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Choosing the Best Sleep Products (For You)
Sleep is a highly personal experience. So when you’re having trouble sleeping, there isn’t just one fix or one-size-fits-all solution.
To make things even more complicated, it could be a multitude of things that are keeping you awake, including (but certainly not limited to):
- Anxiety
- Your neighbor’s obnoxiously bright security light
- Can’t stop thinking about capybaras
- Your partner’s snoring
- Your dog's snoring
- The house is too quiet (why won’t somebody snore?)
- You forgot to grab your sleep mask out of the dryer and you’re too comfy to get up
- You said something stupid at a party eight years ago that your brain won’t let you forget (even though everybody else did)
- Your sleep mask doesn’t have enough room for your superlashes, and it’s making blinking awkward
- You’re a little scared of how weird your dreams have gotten lately
- Still thinking about capybaras
- The piercing LED on your laptop charger staring right at you
- Your cat goes berserk at 3:00 a.m. and your bed becomes part of the Gremlin-Chase Speedway
Actually, nobody can help with that last one (...and we never mentioned feline sedatives 😉 ).
But a lot of these other issues can be addressed. A multi-pronged approach (or trying different solutions as you troubleshoot the primary cause) could be what it takes for you to finally drift off easily, sleep through the night and begin your days rejuvenated and refreshed.
But first, it’s time to put on your sleuthin’ cap: there’s a mystery afoot.
The Key to Restful and Deep Sleep: Becoming a Sleep Detective
What’s keeping you from sleep isn’t always as evident as it should be. Or what you think it might be. We’d like to tell you that the cure to great sleep happens overnight, but the path to quality sleep is generally pretty gradual.
Depending on how far from the destination of great slumber you start your journey, progress is likely to come in stages.
First, a morning that you don’t feel existential dread when the alarm goes off. Then a night that you surprise yourself by falling asleep quickly and sleeping straight through until morning.
The good news: each stop along this path means you’re getting better sleep, even if it’s not quite yet where you want to be.
But the trip isn’t over until you reach your final stop: waking up energized every morning, grinning and eager to face the day. (OK, we’ll dial it back a notch.)
You might consider keeping a sleep journal — or sleep-tracking app if you ❤️ your tech — to gauge your progress. This will not only help you isolate what’s worked best for you and identify patterns, but it can also prevent you from becoming discouraged. Reviewing your past successes and the progress you’ve made will keep you motivated in your quest for the perfect night’s sleep.
And there’s more good news: you’re not alone in this.
Meet the Bedtime Routine Team: Our All-Star Sleeping Items
We’ve got a whole roster of players on Team Better Sleep (whose mascot is The Slumberjack, because licensing The Sandman was prohibitively expensive).
These all-star sleep products and natural sleep aids are ready to go to bat for you and help you get the great sleep you need to get the most out of life. They also make great gifts for better sleep for your friends and family.
Whether your issue is stress, intrusive light/sound, trying to find a comfortable position with chronic pain or even just the need to pamper yourself — as you DESERVE! — they’ll help you every step of the way in overcoming your sleep deprivation.
And now, we’d like to introduce you to these MVPs.
#1: The Silencer
Best for:
- Shift workers
- Travelers
- Urban dwellers
- Operating heavy equipment
- Maintaining relationship harmony
Let’s talk about your bedmate for a moment. Doesn’t matter whether it’s human, canine or feline. (We’re really sorry if you’re trying to sleep among all three — we’ve been there.) Do they snore?
It’s OK, you can tell us. The sad fact is, we sometimes snore too. We’ve even been told we talk and moan in our sleep. (Yet nobody has ever been able to produce evidence, so we presume those are just lies meant to besmirch our character.)
We hope you don’t face the challenge of slumbering against the sawmill’s roar (or someone who allegedly sleep-talks and sleep-moans). But there are a lot of other potential eardrum invaders you might be dealing with while you’re trying to recharge.
Could be noisy neighbors. Street sounds. The dripping faucet you’ve been putting off fixing. Or those damn birds that start up at 4:00 a.m. What is it that can’t wait until daylight, bird? A mate that you can’t even see?
As you slumber, you run through complete sleep cycles several times. At the end of each is a shallow period. When you’re in this stage of sleep, you’re especially sensitive to any outside light and sound.
A mask will take care of any intrusive light, but that may not be enough to keep you seamlessly rolling over into each new cycle. Blocking out noise as well with the Manta Earplugs is an easy, inexpensive troubleshooting step toward your goal of perfect sleep. (It's one of the best light sleeper remedies out there, too.)
You get 10 pairs of safe, super-comfortable soft foam earplugs that’ll block noises up to 32 decibels.
What makes these a sound investment (see what we did there?) is that they’re a convenient take-along for protecting your hearing from wide-awake activities like concerts, mowing the lawn or the overwhelming TV volume when you visit older family members’ homes.
If you travel, these earplugs are an ideal way to cope with all the weird sounds you experience in a new environment.
The comfortable bell shape is intended to be worn for long periods. At under $10, the 10-pack is a handy way to always have a spare pair in your purse or a desk drawer at work for catching a quick 40 winks.
And if backups are something you’re into, you’re gonna love this next one.
#2: The Ultimate Indulgence
Best for:
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A luxurious night’s sleep
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Giving your eyes a spa day
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Stopping those wrinkles before they start
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Breakfast at Tiffany’s cosplay
Manta Sleep Mask SILK is ideal for me-time with extra oomph.
The mask’s 30 momme silk eye cups have a powerful soothing power of their own, too. Silk won’t tug at the sensitive skin around your eyes. And if this area has the audacity to start growing crow’s feet, silk will help fight them.
The fabric won’t absorb moisture from your skin like cotton and many other materials, so that keeps your skin moisturized. And the mask is designed to keep wrinkles from your pillowcase from breaking down your skin’s collagen and turning it into wrinkles on your face.
Purchase Manta COOL and Manta STEAM eye cups separately. Then, pair them with the silk mask’s head strap to treat yourself to a spa experience.
Is your issue puffy, tired eyes? Sinus pressure? Tension headaches? Under-eye circles that concealer is just barely covering up? Dryness from your contact lenses?
These eye cups will provide therapy for all of the problems above (and more). Pop on the warming eye cups to soothe your eyes with steam or the cooling pair when you need to relieve pressure and reduce inflammation in the blood vessels around your eyes.
And when you’re not getting cool or hot compression therapy for your eyes, you may want to sleep with silk eye cups for the sheer comfort of it — and we encourage that.
But maybe instead of the need for luxury, you’re facing a more practical issue. One that’s keeping you from domestic bliss. Yikes. But never fear. The next section talks about one of our best sleep products that may help.
#3: The Marriage Preserver
Best for:
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Snorers who want to stay in a relationship
Hey, can we talk about your bedmate’s snoring again? We promise this is the last time we’ll mention it.
We all snore from time to time — overtired, congested, etc. But if the person you share hearing distance with is a chronic snorer, try gifting them a pack of Manta Anti-Snore Nose Vents.
These soft plastic rings slip just inside the nostril (don’t worry, they’re comfier than they look). This helps to keep their nasal airway open while asleep to reduce the chances of mouth-breathing, which leads to snoring.
The 4-pack comes with 2 pairs in each small and large. Each of those sizes includes a smooth and ribbed version for some experimentation to see which feels the most secure and least like something is being worn in the nostrils.
The BPA-free nose vents are made with flexible medical-grade silicone, so they’re safe to use night after night. And once you do discover which pair in the pack fits and feels the best, you’ll be happy to know that these are easily washable. Plus they come with a handy carrying case for safety and on-the-go convenience.
At less than $10, this gives them a big advantage over snore strips and other single-use solutions. And an outstanding value for saving your relationship.
#4: The Upgrade
Best for:
- Taking your favorite mask to the next level
- Making the most of your investment
- Getting the best of all worlds
- FOMO
One of the great things about Manta’s masks is that they’re modular. Which is just a fancy way of saying that like LEGO blocks, you can easily swap components. (But Manta masks hurt way less to accidentally step on in the middle of the night.)
In short, just because you got the classic model doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a mask with heating, cooling or extra-large eye cups. Or buy a whole new mask to experience these features.
Want to add that eye spa treatment we talked about earlier to your after-work ritual? No problem — you can order either a set of heating or cooling eye cups for your existing mask. You can even upgrade to silk!
And though all eye cups are designed not to mash your lashes, you might need something a little deeper if you’ve got extensions. Have no fear, the extra-large eye cups we mentioned will accommodate your monster eyelashes.
Oh, and we’ve got something else we think your eyes will really like: preventing eye strain and headaches before they even begin.
#5: The Eye Protector
Best for:
- Computer workers
- Light-sensitive eyes
- Evening wind-down
- Hardcore gamers
- Looking cool even after the sun goes down
Hey, remember earlier when we were talking about how the average person gets four times as much screen time as they’re supposed to? Those were some good times we shared.
Well, we recognize that the recommended daily dosage of two hours is nothing. We blow through that every day just on dog videos. (Probably more than that, to be honest.)
You put on sunscreen when you’re going out to face the harsh summer rays, so why do any less for your eyeballs? Except, y’know, less messy and painful than sunscreen?
Whether you spend all day working at the computer or just want to relax in the evening without the blue light from your electronics messing with your circadian rhythms, Manta Blue Light Blocking Glasses will mitigate the effects.
What are those effects? Well, blue light penetrates deep into your retinas. It can be responsible for eye strain, headaches, and it can even cause your vision to degenerate faster. Blue light also suppresses the brain’s production of melatonin, the hormone that makes you drowsy and keeps you sleeping through the night.
These glasses will keep out those harmful blue rays, and the lightweight frames make them comfortable to wear for long stretches. Want them even comfier? The nosepiece is fully adjustable.
Oh, you still want more comfort? Just pull out your blow dryer and voila — you can gently heat the frame to mold it to the perfect shape for your face.
If you’re looking for even more comfort than that, maybe what you need is a massive new pillow.
#6: The Traveler
Best for:
- Air travel
- Those ungodly long car rides
- People disappointed with conventional travel pillows
- Sending a not-so-subtle hint when meetings go too long
This ain’t your daddy’s travel pillow. Your brother stole that one. And it’s fine that he did. (Just don’t tell him we said that.) This one is a major upgrade.
The Manta Travel Pillow provides 4 position options: the standard cradle, “the nod” for resting your chin, “the lock” for additional head support and “the hug” for front-leaning neck support.
(And those are just the approved ones — advanced nappers can attempt “the grinning W,” “the ham sandwich” or “the Philadelphia 50 winks.”)
When you’re done practicing those pro moves, the pillow folds flat for easy storage — and as advertised, two breaths are all it takes to inflate it. The fleecy exterior is both comfortable and machine-washable, so it’s fabulous and convenient.
Where this really stands out from your daddy’s travel pillow, however, is that you can actually find a comfortable position with Manta’s. And once you’ve found it, the pillow stays in place rather than sliding around.
It’s even got a handy side pocket to stash your phone, earplugs or earphones. It’s like they thought of everything!
#7: The Light Eliminator
Best for:
- Evenings
- Creating a sleep-friendly environment anywhere
- Overcoming the feeling you’re being stared at by your tech
- Sticker fanatics
In the evening when you’re trying to wind down and get your body’s melatonin supply pumping, there’s an insidious crew keeping that from happening.
That group is comprised of the harsh LEDs on your TV, the smoke alarm, your notebook charger, power strips — really, just about every electronic device seems to feel the need for a light to announce its presence.
And if the router is in your bedroom… oof. That’s like trying to sleep next to a Christmas tree.
Sure, you may have tracked down the most annoying of the lights, the ones that dare to stare you right in the eye with their piercing glow. And yes, your impromptu solution of duct tape was functional, if not glamorous.
But what about all the other lights and indicators? Do you really want to incorporate duct tape into your fashion aesthetic? What if the Queen stops by for tea?
Thankfully, you can rely on Manta Blackout Stickers (available in Queen-approved, always-elegant black).
The pack comes with 100 stickers in various sizes. They’re removable, so you don’t have to worry about sticker residue gunking up your electronics. That makes them great for when you’re traveling, too. It’s difficult enough to sleep in a strange environment without an audience of unfamiliar lights to contend with.
Power Up With 6 Sleeptastic Tactics
Now that you’ve met the team, we hope you can choose the right sleeping items to use to overcome your troublesome sleep issues, whether it's how to make your bedroom darker, sleeping on the go, or dealing with noise pollution.
But we don’t want you to stop there. Here are some great bonus strategies to get you on your way to Dreamland — no matter which sleep products you have in your employ.
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Bedtime Stories. One of the biggest services that bedtime reading provides is an engrossing distraction. It forces your brain to focus on processing new information. Your primary input devices — your eyes — are receiving a steady flow of data.
This provides your mind a diversion so your wheels can’t start spinning with the usual thoughts that keep you awake at night.
Did I remember to pay the water bill? Why does water circle the drain in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere? Do you suppose there are capybaras in Australia? If not, why not?
There’s no guarantee that your mind won’t wander. (Oh, if we only had a quarter for every paragraph we’ve had to reread.) But it does give you a diversion, something you find interesting and/or entertaining. (If not, maybe it’s time for a trip to the library.)
The best part? It keeps you from doomscrolling social media before bed.
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Gratitude journaling. It may seem surprising that cultivating an attitude of gratitude can help your slumber.
Enter Emma Seppälä, a happiness researcher (how cool of a job is that?) at Yale and Stanford Universities. Her studies show that fostering positive thoughts at bedtime soothes the nervous system and helps you sleep better and longer.(8)A gratitude list doesn’t have to be anything complex — just list 5 things that you’re grateful for today. You don’t have to get philosophical about it, either, listing deep items like “the laughter of children.” Items on our lists include simple things like, “Chai with an unhealthy amount of creamer,” “Dog paws that smell like Fritos” and “Not having to deal with the DMV for another year.”
It doesn’t even have to be formalized on paper — go green and just make a mental list. How sweet are those dreams going to be when you’re counting blessings rather than sheep?
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Stretching. Not everybody’s into yoga, and we respect that. But a 2016 review of studies(9) linked stretching movements to improved quality of sleep — and better quality of life. It shifts your mind’s focus to your breath and movement instead of the things stressing you out, plus it relieves muscle tension that can lead to nighttime restlessness or cramping.
There’s an abundance of great bedtime stretching routines on YouTube that you can follow along with, but even taking a few minutes to stretch as high as you can and hold it, give yourself a big bear-hug, roll your neck and shoulders and straighten your legs along the wall will provide incredible results.
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Aromatherapy. Whip out the incense, dig out the bottles of essential oils and see what kind of deodorizing spray you’ve got lurking under the bathroom sink. We’re about to smell the place up.
Lavender is the king of bedtime scents, and with good reason. It works. (Manta even has a mask that pipes lavender aroma directly to your nose.)We get it, though — lavender’s floral scent can be, shall we say, “a bit much.” Or you might be out of lavender and having to resort to a backup from your set of essential oils.
Other, more subtle sleep-inducing scents you can try: cedarwood, chamomile, frankincense, marjoram or ylang-ylang.
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Meditation. Relax, we’re not going to meditation-shame you. Maybe you’ve tried meditation before and just gave up out of frustration because your mind was like a marble on a Tilt-a-Whirl.
And, to be honest, you never found the right background music; it all sounded like a clinic waiting room.
But whether you’ll acknowledge it or not, you already know how to successfully meditate. Counting sheep? That’s meditation. Going down a rabbit hole of daydreams can be, too.
The truth is, it’s totally normal for your mind to wander while you’re meditating.
Any yogi will tell you that it takes years of practice to get great at meditation. But you’re already good at meditation, and that’s good enough for our purposes.
Instead of the conventional nature sounds and piano music, how about something a little more off-the-beaten-path? Try train tracks or a space shuttle’s hum as your soundtrack instead.
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Stick to a routine. Especially a bedtime routine. Brush your teeth at the same time, let your dog out for that final bedtime pee at the same time, read at the same time… you get the idea.
This helps to train both mind and body that bedtime is approaching. That way you’re working with nature rather than against it. You’ll start to get drowsy at the right time and you’ll drift off a lot easier — because that’s what your body is expecting.
That means rising at the same time every day, too. Yep, even on the weekends. (Sorry to be a buzzkill.)
Want to skip the alarm and sleep an extra 20 minutes? That won’t be a problem. But trying to cram hours of sleep lost during the week into weekend catch-up sessions isn’t going to do your sleep hygiene any favors.
Just remember, there’s no one quick fix for sleep deprivation — your bad sleep is different than everybody else’s bad sleep. You’ll experience ups and downs along the way, good nights and not-so-good.
But you’re taking the initial big steps toward a wonderful goal: the better sleep that leads to better everything.
The right sleep better products can help improve sleep quality, and overcome common issues like anxiety, insomnia, intrusive light, a snoring partner or being unable to find a comfortable position.
And armed with some slumber hacks, you’ll be able to get into the perfect headspace to fall asleep faster, and sidestep pitfalls like evening restlessness and nighttime wheel-spinning.
Especially thinking about those damn capybaras.
Sources:
1.“How Much Screen Time is Too Much for Adults?” Reid Health, https://www.reidhealth.org/blog/screen-time-for-adults. Accessed 10 Nov. 2021
2. Insider Intelligence Editors, “US Adults Added 1 Hour of Digital Time in 2020.” eMarketer, https://www.emarketer.com/content/us-adults-added-1-hour-of-digital-time-2020. 26 Jan. 2021
3. “Your Guide to Healthy Sleep.” US Department of Health and Human Services, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/all-publications-and-resources/your-guide-healthy-sleep. Revised Aug. 2011
4. “More Than Just a Fad: 4 Ways Weighted Blankets Can Actually Help You.”Penn Medicine, https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/february/weighted-blankets. Accessed 3 Nov. 2021
5. “Sleep Disorders.” Anxiety & Depression Association of America, https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/sleep-disorders. Accessed 4 Nov. 2021
6. Therese J. Borchard, “10 Ways to Beat Insomnia and Get Better Sleep.” PsychCentral, https://psychcentral.com/blog/10-ways-to-beat-insomnia-and-get-better-sleep. 23 Jan. 2017
7. Lilianna Hogan, “The Benefits of Reading Before Bed: 6 Reasons Why You Should Pick Up Your Book Before Bed.” WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/benefits-of-reading-before-bed. Reviewed 11 Aug. 2021
8. Jamie Ducharme, “7 Surprising Health Benefits of Gratitude.” TIME, https://time.com/5026174/health-benefits-of-gratitude/. 20 Nov. 2017
9. Emily Cronkleton, “8 Stretches to Do Before Bed.” Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/stretching-before-bed. Updated 5 Feb. 2021
10. “7 Soothing Essential Oils for Your Best Night of Sleep.” The Good Trade, https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/essential-oils-for-sleep. Accessed 27 Nov. 2021
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website or provided through our blog, e-mails, or programs is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment that can be provided by your healthcare professionals.