sleeping better!

Here’s the thing, though:

You need to proceed with this gradually. By removing your pillow right away, you will put yourself (and your body) under stress, which is always bad. You need to give your body some time to adapt to this new sleep habit so that you could smoothly change the way you sleep.

What you might want to do is gradually decrease the support (the thickness of your pillow). How do you do that, you may ask?

It’s pretty simple:

Get a towel (or a cloth, or a thin blanket) and fold it so that it would be just as thick as your pillow. Then, start to unfold it after each night (or every couple of nights), making your towel thinner every time.

Continue until you are ready to get rid of it and sleep without any support for your neck and head. By then, your body will be prepared for your new sleeping habit. The neck and the head will naturally find the most optimal position, and the benefits will not keep you waiting.

When You Actually Need to Sleep with a Pillow

While ditching your old pillow is potentially very beneficial, there are situations when you should abstain from such experiments. After all, completely changing your sleep may be very stressful, which isn’t a good thing when you are dealing with certain health conditions.

So, these are the cases when you probably shouldn’t get rid of your pillow:

• Serious back issues. If you have some medical problems with your back (or neck, for that matter), it might be dangerous to leave it without support during the night. In such a case, the safest option is to continue sleeping on a pillow. But it’s still important to get a proper one. You might even want to consider an orthopedic pillow, something designed specifically for your condition and back issues.
• Acid reflux. This is when elevating your head using a pillow is actually recommended. You see, by placing your head (and, naturally, esophagus) higher than your stomach (with the help of your pillow), you can actually prevent the acid reflux. So, if you often suffer from it, the condition might only get worse when sleeping without a pillow.
• Shoulder pain. Now, you can actually try to give up sleeping on your pillow. But when suffering from shoulder pain, you should place your pillow in front of you and kind of hug it when sleeping. Make sure you don’t lie on the hurting shoulder (it should be the one hugging the pillow). If both of your shoulders are in pain, you should sleep on your back, without a pillow or on a really thin one.

What About the Sleeping Position?

The sleeping position does matter, especially when you are considering getting rid of your pillow and adopting a new sleeping habit.

So, here are some recommendations concerning the way you sleep:

• Side sleepers are advised to always use a pillow. You see, when sleeping on the side, your spine needs to remain straight and neutral. However, when lying on one side, your neck is elevated (because you are basically lying on your shoulder), and the head falls down. This creates a curve in the neck, which might lead to pain and other issues. So, your pillow (preferably a thick one) needs to fill the space between the shoulder and the neck so that your neck does not curve. However, you can still try to sleep without a pillow but using your arm as one, just like cavemen did. Perhaps, you will feel comfortable this way.
• Back sleepers are safe to ditch their pillows. When lying on your back, you do not actually need the support for your head and neck. Your spine will align naturally, your head will rest on the mattress, and your body will be in a proper straight line.
• Stomach sleepers can also benefit from sleeping without a pillow. In fact, when sleeping on your stomach using a pillow, your head, neck, and sometimes chest are elevated, which creates an unwanted curve in the spine. By getting rid of your pillow, you can save yourself from this issue, allowing your spine to remain properly aligned.

Phases of the Moon and its Impact on Sleep

One of the essential biological requirements is sleep. Unfortunately, sleep is sensitive to a vast number of things. Even the slightest reason can cause disturbed sleep and leave us feeling tired the whole day. Besides food, sleep is one of those requirements that are not only required in enough quantity every single day but the lack of which can cause various health problems. Sleep is also highly varied; the sleep patterns in one person can be dramatically different from another. While some prefer to sleep at night, there are those that prefer to sleep in the morning and work during the night. Despite all these variations, the one thing that remains constant is the need for sleep. Humans, animals and even plants need a period of rest. Without rest, no living creature can function at their fullest.

Several factors affect sleep, from medical conditions to environmental reasons. Given the hectic schedules and unhealthy lifestyles of today, it is not surprising that sleep disorders are on the rise. Physical conditions like sleep apnea and snoring are some of the most recognized sleep disorders, but there are many other factors that also contribute to poor sleep quality. Environmental factors also play a big role in sleep quality. From ambient light to the noise of traffic, sleep can be disturbed by various reasons. Stress is also an important reason that can interfere with proper sleep and leave a person feeling tired and sleepy all the time.

But did you know that the moon could also have a role to play in our sleep patterns and quality? The phases of the moon, also called lunar phases are known to have a connection with human behavior as well as the behavior of various other creatures. The phases of the moon also control the waterbodies, high and low tides and currents. People who suffer from chronic pain often find their aches getting worse during certain lunar phases. Like the sun, the moon also has a gravitational force that has some impact on the earth. But the connection between the lunar phases and sleep patterns of humans was not known even till a few years ago. Thanks to a group of Swiss scientists, we now know why we sleep well on certain lunar phases and not so well on others.

The Phases of The Moon

The moon appears to be a circular disc when viewed from Earth. It is called Earth’s natural satellite, illuminated by the sun. The moon does not have any light of its own and relies on the illumination of the Sun. But the moon is never eliminated by the sun, only half of it is. That is why on every other day except the full moon night, we see only a part of the moon.

The lunar cycle consists of 29.5 days, called the lunar orbit or the lunar month. For the first half of the cycle, as the moon orbits the earth, it goes from being fully illuminated to partially illuminated to not illuminated at all. For the next half of the cycle, the moon then goes back to being partially illuminated and then eliminated on a full moon night.

Even though this process depends on the moon’s orbit around the earth, there are eight distinct phases of the moon. Knowing about these phrases is important before understanding how they influence our bodies and biological functions.

• New Moon: This is the night when the moon is not visible at all because its unilluminated side is towards the Earth. The New Moon is only visible during a solar eclipse.
• Waxing Crescent: In this phase, the moon is barely visible, with less than one half of it illuminated by sunlight. From this phase, the portion of the illuminated moon increases.
• First Quarter: In this phase, the moon appears to be half of the illuminated by the sun while the other half is still dark.
• Waxing Gibbous: This is the phase before full moon when the moon is illuminated by more than half but less than the whole.
• Full Moon: One whole side of the moon is illuminated and facing the Earth. The moon is the brightest on full moon nights.
• Waning Gibbous: The waning phase of the moon is when it goes from full moon to no moon. The process is the same as that of the waxing phase, but only on the reverse. Instead of increasing, the illuminated portion of the moon keeps decreasing. In the waning crescent, more than one-half of the moon is fully illuminated by the sun.
• Last Quarter: In this phase, the Moon appears to be half illuminated by sunlight.
• Waning Crescent – The illuminated portion of the Moon has decreased further and is now less than one-half visible.

How The Moon Affects Sleep?

Although the moon keeps changing throughout the cycle, they can be divided into these eight main phases, all of which affect the Earth as well as our biological functions. On some nights, the sky appears bright or darker than others. Most of us were not aware until recently that the moon phases also affect our sleep cycle. It was in 2013 that a group of Swiss scientists concluded that the moon phases have a certain effect on our sleep cycle, but the research was conducted several years earlier.

Scientists from the Psychiatric University Hospital (UPK) at the University of Basel in Switzerland conducted the study involving 33 volunteers. The volunteers lived in a laboratory environment for close to a week, while their sleep patterns were studied. The group had equal numbers of men and women and included young adults between age 20 and 31 and older adults between ages 57 to 74. All the participants had good health and sleep quality and did not consume caffeine or alcohol.

Several things were found as a result of the study. Even when the participants were given no indication of the time of day and not exposed to the light of the moon in any way, all the findings were in relation with the full moon.

It was found that the participants took a long time to fall asleep on the night of a full moon and their sleep quality was also poorer than other nights. The full moon also affected brain activity during slow-wave sleep and caused a drop-in melatonin level. The volunteers also reported shorter sleep duration on full moon nights.

Why Does the Moon Affect Sleep?

Although the findings clearly suggest that sleep quality is poor on full moon nights, the reason is quite unknown. The researchers were not able to put the finger on the exact reason why the moon’s phases affected the sleep patterns.

Most people would tend to assume that the gravitational forces of the Moon are responsible for the changes in sleep patterns. But the researchers claimed that gravitational force is not the factor that’s responsible. Researchers believe that although the moon’s gravitational force has an impact on the earth as well as the tides in the oceans, it does not have such an effect on the human body. The reason that researchers provide is that our internal body clock is linked to the phases of the moon. Much like the circadian rhythm, the human body’s connection with the cycle of the moon is called circalunar rhythm.

Researchers also believe that the lower melatonin levels on full moon nights could have something to do with the evolutionary past of humans. When humans were hunters, full moon nights were the best time to go hunting because there was light everywhere and things were more visible. That pattern might still be found sometimes in humans.

There is no conclusive evidence that the moon in that has any effect on the sleep pattern of humans, but the moon affects several other processes on the earth. This is because of the moon’s gravitational pull.

Moon’s Gravity and The Earth

A lot of people assume that the Moon’s gravitational force influences people’s behavior. But there is no evidence to prove this. There is a lot of folklore regarding lunacy and the Moon’s cycles. Because the phases of the moon were thought to influence insanity, it was also called lunacy. While there is no evidence to prove that the moon’s phases affected a person’s mental condition, researchers to believe that the full moon influenced the sleep patterns of people before modern lighting was invented. This is because the light from a full moon kept people up at night and the sleep deprivation caused behavioral problems.

The biggest influence of the moon’s cycles is on the tidal ebb and flow. This proves that the Moon’s gravitational force does not have the same effect all over the Earth. When the gravitational force becomes stronger the water in the seas and oceans ebbs, and when the force is not so strong, it flows back towards the shore. The gravitational pull is mostly felt in places closer to the moon, such as open water bodies.

Even if there is no conclusive evidence to prove the moon’s impact on sleep patterns, it is just another excuse to blame the moon when we remain tired in office!

The Holidays are here, enter now for your chance to win a Lucid Hybrid mattress. This mattress has pocket coils and layers of pressure relieving foam giving you excellent support and pressure relief.

Lucid Mattress Giveaway

Now that we nights are getting longer, it’s the perfect time to upgrade your mattress. Enter to win a SleepOvation mattress which has a revolutionary construction. Read our full SleepOvation Review here.

SleepOvation Mattress Giveaway

Yaasa is building a reputation for its sleek design and the Yaasa ONE mattress is no exception. I received a free Yaasa One mattress for review and although it doesn’t have as much of a luxury feel as the original Yaasa mattress, for the money, it’s a really good value a queen size currently retails for $899. However, if you really want to maximize your value, they have a killer deal going on. If you buy the Yaasa adjustable bed you will get a free Yassa ONE mattress.  If you want to learn more about their adjustable bed check out my full review.

Overview of the Yaasa ONE

This mattress comes shipped in a box like just about all the others I have reviewed on this site. It is made in the USA and shipping is fast. You can expect to receive this mattress about 5 business days after placing your order.

Here’s a picture of the box that will arrive at your door.

This is what it looks like right out of the box. This mattress has springs but can still be roll packed because it is made with pocket coils.

When you cut open the plastic, the mattress will start to expand. It is packed very tightly but will come to shape quickly. The first thing you notice is that the springs will pop into shape and then the top layers of foam will begin to slowly expand.

How Much Does the Yaasa ONE Mattress Cost?

Below are the current prices of the mattress.

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Construction of the Yaasa ONE

Here are the construction details as listed on their website.

Cooling Infinity Foam
Our unique foam construction provides contoured support & breathability for the coolest night’s sleep.

Comforting Transition Layers
Our responsive transition layers provide a supportive balance for your individual needs.

Supportive Pocket Coil System
This advanced pocket coil system provides long lasting durability and responsiveness across the entire surface of your bed.

My Yaasa ONE Findings

In terms of firmness, I would rate this on the firmer end of the spectrum. More of a medium firm. You’ll notice that you don’t get all that much sink. The coil system will keep you supported and this also makes it easier to move around on the mattress. If you don’t like the stuck in the mud feel, this mattress would be a good choice.

Here’s a picture of my 14 lb. bowling ball on the mattress to give you an idea of how much sink you could expect compared to other mattresses I have reviewed.

In the video below you can see how much bounce you get with the mattress. Since there is a coils system you will get some motion transfer as well but not much.

Here’s another look inside the mattress to show you how each layer reacts. This is a rather simple construction but if you are looking for a hybrid mattress slightly on the firmer side, this does the job.

My Yaasa One Recommendation

If you are looking for a hybrid mattress that doesn’t trap heat and has great support, this is an excellent choice. What makes it an even better choice though is if you are also in the market for an adjustable bed. If you buy the Yaasa Adjustable Bed you will get a matching size Yaasa One for free with it. Right now a queen size adjustable is $1,499 so if you are set on the Yaasa One, for an extra $600 you get a sleek, durable, adjustable bed with it!

Learn more about the Yaasa One

When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, environmental distractions are one of the biggest reasons why several people failed to get the amount of rest that they should. Environmental distractions are not often considered among the causes of sleep disorders even though they form the most common factors interfering with sleep. Various studies have found that even people without any sleep disorder or medical condition often fail to get quality sleep at night because of their sleep environment. Of course, the sleep environment could mean a lot of things. It could mean the temperature of the bedroom, the quality of the mattress, the size of the bed, and ambient light. But it could also mean environmental noise, something that we usually have no control over.

Imagine your neighbor’s kids running about above your floor while you try to sleep. Or your roommate playing loud music. Or cars passing on the street through the night. Or your partner snoring away to glory. All these noises are beyond our control. You cannot stop the neighbor’s kids from running about in their house, your roommate may not agree to turn down the music, there is no way you can block the traffic outside, and you cannot make your partner stop snoring, even though it annoys you to death. Although this may seem trivial factors, you might be surprised to know that they form some of the biggest reasons behind sleep disorders.

Urban people are more likely to suffer from these environmental distractions during sleep. Given that most of these distractions are beyond our control, scientists and technology experts have designed various tools to prevent these distractions from ruining our sleep. We are familiar with the mask and the white noise machine but there is another device that is meant to keep out ambient noise, and that is noise canceling headphones.

If you have ever seen a pair of noise-canceling headphones, especially those meant for sleep, you will instantly recognize them because they look so different from regular headphones. Normal headphones, whether they are made for music, for gaming, or for conferencing, are designed for communication purposes. Regular headphones with noise canceling features and they keep out background noise. But headphones meant to aid sleepers look and function very differently from them.

Many noise-canceling headphones for sleep look much like headbands with earplugs inserted at the right places. The band wraps around the sleeper’s head to provide maximum comfort no matter which position they sleep in. Some of these headphones also come with eye masks to block out both ambient noise and light. This is a perfect solution for those who cannot tolerate any kind of light or noise during sleep. Sleep headphones aren’t the most stylish headphones, but they are great for keeping out distracting noises. You may choose to buy fabric headphones, comfortable earbuds, or full-size headphones with noise canceling technology.

Headphones meant to aid sleep work much like a sound machine – they replace ambient noises with soothing sounds like falling rain or ocean waves or even something ordinary like a buzzing fan. Do not confuse between noise isolation and noise canceling. There are major variations between the two. One blocks out noises by physical means while the other uses technology to keep out the noise.

Noise isolation headphones work a lot like shutting your ears with fingers or cotton buds. This means these headphones have a very snug fit and helping to block out noises. Noise isolating headphones can either be in-ear buds or over-ear models. They have no Technology involved and block out noise by fitting closely over your ears.

Noise cancellation headphones are more expensive because they use a certain kind of technology to “cancel” noise. Noise canceling headphones have built-in microphones that pick up the ambient noise and play an opposite noise to cancel it out. This technology is called Digital Signal Processing.

Noise cancellation was a feature first introduced by sound company Bose, but over the years noise cancellation headphones have been brought out by various other companies. They vary in price ranges, features, and design. If this is your first time by noise canceling headphones for sleep, there are all chances you may get confused and overwhelmed by all the different options available today.

How to Choose the Right Noise Canceling Headphones For Sleep

Noise canceling headphones are used for various purposes you may want to use them on the flight to block out ambient noise, you may want to use them in a noisy office to help you work in peace, and you may also use them while sleeping. If your purpose for choosing this type of headphones has to do with sleep, then the following are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a pair.

Price: Most people new to buying noise-canceling headphones get lured by advertisements selling noise isolation headphones as noise canceling ones. Noise isolation headphones have no special technology involved and therefore are much cheaper than active noise canceling headphones. If you are looking for passive noise canceling headphones, then you can find them for reasonable prices. But if you want active noise cancellation technology for the best results you must spend a decent amount of money for the highest quality. Sometimes you may have to sacrifice quality for affordability or comfort. Premium noise cancellation is expensive, so consider that when choosing headphones.

Comfort: Noise canceling headphones are something you will sleep on with. That is why comfort is more important the sound quality than the durability of noise-canceling headphones. If you use the headphones every night, you will be spending close to 8 hours wearing them every day. Most people preferred to buy favorite headphones because they are the most comfortable. Although they are not as stylish and don’t even offer the best sound quality, they feel more comfortable than full sized headphones. In fact, they don’t feel like headphones at all they are more like headbands with built-in earplugs. Fabric headphones let you sleep in any position without the earplugs putting pressure on your ears or head. However, if you sleep hot, you may find the headband making your head sweat or making you warm at night. If you don’t have any such problem, then fabric headphones are some of the most comfortable ones you can find.

Noise Cancelation Technology

As mentioned earlier, many customers confuse between active and passive noise cancellation technology. Passive noise cancellation is no technology at all. It is just a pair of close-fitting headphones or earplugs that create a barrier between your ears and the noise. Therefore, noise isolation headphones are not expensive at all. Active noise cancellation is called destructive interference. Most premium headphones with active noise cancellation can block out constant ambient noises like people talking, the buzzing of the fan or air conditioner, the sound of airplane engines, etc. But they cannot block out sharp, sudden noises like someone shouting babies screaming or doors slamming. Even if you sleep with these headphones on you may still be able to hear these sharp, sudden noises.

Wired or Wireless?

Noise cancellation headphones for sleep mostly come wired. Even though these cables are thin, they are often the biggest problem with headphones, especially if you sleep with them. A lot of people fear that the cable might get tangled around their neck during the night. Although this fear may not be reasonable, there is another very real annoyance, and that is pulling on the cable while tossing and turning. This can make the device can fall, break or malfunction. This is the reason why wireless sleep headphones are better. Wireless models also come with longer-lasting batteries.

Battery Life

Active noise cancellation headphones are not just a pair of drivers sitting on your head. There is a microphone and audio processing built in the headphones, so they function as an electronic device and need a constant power supply. No other headphones come with batteries, but noise cancellation headphones do. The batteries are what the microphone and the audio processor run on. If the batteries die, the device will stop working until you replace them. That is why when you buy noise cancellation headphones always remember to check the battery life. This varies from one device to another and from brand to brand, but the average battery life should always be more than 6 hours. Most active noise cancellation headphones use replaceable batteries, so you should always keep an extra pair with you in case the batteries die suddenly.

Company Warranty

When buying an active noise cancellation headphone, you must keep in mind that they are very different from regular headphones. Since they function as a full-fledged electronic device, they have all chances of breaking down suddenly. This is when you will need to call customer service. Before you buy any noise-canceling headphones, make sure to read more about their warranty and what other customers have to say about the customer service. If you are buying a high-end headphone, repairing it or getting parts replaced can be very expensive. You must check for a warranty of at least 2 or 3 years and a prompt and efficient customer service so that you know you will get the support you need in case the device has issues.

How Do they Fit?

Sleep headphones should ideally be tried on before purchase. This isn’t possible if you are shopping online but if you are shopping from a store, make sure to have the headphone on at least for 30 minutes to see how it fits and works. If you’re buying a passive noise cancellation headphone, check if the fit is snug and if it allows any noises to sneak in. If you are buying an active noise cancellation headphone, toggle with the on and off feature to see how it functions. Don’t forget to check the fit. Considering you will be using these to sleep with, the fit should be comfortable.

Quality of the Device

If you are buying only one active noise cancellation headphone, you can use them for several other purposes aside from sleeping. You can use them like any other headphone for better clarity and fewer distractions. That is why when you try on a headphone to check its fit, also make sure to check the quality of the noise cancellation feature. Don’t just turn on the noise cancellation; also put on some music or audio to check the clarity. If someone accompanies you, ask them to talk at different levels to check if you can hear them. Even though no one will be able to mimic the sound of an airplane, it will still help you get a good idea of what to expect from the headphone.

Best Noise Cancellation Headphones for Sleep

You can tell that environmental distractions are a big issue from the number of noise cancellation headphones available today. Noise isolation headphones are cheaper but active noise cancellation headphones have better quality. Although the features are the same in all active noise cancellation headphones, the variations in price, brand, advantages, and downsides make a choice harder. You can also find several headphones in the same price range offering the same features and quality. If this is your first time buying a noise cancellation headphone, you can expect to face some serious confusion.

Here we have shortlisted a few of the best noise cancellation headphones you can buy in 2018.

Able Planet Sound Clarity NC510B

If you are a noise canceling headphone newbie and do not want to spend hundreds of dollars on something you have never used before, this from Able Planet gives the best bang for your buck. This is one of the most affordable noise cancellation headphones on the market today and is also lightweight to go to sleep with. The noise cancellation circuit is very powerful and eliminates all kind of ambient noise including a jet engine, conversations, and traffic. You can use it for both sleeping with and for listening to audio. Because of its powerful noise cancellation feature, the audio it produces is free from all background noise, and the sound quality is also on a par with the higher-end varieties. The device comes with a pair of replaceable AAA batteries, so you can always change them when they die.

Having said that, it must also be noted that the Able Planet Sound Clarity noise cancellation headphone is not perfect. A lot of users have complained about the earbuds being too small, and others have raised issues with the lack of comfort. Aside from that this is a decent pair of active noise canceling headphones that you can buy without spending pattern of cash on something expensive.

CozyPhones Sleep Headphones

$19, yes, you read that right. The CozyPhones sleep headphones cost only 19 dollars, which is 10 times cheaper than most on the active noise canceling sleep headphones on the market today. What do they perform equally well? Unfortunately, a $19 headphone will never match up to a $200 headphone, but it does the job well. The reason why CozyPhones headphone is so popular despite not having the best sound quality is that of the comfort. These are the most comfortable sleep headphones you will ever find. The fabric headband is soft and snug, so much so that after a while you forget that you have anything on. The band comes with speakers built inside. This lightweight breathable band is also ideal for those who sleep hot because it does not feel uncomfortable or cause sweating.

The biggest complaint about the CozyPhones Sleep headphone is that the speakers inside move around too much during sleep. If you toss and turn a lot through the night, the speakers may fall out of the band. Aside from this, the headphones are a great choice for anyone who wants to buy inexpensive noise-canceling headphones for meditation, exercise, or sleep.

Logitech Ultimate Ears UE9000 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones

If you plan to use your noise-canceling headphones for other purposes also, then you need a Bluetooth wireless headphone. This one by Logitech is expensive but offers exceptional sound quality, noise cancellation and comfort. You can use these headphones for any kind of noise cancellation be it on a flight in the office or at home. Although expensive, this pair of headphones has superior build quality, 21-hour battery life, and comes as both wired and wireless, with both active and passive noise cancellation. The true capacity of this headphone can only be experienced when you listen to any audio. The sound is good in the wireless version, but it’s even better when you plug it in. Lightweight and comfortable fit is also a huge advantage of this headphone Logitech is known for all its wireless products, and this headphone does not disappoint.

However, this does not mean they are perfect. The wireless mode cannot be used without the noise cancellation feature on. So, if you want to go to sleep with it, you will have to keep the cables plugged in. If you are looking for a sleep headphone without the cables, this may not be the right choice for you.

Bose QuietComfort 35 (series II)

Bose Quiet Comfort 35 series II – $349

If you don’t mind the price tag and want only the best there is in noise-canceling headphones; the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 series II is one of the finest you can get. What’s so great about the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 series II? It is Alexa enabled. All you have to do is press the action button and then control the settings with your voice. Simply ask Alexa to adjust noise canceling level and go handsfree anytime. If you are not an Alexa user, you can use the action button to control between the three noise-canceling levels.  The Bose Quiet Comfort 35 series II comes with additional features like a microphone, music sharing, and the integrated Bose Connect app. You can either buy only the headphone or add the car charger.

Sony MDR-1RNC $340

If you want to buy the Bose QuietComfort but also want better sound quality, you can invest in the Sony MDR. This headphone offers some of the same features as the Bose QuietComfort, but also has better audio quality. The noise cancellation feature comes with three different modes- office, bus, and airplane. The device can automatically switch among the modes, depending upon the level of ambient noise. The MDR is better in terms of audio quality, but not so much in the noise cancellation department. The device comes with a battery but is also rechargeable via USB. This feature isn’t available on many higher-end headphones.

HeadPhone Alternatives

Bedphones- $59.9

Marketed as the world’s thinnest headphones designed for sleep, Bedphones are small, wireless headphones covered in foam padding for the ultimate fit and comfort. Manufactured by Dubslabs, these small and lightweight earphones can be used for listening to any kind of audio in bed, and also for keeping out ambient noise. Most noise-canceling headphones in the market are too big and uncomfortable to sleep with. This is where Bedphones come in. Unlike regular earbuds, these lie flat against your ear instead of going inside. Even those with hearing aids can easily use Bedphones. The device comes with a one year warranty and free shipping within the US.

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Dreampad – $159

The Dreampad isn’t exactly a noise canceling headphone; rather it is a pillow with a patented music technology inside. Developed by integrated listening systems, the dream pad keeps noise out by playing music. It is like a sound machine but only in the form of a pillow. The music is only audible to the person sleeping on the pillow. The Dreampad also includes a mobile app which helps you synchronize your breathing with the sound of the ocean waves.

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What Not to Expect

When buying noise canceling headphones for the first time, most buyers have the expectation of blocking out each sound possible. This is not a realistic expectation. There is no such device yet on this planet that can block out the sound of a plane or a train. If you want to get the best sleep possible on a flight or on a train, you must buy the best noise cancellation headphones available, but even they cannot guarantee to eliminate every bit of noise. As mentioned earlier in this post the noise canceling technology is designed to eliminate constant sounds. Therefore, any sharp, sudden sound like a door slamming or someone shouting will not be eliminated you may even be able to hear babies crying or sharp honking sounds.

Sleeping with the headphone also comes with other annoying issues like comfort and fit. The ones with fabric headbands do not offer the best noise cancellation and the ones that do usually come in over-the-ear models, which are not right for side sleepers. In many cases, the headphone may be the one keeping you awake at night. There are also price variations among the different varieties, so you can never be sure whether to buy the $40 generic headphones or the $400 premium ones. And trying a pair out at the store does not give you any idea about how it will function when you sleep with.

The bottom line is to not expect noise cancellation headphones to make your environment completely peaceful and quiet. They all have their own downsides and must be tried and tested for the best results. The alternative to sleep headphones is a sound machine, a small portable device that sits on the nightstand and plays soothing sounds to drown out ambient noise. Sound machines are also often far less expensive than higher end sleep headphones.

Regardless of what sleep headphone you choose, it is recommended that you perform thorough research before purchase and read user reviews to know more about how the device functions.

The mattress industry is booming with several new bed-in-the-box companies coming up and brick and mortar companies going online. Nectar Sleep is one such American mattress company that’s spreading its wings. Nectar Sleep, one of the fastest growing mattress companies in the US, has finally arrived in the UK.

Nectar Sleep was launched in 2016 and has since grown to sell 1,000 mattresses a day in the US, with millions of five-star ratings and reviews from satisfied customers lavishing praise on the innovative design and unmatched customer service. Before its launch, Nectar Sleep had undergone three years of product development and features a four-layer design that’s different from all the other mattresses in the same category. What makes Nectar Sleep stand out is the innovative Adaptive® cooling technology that provides body contouring, optimized support, and temperature regulation and body alignment. Brits will now get to experience the deep, luxurious sleep that Americans have so long enjoyed.

The American version of Nectar Sleep mattresses is manufactured and packed in the US. Similarly, the ones in the UK market will be manufactured and packed entirely in Britain. By doing this, Nectar Sleep assures customers that all the materials and labor that go into making each mattress are locally sourced. In fact, all the features that American customers have so long enjoyed are now for the Brits to experience, including the unique 365-night trial period, forever warranty, and the promise of climate neutrality.

There are several reasons why customers love Nectar Sleep. The company always strives to deliver optimal levels of comfort, firmness, breathability, and coolness for every sleeper. Whether you’re tall or short, lean or stocky, stomach sleeper or side sleeper, Nectar Sleep mattresses are sure to provide you with the comfort you need for a blissful sleep. The one whole year of the trial itself proves how confident Nectar Sleep is about customers loving this product. The company believes that it takes time for the body to get used to a new mattress, and thus the 365-day trial. At any time during that one year, if you’re unsatisfied with the mattress, you can have it returned for a full refund. Yes, it’s that easy. But the company believes you won’t need to do that. You also get a forever warranty, so any time during use if the mattress gets torn or become uneven, Nectar Sleep will give you a new mattress in exchange. It could even be ten years after you first buy it.

Nectar Sleep comes with four layers, including the cover. Each layer plays its own role in keeping you comfortable through the night.  The Nectar Adaptive® Cooling Cover is made with Temperature Regulating Technology, which draws away heat from your body and keeps you cool. The Nectar Smart Layer is made with memory foam and designed with Cool Sleep Concept, making it breathable and cool. The Pressure-Relieving memory foam Layer provides contoured comfort, while the 7-Zone Support Layer aligns to your shape, providing optimum comfort and firm support to the spine, hips and shoulders.

From 24 September, Nectar Sleep mattress will be available for purchase online across the UK. You can easily buy it online, and have it delivered to your doorstep within 48 hours of purchase. You don’t have to worry about unboxing the heavy package. The two-man delivery service will not only bring you the mattress to your home but also unbox it along with the two free pillows. The delivery men will also take away the old mattress you’re giving away for recycling.

The Nectar Sleep mattress is not only good for you, but also for the planet. The company uses no harmful chemicals earning it the Certipur certified tag. Nectar Sleep is also the first and only mattress company in the UK to offset all emissions due to the forest protection offset project in the Amazon rainforest.

Nectar Sleep mattresses are reasonably priced, so you can get a good night’s rest without burning a hole in your pocket. The small single mattress is priced at £399, the small double and double at £599 each, the King at £699 and the Super King at £799.

Angela Crouch, managing director at Nectar Sleep, has said that the company understands the positive impact of quality sleep, which is why they decided to bring their products to the UK. From the design to the cooling technology to the hassle free delivery process to the unique 365-day trial period, Nectar Sleep aims to provide Brits with the best sleeping experience ever.

Learn more about Nectar UK

What You Should Know About Sleeping with Pets?

Do you like cuddling up with your furry friend when it is finally time to hit the hay? Some pet owners love having their pet by their side at night while for others, their bedroom is strictly a no-pet zone. The truth is there are a surprisingly large number of people who like to have their pets in bed with them as they sleep. This is a controversial topic and there are many debates on whether you should sleep with pets.

How Common Is It for Pet Owners to Sleep with Their Pets?

Based on the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 60% of households in the United States have pets. Of these, approximately half share their bedroom with their pet. According to the recent American Pet Products Association APPA) National Pet Owners Survey, nearly 50% of dogs sleep in their owners’ beds. The survey found that 32% of large dogs, 41% of medium-sized dogs and 62% of small dogs sleep with their owners. It also revealed that 62% of cats sleep with their adult owners while another 13% sleep with children.

Is It Healthy to Sleep with Pets?

The question is: is it safe and healthy to co-sleep with a pet? Experts say that young children should not sleep with animals and that adults can have a more difficult time getting a good night’s sleep due to certain medical conditions.

A recent study was conducted by researchers at Mayo Clinic to measure the effect on human sleep when dogs sleep with their owners. The study had 40 participants who were healthy adults over 6 months of age. The results showed that participants who had a dog in their room gained sleep benefits, maintaining an 83% sleep efficiency. On the other hand, those who slept with their dog on their bed had a slightly lower 80% sleep efficiency.

Although participants who allowed their dogs to sleep on their bed with them had lower sleep efficiency, it was not low enough to matter. 80% is considered satisfactory when it comes to sleep efficiency. This means that sleeping with your dog beside you will not dramatically disrupt your sleep.

Naturally, people with asthma or pet allergies should not allow their dog or cat into their bed or even in their bedroom. You should use a HEPA filter and keep pets out of the bedroom so that your nose can recover for a few hours a day. But the problem is that most people will not keep their pets out of their beds, even if they discover that having their dog or cat in bed is causing allergy problems. If you are one of them, it is a good idea to get allergy shots to help in building up a tolerance to the pet dander that is responsible for causing allergic reactions.

If you do not have allergic reactions, there is really no major issue in having your pet in bed with you. It is fine if it does not disrupt your sleep.

Can Pets Help You Sleep?

If you do not have a problem falling asleep or even staying asleep through the night, you can sleep with your pet. According to experts, sleeping with your dog or cat has numerous medical benefits. Plus, you might feel calmer or safer having a dog in your bed. Many people say that this is exactly why they allow their dogs in their bed.

For some people with insomnia, having a pet with them in bed with their rhythmic breathing helps them fall asleep. Some have even said that almost all members of their family have insomnia and sleep with their dogs. Their pets help them sleep better than a dose of Ambien.

Can Children Sleep with Pets?

Like adults who own pets, young children often want to sleep with the family pet, whether it is a dog or cat. Of course, each case differs, but experts say that it is generally unwise to allow a child aged 6 years old or younger to sleep alone with a pet.

Veterinarians often advise parents to let their children show that they can handle the responsibility of sleeping with a pet before allowing them to do so alone. They say that it is extremely important for a parent to monitor their child to make sure that they use good judgment when walking, feeding or watering their pet.

Neglecting a pet’s needs, rough play, or pulling his tail are all indications that the child is not mature enough to sleep with their dog or cat. Pets may tolerate some of the mischief that comes with childhood but become fearful after a while and will eventually strike out. If your child wants to sleep with the family pet, you should wait until they show maturity in dealing with the dog or cat before you allow them to sleep together.

Although there are old wives’ tales about sleeping infants being smothered by a cat, you do not have to worry about such things. The fact is that most cats are not interested in babies because they smell strange and make random motions. However, it is still a good idea to keep pets away from babies. Because of their undeveloped immune system, babies – those younger than 3 months in particular – are more susceptible to certain types of infections.

Benefits of Sleeping with Pets

As you now know, you can freely your bed with your pet if you do not suffer from asthma or allergic reactions. In fact, there are quite a few benefits that you gain by sleeping with your furry friend.

• Security: As mentioned earlier, many people sleep with their pet, especially dogs, because of the sense of security they provide. You are at your most vulnerable while sleeping and having a dog close to you can make you feel safe and protected.
• Warmth and Comfort: People with sleep disorders like insomnia often say that sleeping with their pet helps them fall asleep and get the rest they need. It is their pet’s warmth and rhythmic breathing that lulls them to sleep. If you have difficulty falling and staying asleep, getting your pet to snuggle in bed with you might just be the solution to your problem. Pets have a warmer body temperature than humans, and can act like an electric blanket, but a much safer one. However, you should keep in mind that for quality sleep, you need a cool room temperature in the mid-60 degrees Fahrenheit. So, if you plan to share your bed with your pet, it might be a good idea to set the thermostat a few degrees cooler so that you can sleep comfortably through the night.
• Reduced Stress: A lot of people who suffering from insomnia also experience stress, anxiety and depression. They can find it difficult to fall asleep at night due to the emotional turmoil that comes with these disorders. Pets promote a feeling of relief and calm and help in counteracting anxious thoughts that are associated with sleep-onset insomnia. The level of oxytocin in your brain can increase by simply touching your pet, making you feel good. Pets are a reassuring presence that helps in lowering stress, thereby helping you fall and stay asleep.
• Improved Emotional Bond: Sleeping with your pet can help create a better emotional bond between you. It can help in increasing intimacy, like the way sleeping with a human partner does. Remember that your pet likes being close to you, so sleeping with your dog or cat makes them just as happy as it makes you.

As you can see, there are many benefits to sleeping with your pet. If you and your pet are healthy, it is perfectly fine to share your bedroom and your bed with your canine companion or feline friend.

Get the Right Mattress for You and Your Pet

If you plan to sleep with your pet every night, you should consider getting the right mattress. Nowadays, there are several pet-friendly mattresses available on the market. You can choose one to ensure that you are healthy and comfortable. These mattresses are designed to benefit people who love sleeping with their dog or cat and they are made with materials to make cleaning pet hair, dander, etc. easy. You can find the perfect mattress to fit your bed, no matter what the size. Make sure to check out the different pet-friendly mattresses available today to find the perfect one for your needs and budget.

Sleeping with pets can be warm and comforting. The good news is that there is no harm in doing so for people who do not have asthma or allergies to pets. All you must do is make sure that you and your pet are in good health. With that done, you can go ahead and share your bed with your dog or cat without having to worry about any health issues or sleep disruptions. And with the right mattress, you can make sure that keeping your bed clean, safe and healthy is not a major task.

Brave Era Silk Travel Sheet

When you travel, whether for work or for fun, you always look forward to hitting the bed and resting after the long journey. Even most business class journeys can be exhausting. When you reach your destination, all you want to do is rest a little in a nice, comfy bed, even if it’s a hotel room.

So, the shock and horror are understandable when you find unclean sheets welcoming you to your temporary abode. It doesn’t take long for you to realize that the sheets haven’t been washed after the last guests left. And what’s more? When you muster all the courage to lie on those sheets to rest your poor aching back, little critters start to poke and prod you in the most menacing fashion.

Who knew hotel beds could have bugs, right? But the truth is, even some fancy hotels are often negligent about the state of the beds and sheets, as was found by Inside Edition. In fact, three out of nine hotels have been found to not change sheets between guests. Yes, it’s true, and totally gross.

There are travelers who prefer to pack a set of their own sheets with them whenever they must put up at a hotel. But normal bed sheets are quite heavy and take up precious space inside the luggage. Of course, it doesn’t mean you have to stop traveling or be able to afford the Hilton Hotel for every trip. There’s a much easier solution that can solve all your sleep woes when you travel.

Santa Monica-based startup Brave Era offers you the perfect solution whenever you are concerned about the sheets you get to sleep on. This woman-owned company was founded by Nichole Alden, who first experienced unclean sheets in hotel rooms while chasing her dream of becoming a singer. When she realized that the perfect travel sheet that she desired didn’t exist, she decided to make it herself. And that’s how the Brave Era Silk Travel sheet was born.

This travel sheet is much like a sleeping bag, but far more luxurious, soft, and comfortable. Every time you slip into this silk sheet, you get cloaked in luxury and feel rich. This is the first and the most popular product by Brave Era so far, which goes on to show just how many people prefer their own sheets whenever they travel. If you thought silk sheets were a luxury you cannot afford, this versatile travel sheet will change your mind with the features.

Construction of Brave Era Silk Travel Sheet

You might be wondering- why silk? Aside from the fact that silk is super soft, smooth, and luxurious, it is also a completely natural fiber. This travel sheet is made of 100 percent natural mulberry silk, which means whenever you slip into it, you get the most delightful feeling. Silk is also hypoallergenic. You could be allergic to polyester or satin, but silk makes sure you are able to sleep without sneezing or breaking out.

The sheet is 6’6″ in total length, accommodating even tall people. The premium design and attention to detail ensure unmatched comfort and lasting durability. Because silk is ultra-lightweight and soft, the travel sheet easily fits into the little pouch, about the size and weight of an iPhone. This means it barely takes up any space in your luggage.

The sheets come in a compact bag like the one below.

On the back of the bag you will find the care instructions.

Brave Era Silk Travel Sheet Features

The Brave Era Silk travel sheet boasts of several features. Aside from being hypoallergenic, the sheet is also critter-resistant, protecting against bed bugs, dust mites, and other allergens. Brave Era also recommends treating the sheet with the Sawyer Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent prior to use for better protection against insects like bed bugs and mosquitoes.

The sheet comes with a full-sized pillow pocket. In total, the travel sheet weighs less than 6 ounces and easily fits in any suitcase or backpack. It is also machine washable, and air dries quickly within an hour. There’s plenty of room inside to move around, while the luxurious silk gives you the feeling of sleeping on the finest bed in the world.

Silk is natural and stronger than many other manmade fibers. So, you can safely toss it in the wash with other clothes as many times as you must, without compromising on durability. You have two color options to choose from- natural white and sharkskin grey.

Brave Era Silk Travel Sheet Pricing

Brave Era has priced this premium silk travel sheet at $109.99 along with free shipping within the country.

Here are some positive things customers have to say:

“The fabric is so soft and cool to sleep in. It also keeps me at ease knowing no matter where I am in the world I am sleeping in something clean.”

“This travel sheet is perfect for hosteling when you’re not sure about the quality of the bed sheets. It is extremely lightweight and barely took up any space in my pack.”

Whether you’re a frequent flier or avid camper, do give Brave Era Silk Travel Sheet a try, because it will quickly become your favorite.

My Brave Era Experience

I was able to try the travel sheet on my recent trip to Ecuador with my family. For the most part, the hotels we stayed in were just fine but there was one in a more remote part of the country where I didn’t want to necessarily sleep in the sheets. I broke out the travel sheet and it was long enough to accommodate me and I am 6ft 4. It is basically like being in a sleeping bag but without trapping heat. Knowing that you are in your own safe little cocoon was reassuring and help me sleep better without worrying about being bit by something.

I used the travels sheet at this hotel for 2 nights and on the 2nd morning, as we were packing our things to leave, my wife saw a big spider crawl out between our sheets. So, yes, glad I had this and used it!

Shop Brave Era

More often than not, people relate a good night’s sleep to a good mattress. The perception is that the body rests directly on the mattress during sleep. Thus their focus is on the quality and structure of the mattress. However, this is just half the story. The other half is a good bed sheet.

It is wrong to think that our body rests directly on the mattress when we sleep. We forget that there is an in-between layer that separates the mattress from our body. That layer is the bed sheet. Our body and skin is in touch with the sheet, not the mattress. Thus, it should matter as much as the mattress. We also have pillows. In fact, we spend one-third of our lives resting our head on a pillow. Which is why I equate good pillows with good sleep, as much as I do with a good sheet.

The importance of good bed sheets for a good sleep cannot be downplayed or ignored. There are vital considerations to buying the right bed sheet.

Why and When to Change Bed Sheets?

We literally ‘wear’ the bed sheet while we sleep. Like our clothes during the daytime, it is in close contact with our skin at night. And that’s for a good seven to 8 hours out of the 24! Hence, we should buy our bed sheets as carefully as we buy our clothes. The bed sheet should be made from high grade natural or synthetic fibers and free of allergens. It should offer comfort and smoothness. It should allow the skin to breathe. Nonetheless, it should have a refined look and an excellent finish.

Like our clothes, the bed sheet too faces the wear-and-tear from regular use:

• The fabric’s surface withers from friction with the skin and weather elements
• A regular wash with detergents damages the fabric
• It also fades the fabric and makes it look dull and lifeless
• The bed sheet absorbs dirt and sweat from the body
• Fallen hair and dandruff collect over it
• Dead skin cells are deposited on the bed sheet

As a result, the bed sheet not only withers but also becomes unhygienic for use after a certain time.

That’s why and when one needs to go shopping for new bed sheets at regular intervals.

Most manufacturers offer e-commerce experiences these days. Many also offer online as well as an offline purchase at their brick-and-mortar stores. Whatever be your shopping preference, you are sure to get spoilt for choice.

But there is a difference between choice and right choice. Below, I provide a break-down of what goes into the making of a good bed sheet. I have already reviewed a couple of sheets for you; you can check out those sheet reviews if you wish.

What to Look for in A Good Bed Sheet?

There are multiple factors at play, beginning with raw materials and their sourcing. Then, there is technology and the manufacturing process. Coming to product specifications, there is the fabric structure, the luster, and the aesthetics. All of it together makes a great sheet.

Which Are the Best Raw Materials for Bed Sheets?

There are two types of materials from which bed sheets are made – cotton, and a blend of cotton and synthetic fiber.

Different Types of Cotton Used for Making Sheets

There is cotton, and, cotton. Some commonly used cotton types for bed sheets are:

• 100% Egyptian cotton – this is the ‘elite’ league of cotton, the best in the world. It offers unmatched strength and fiber length. Egyptian cotton is very skin-friendly and gives comfort, coziness, and excellent breathability. The world’s best bed sheets are made from Egyptian cotton.
• 100% Pima Cotton – It is also known as Supima cotton. It is the second-best cotton and goes into the making of several luxury bed sheet brands. Supima is almost twice as strong as standard cotton. It is light-weight yet durable, and once can breathe easy with it.
• Upland cotton – It has medium-to-short staples. It is the functional material with average to below-average counts on fiber-length, smoothness, and longevity.

Cotton-Polyester Blend

These materials come in a combination of cotton and synthetic materials. A good example is a cotton-polyester blend. A combination that has between 90% and 70% cotton makes a good utility bed sheet. Its qualities are durability, affordability, and good surface characteristics such as softness and wrinkle resistance.

Polyester

Bed sheets made from polyester are made to last. Apart from offering excellent durability, they are water and stain resistant, shrink-resistant, and are easier to care for.

Tencel

Also known as Lyocell, this is a naturally regenerated material obtained from wood cellulose. It is ideal for responsible shoppers who prefer environment-friendly and sustainable materials. Tencel shrinks less, is smooth, and offers good breathability. It is also long-lasting.

These are the different materials from which your favorite bed sheet is made.

What Are the Different Types of Bed Sheets?

Apart from the mainstream woven bed sheet, you will encounter several other types in the market – knitted, rayon, flannel, microfiber, and linen. Below is a brief exposure to each type.

Knit Bed Sheets

Knit bed sheets are manufactured from pure cotton as well as blended materials. They give that additional warm and pampering feeling that knitted fabrics and yarns are associated with. This is due to the 4-directional stretch that the knit fabrics offer. Because of their extra warmth, knit bed sheets are the winter favorites of many consumers.

Interestingly, the density of knitted bed sheets is measured in weight per square yard. This is in contrast to the thread-per-count measurement of woven bed sheets. I will review both these measurement matrixes separately in another section.

Rayon Bed Sheets

Rayon is derived from chemically treated bamboo fibers. Being a natural material, it enjoys the patronage of conservationists and environmentalists.

Rayon is very adaptive. It can be made to feel like silk, cotton, or even wool. Hence, rayon bed sheets appeal to a wide range of buyers. The best part is that rayon that is a silk-lookalike is not as expensive!

Apart from this versatility, rayon bed sheets also offer the following unique features:

• It regulates the body temperature. This phenomenon can be best understood when we compare a rayon bed sheet with an air conditioner. Lying on a rayon sheet, a person’s body temperature adapts to the ambient temperature.
• Rayon is an absorbent material. Hence, these bed sheets suck out excess body moisture or the dampness around the bed.
• Rayon can be easily dyed with almost any color.

Flannel Bed Sheets

This material is a symbol of warmth and coziness. On bitterly cold nights, a flannel bed sheet is warm and inviting for a tired body and mind. Its soft and slightly cushiony feel invites peaceful sleep.

Flannel can be made from various materials – wool, cotton, blended, or synthetic materials. Being a woven fabric, flannel is long-lasting.

Microfiber

This is a 100% synthetic material. As the name suggests, the fibers are extremely fine. To give a perspective, I will say, a microfiber is much thinner than a silk thread. In turn, a silk thread is much thinner than a strand of human hair!

Microfiber fabric is tightly woven. The result is a strong yet light bed covering that is particularly useful for winters. Its insulating character retains the body warmth. These sheets are also spill-resistant.

Linen

If microfiber is for winters, linen is for summers. The material gives excellent breathability to the bed sheets. It also has the moisture-absorbing quality, which suits warm and humid climates.

Linen is a 100% natural material. It is derived from the fibers of flax plants. Although light and airy, the fabric is strong and long-lasting.

What to Look for in A Bed Sheet?

Today, the variety and choices in the bed sheet market are truly vast. When looking for some new additions, lack of clarity can lead to wrong purchasing decisions.

I deal below with a few important aspects to help you make an informed choice.

Thread Count

This term implies the number of vertical and horizontal threads in one square inch of fabric. It is applicable to woven materials.

The common misunderstanding about thread count is that the higher, the better. After all, the density of material defines its quality, one would think.

However, this is only partially true. Higher thread counts do make the weaving denser and voluminous. But is density always desirable? No. In fact, denser thread counts lead to a rough and ‘scratchy’ surface. It also results in unwanted thickness. This is a problem for people who prefer soft, thin, silky bed sheets without compromising on strength and durability.

It really amounts to the material rather than the thread count. If it is a soft material like the Egyptian cotton, a lesser count is okay. There are good sheets with a count of 200. On the other hand, counts of 400-800 don’t offer what matters the most – comfort, softness, and that blissful feeling.

As a broad quality parameter, look for a count between 400 and 500 in the bed sheet label.

Readers would be well-advised about the prevalent thread count scam. Some manufacturers indulge in inflating the thread thickness artificially. This is done by twisting multiple threads together and then weaving them. For example, a fabric weaved with 3-ply threads at a count of 200, is pronounced as an 800-count material! I endorse the Huffington post claim that often times, 800-count sheets are make-believe.

Weave

Bed sheet choices have two broad preferences – crisp or soft. Some people like to sleep on a sensuous, silky and smooth sheet surface that gives a blissful sleep. Others prefer the crispiness.

Two different weaving types produce these feels – percale and sateen.

Percale

This finish is for people who love the matte crispiness to sleep on. Percale finish is associated with absorbent qualities. Hence, it is good for people whose bodies get heated up in sleep, producing moisture and sweat.

Sateen

The name is the definition. Sateen sheets are soft and lustrous, and I dare say, romantic.

Percale or sateen – it’s your choice really. One is like a crisp pastel business shirt, the other, a silk party shirt.

Flat Vs. Fitted Bed Sheets

Bed sheets have two universal fits – flat and elastic-lined Snap-On sheets. These are also known as fitted sheets.

Both the types have their pros and cons. The flat sheets are easy to spread. The fall can also be adjusted according to individual preference. In the case of linear or lateral designs, these sheets can be spread differently, to offer a fresh look every day. They are also easy to fold and stack. The fitted sheets give a snug and tight spread. They crumple less. However, they are a problem to fold. Unless you know how to do it, you will be struggling a lot, to fold these sheets.

What Are the Different Bed Sheet Sizes?

The bed sheet dimensions for various sizes of beds are scientifically derived after decades of research. The standardized sizes ensure the following:

• The sheets are neither too big nor too small
• Material shrinkage factor is taken into consideration
• Good fall and flow
• Adaptability for flat and fitted types
• Various heights of mattresses

The following Crand & Canopy chart gives a good idea of the mattress-to-bed sheet fit:

Why Are Design and Esthetics Important?

Until now, I have dealt with the functional part of a good bed sheet. This section is about its other equally important aspect – design and aesthetics.

Let me begin by saying – The bedroom is the most personal space in a home. And a bed sheet is a home owner’s most personal expression in the bedroom. It is an extension of their personality. It reflects in their choice of bed sheet designs and patterns.

Lack of awareness about our personality type can lead to the selection of incompatible bed sheet designs and aesthetics. We may end up getting an alien feeling sleeping on them. It is as if we don’t belong to the bed sheet or vice versa. The resulting discomfort can lead to uneasy, insufficient, or restive sleep patterns.

Surely, none of us would like to be in that situation.

It is very important to connect with our bed sheets on an emotional and psychological level. Design and esthetics act as bridges in this context. As George O-Keeffe says, “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.”

So, folks, say it with your bed sheet!

To help you, I deal below with the different types of human personalities in design and color contexts.

Bed Sheets and Color Psychology

The Red Person

Red symbolizes the cosmic energy.

A red personality is an eternal optimist. She or he is a bubbly, positive self with matching energy to transform their dreams into reality. They are competitive, confident and sociable. The red traits are often found in leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, and even soldiers. Their gusto and optimism are infectious. They spread a little bit of happiness and love for life wherever they go.

For the red person, I recommend lively, earthy, and vibrant bed sheet colors and patterns. Specific recommendations are sunflower yellow, mauve, crimson, purple, and of course, pure red.

The Blue Type

These are the peace-loving, law-abiding, stability-seeking folks. They are loyal and trustworthy. They have strong shoulders to lean on, and always carry a large size handkerchief to wipe others’ tears!

The blue tribe is social and people-friendly. They believe in the wisdom of the conventional. Obviously, they are averse to risks.

On that last count, I would recommend safe and stable colors and designs for the blue in you. Go for pastel-to-mildly warm shades. Adventurous, bold, or radical patterns are not for you. Keep to yourself, select the tried and trusted checks and polka dots and heart shapes. Opt for linear designs over the horizontal ones.

The Greens

Green stands for nature. Nature is very caring and giving, and so are the green people. Nature is never pretentious, and it doesn’t lie. The greens follow suit. They are reliable, truthful, transparent, and free of deceit. Invariably, green people are EQ-driven.

At the same time, the green brigade can visualize the big picture. They are good strategists and can plan ahead well. They are skillful and articulate. They love to listen and learn.

So, what designs, colors, and patterns should they sleep on? My recommendations: the green and yellow families of colors. Floral patterns, laces, and skirting. And asymmetrical designs – remember, nature never grows in straight lines.

Yellow

Perfectionist yellow people are also goal oriented and have high expectations from self and others. Big on detail, they are firm believers of nuancing. Socially, they are sophisticated and well mannered. They are also fun and unassuming, independent people.

A bit of a paradox – the yellow-dominated personalities are also anxious, they worry a lot and tend to be aloof and withdrawn at times.

For such dual personalities, I recommend combination bed sheets. Combine yellow with blue, orange with yellow, green with grey. They should opt for patterns with multiple shapes or designs. Anything but singularity works for them.

Why Are Pillows Equally Important?

The pillow is the smaller sibling of the bed sheet. However, its contribution to good sleep is as important.

Just consider this – we sleep for seven to 8 hours in a day. For most of this time, our heads rest on a pillow. Whether lying on our back, sleeping on sides, or sleeping head-down, the pillow acts as a support for the head and neck. Hence, a pillow must be selected wisely, depending on your sleeping position. For those who sleep on their backs, I recommend flatter pillows. This will not push up their head and neck too much. It will keep them in alignment with the rest of the body. Thicker and denser pillows work well for side sleepers. And for those who sleep head-down, I say, no pillow. It will damage your neck in the long term.

Apart from this, selection of pillows is also dependent on the following aspects:

Pillow filling

Blunted feather filling is for those grownups who still want to be cuddled and pampered at night. The soft and fluffy feel below your head will enhance the comfort factor. You may even want to hug the feather pillow while sleeping!

Memory foam-filled pillows contour their profile as per the body and head shape. They are good for sleepers who change positions frequently.

Polyester-filled pillows are a good substitute for memory foams ones. However, they are not as durable and may lose their shape.

Pillows with buckwheat hulls filling are in a special category. Such pillows shift along with your movements in the bed. Hence, your head never misses having a pillow beneath it.

Latex-filled pillows offer good breathability. They are ideal for people who sleep with their pillow over their head rather than under it. They are also resistant to molds, mildew, and mites.

Pillow Size

Firstly, I would say, your pillow size should be proportionate to the bed size. Else, the pillows will occupy too much or too little space in the bed. Large-sized pillows offer better insulation from ambient sound and light. Small-sized pillows are good to prop behind your back while reading or sitting. I don’t rule out a combination of large and small-sized pillows on your bed.

Pillow Cover Design and Pattern

People have differing preferences for pillow design, color, and pattern. Some buy them as a set that matches homogenously with the bed sheet. Others prefer mix-n-match. Whatever your preference, make sure that the pillows are not in stark visual contrast with your bed sheet. Such mismatches create a jarring, disturbing effect. It is not good esthetically as well as psychologically.

Conclusion

The scientific selection of bed sheets and pillows has come of age. It is now an acknowledged fact that they help people to get a good night’s rest and sleep.

Sleeping well matters a lot for people living a hectic life.

I will end by saying, they who sleep well, live well.

[vc_column_text class=”sleep-sherpa-exclusive-deal”]Get 2 free cooling pillows with your Eight Sleep custom mattress purchase.  Activate Here[/vc_column_text]

Eight Sleep now has a new customizable mattress where you can get the right firmness for your needs. All you need to do is fill out a short questionnaire on their site and Eight will ship you a mattress suited to your needs. Paired with their smart sleep tracking technology, you will be well on your way to tracking better sleep in no time.

Ordering your Eight Sleep Customizable Mattress

Ordering your mattress takes just a little longer than a standard mattress because you need to fill out a questionnaire, more on that later, but after you place the order it will arrive in about 5 business days to your doorstep in a box like the one below.  The sleep tracking technology is in the little brown box.

Customizing Your Mattress

This mattress is available exclusively through their website. You will start with a questionnaire to make sure you get a mattress suited to your exact needs.

You first select your size. These mattresses come with the smart mattress technology so no need to add that.

When selecting your firmness you can choose between soft, medium and firm but you can also choose to have each side a different firmness. It will cost an extra $200 but worth it for the right comfort. I chose to do a split with one side soft and the other medium just to get a sense of their firmness range.

After choosing your mattress you can then select any accessories you may need.

You are then given a summary of what you selected so you can double check that everything is correct.

Note that you can pay all at once or finance through Affirm where with this mattress the monthly payments would be just under $55.

How Much Does the Eight Sleep Custom Mattress Cost?

Cost depends on a few factors. If you purchase a queen size or larger, you have the option of splitting the mattress into dual firmness. So one side could be soft and the other firm. This is an extra $200 but again, money well spent if you and your partner have significantly different firmness preferences. You also have the option of adding accessories such as their pillow, mattress protector sheets and more.

Here are the current prices.

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My Eight Sleep Custom Mattress Findings

Here’s a quick video overview of the mattress and the sleep tracker. In short, they are very accurate with my expectations of firmness. In other words, I expected a soft side and a medium side and that’s what I got.

Here’s a look at how much each side sinks. It’s sort of hard to tell but you will sink in more on the soft side than the medium.

Here’s how much the soft side sinks.

You really won’t get much motion transfer with this mattress so I just did this on the soft side of the mattress to show you how much it absorbs motion. This is a 14 lb. bowling ball that I’m dropping.

Below is the inside of the mattress. I cut open the soft side so you get an idea of the layering and how each layer reacts. The construction will vary for the medium and firm but they will have a common base layer.

The Eight Sleep Smart Technology

Along with the mattress you get the Eight Sleep smart technology that will track your sleep. Here’s the box that it comes in.

There aren’t many parts. What you get is the tracker which looks like a mattress pad and a power source that has wifi access.

I originally reviewed it on this post but they have made some really nice improvements since my original review. One big improvement is that the cover is less noticeable on the mattress. To get started you put the tracker on the mattress just like you would a sheet.

You then just plug the power source into an outlet and the plug into the pad and you’re then ready to install the app on your iPhone or Android phone.

Installing the app is also very easy. Just download it on iTunes or Google Play for free. You then create a free account with your information. Your partner can also create an account as the tracker is capable of recording sleep for each side of the bed.

Other bonus features of the app include ambient sounds so it can be used as a sound machine and guided meditations to help you relax.

If you really want to geek out you can have the sleep tracker work with other smart devices such as your Nest Thermostat or Hue Lights. An example would be to have your Nest turn up the heat when you get out of bed or have your lights turn off in your bedroom when you get into bed. Lots of options with this that will only expand as more gadgets become “smart”.

This device tracks over 15 factors about your sleep and health such as heart rate, breathing, the amount of REM sleep you get and deep sleep. This makes it a much more sophisticated tracker than most on the market.

It is also completely passive which means you don’t have to remember to turn it on or off. The tracker senses when you get into bed and when you actually fall asleep for more accurate reporting. As time goes by you will get a more holistic view of your sleep habits.

This app has a built-in sleep coach to also give you suggestions on how to improve your seep. This is a one of a kind sleep tracker.

My Eight Sleep Custom Mattress Recommendation

With the ability to customize firmness on each side and the advanced sleep tracking technology, you get a lot for your money here. The firmness levels are spot on and I think most people will be happy with the medium firm option. All of this is backed by their 100-night trial so if it doesn’t happy to work out for you, returns are completely free. The Eight mattress gives great pressure relief without the slow recovery associated with traditional foam mattresses. This is all around an excellent buy and I highly recommend it.

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Learn more about the Eight Sleep Custom Mattress

A large percentage of the urban population suffers from sleep disorders. The growing disorders of sleep have led the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to give it epidemic status. In various surveys, it has been found that almost one-third of adults in the US suffer from lack of sleep. While hectic schedules and unhealthy lifestyles are to blame for less the adequate sleep in many people, it is far from healthy. People get used to getting less than eight hours of sleep, but it impacts health and well-being in the long run.

The CDC giving sleep disorders epidemic status only reflects how fast sleeplessness is growing today. Sleep disorders are myriad. Fragmented sleep is perhaps the most common sleep disorder, where the individual wakes up several times at night, leading to insufficient rest. Insomnia is another leading sleep problem, where the individual is unable to fall asleep. Nightmares, night sweats, and snoring are all sleep disorders. Most people who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness actually have some kind of sleep disorder. Fatigue and daytime sleepiness results in difficult to concentrate and loss of productivity. Sleep impacts overall health, and so does the lack of it.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Restless Sleep?

The reasons behind sleep disorders may vary from one person to another. Without proper diagnosis, sleep disorders go unrecognized and keep causing problems. Most people who suffer from daytime sleepiness or fatigue can go years without knowing they actually have a sleep disorder. Most people also never get treated for snoring.

Some of the most common causes of sleep disorders are:

Physical Factors: Several physical problems could lead to unsound sleep, but they are usually temporary. Having a fever, an infection, indigestion, or chronic pains and inflammation can lead to unsound sleep. Medicines for certain illnesses can also interfere with the sleep cycle. Menopausal women often get hot flashes and night sweats that keep them from getting proper sleep. Eating rich food before bedtime can slow down digestion and cause discomfort, leading to unsound sleep. All these problems are temporary. Once the physical symptoms disappear, normal sleep should return.

Medical Causes: Various underlying medical causes could be interfering with the normal sleep cycle. Sleep apnea is one of the biggest medical causes of unsound sleep. When a person has sleep apnea, the throat muscles relax and block the airway, obstructing the airflow. This results in snoring, dry mouth, and frequent awakenings. People with sleep apnea often go about the day feeling tired and sleepy, and even though they fall asleep easily, they don’t get the sufficient amount.

There are various other medical causes for unsound sleep. Asthma could be a reason, where the person doesn’t get proper sleep because of breathlessness. Restless Legs Syndrome is another potential cause, where the person constantly kicks his legs in sleep. Nightmares and night terrors are also reasons why sleep may be hampered.

Environmental Reasons: Although mostly overlooked, environmental factors are often the culprit for unsound sleep. Living beside a busy street with loud traffic could cause unsound sleep. Living in a crowded neighborhood does the same. Living with roommates means having to bear with late-night conversations and other noises. Even a loud TV or music somewhere close, or the neighbor’s dog barking can keep up the person through the night. These factors are usually disregarded, but a change in living conditions has been found to improve sleep quality.

Psychiatric Causes: Anxiety, depression, and other mental conditions often cause sleep disorders. Even stress and emotional disturbances can lead to unsound sleep.

How to Eliminate Environmental Sounds from Your Bedroom for Sound Sleep

It is amazing just how much environmental noises are all around us. From the low hum of the refrigerator to the tick-tock of the clock, to the doorbell to the TV to the neighbors talking next doors. If you take a moment to stay quiet and concentrate on the sounds, it seems pretty overwhelming. When these noises get loud, they can affect our sleep quality.

Whether the noises originate inside or outside the house, they must be eliminated to go get proper sleep. A few ways to reduce ambient noises are:

Covering The Floor with Rugs: If you have hardwood flooring, it has a tendency of reflecting noise. If there are people living on the floors underneath yours, they will also be bombarded by every noise coming from your apartment. The best solution to both of these problems is to cover the floors with rugs or carpets. Wall to wall carpeting is the most effective at dampening noises, even rugs and carpet tiles can achieve the same noise cancelation.

Covering Windows with Drapes: Unless your windows are soundproof, they will let in ambient noises. Thick curtains are the solution for preventing street noises from filtering in through thin windows. Drapes that work best are lined curtains made from heavy materials like velvet or satin, or special noise-absorbing curtains with a thick wool core sandwiched between the outer fabrics. You might also try getting sound proof glasses for the windows or foam insulation for the walls (like the ones used in music studios).

Line Outer Walls with Shelves: Insulating the walls from both inside and outside will reduce noises to the most. Line your outside walls with wooden bookshelves or cabinets for noise absorption. Filling the shelf with linens, towels or books is even better because they are all natural noise insulators.

What is A White Noise Machine for Sleep?

For urban and suburban dwellers, total silence is never an option. There is always some noise or the other. Even if you are able to quieten the insides of your house, the ambient noise from neighbors, traffic, barking dogs, and garbage truck cannot be quieted. If you live in an apartment, you may hear footsteps above your head. If you live in a dorm, you may have to bear with others talking and laughing late into the night.

If you are in the countryside, chances are you will have total silence. But what if you are someone who needs some sort of background noise to be able to fall asleep?

This is the reason why white noise or sound machines have become so popular. Whether you want to drown out unpleasant noises or create a pleasing sound barrier, white noise machines achieve both. These acoustic sleep machines have become the go-to option for several sleepers because they reduce and screen ambient noises, and create a static sound barrier from auditory interruptions from outside.

White noise machines are of various types, from simple and inexpensive to feature-laden and pricey, the choices are endless. The basic sound machines can create only one or two noises, like the low buzz of a fan or a soft hum. These sounds can be made louder or softer. More expensive sound machines are usually designed and clinically tested to function like a sleep aid and come fitted with a variety of assorted acoustic sounds.

Some of the sounds that a white noise machine usually comes with are:

• Waterfall
• Rain
• Rainforest
• River or stream
• Train
• Nighttime sounds like crickets

How does the White Noise Machine help in Sound Sleep?

The white noise machine helps with sleep in various ways. Some of them are:

Building A Bedtime Ritual: When you use a sound machine along with your other bedtime habits (brushing, showering, etc.) your body realizes that it’s time for bed. This helps create a bedtime ritual and helps you fall asleep more easily.

Keeping The Room Quiet: The primary purpose of the sound machine is to drown out ambient noises and make falling asleep easier. White noise keeps away disturbing sounds and creates a quiet haven for optimal sleep.

Shutting Down the Brain: Besides shutting out ambient noise, the sound machine also helps shut out the constant chatter in the brain. If you’re someone who cannot fall asleep because your mind won’t keep quiet, white noise can be of great help.  This is also the reason why it is used for meditation.

White Noise On the Go: If you are a frequent traveler, falling asleep in strange places can be difficult. A portable white noise machine will drown out ambient noise and help you get sound sleep.

Is White Noise Machine Safe for Babies too?

Many parents swear by a white noise machine to help their babies fall asleep. While it does help reduce ambient noises, it also has a number of pitfalls. The constant noise near the babies’ ears can lead to hearing problems or even permanent damage. The machine also makes babies dependent on the white noise. This is a problem when the baby has to sleep without the machine. Occasional use of the white noise machine could still be all right, but not regular use.

While a sound machine is beneficial in bringing sleep, it must be used regularly in order to be effective. At the same time, make sure you aren’t dependent on the machine. This could be a problem when you have to sleep without a white noise machine. To get the most out of a white noise machine, build it into your bedtime routine and use it at home even when there isn’t any noise to mask.

My favorite white noise machine is the Marpac Dohm. It is an analog sound which means there are no speakers, it is a natural sound that surrounds the room and is very comforting. Check out my full Marpac Dohm review here.