Unlock Better Sleep: Why a Sleep Mask for Men Works

Discover how a sleep mask for men helps you get better sleep quality. This article lists the pros and the different options available.

Getting good quality sleep is crucial for our well-being. Unfortunately, it’s become difficult for people to get deep and restful zzzs. To illustrate, Sleep Foundation says between 10 to 30% of adults have chronic insomnia⁽¹⁾.

Men, like women, experience a variety of sleep issues. It's fortunate that there are many products that help improve sleep quality nowadays. From wearables to natural supplements to machines.

But one inexpensive and effective solution is a sleep mask for men. It helps block out light. And it provides sensory relief while traveling or sleeping in an unfamiliar place.

Sleep masks help because you need darkness to get good quality sleep. It’s not only about the discomfort bright light brings. It has to do with your circadian rhythm or internal body clock.

Exposure to light tells your body it's time to be awake. Meanwhile, darkness signals your brain that it’s time to wind down. And it triggers the release of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

In this blog post, we'll discuss sleep problems that men face. We’ll also explore the pros of using a sleep mask for men. And we’ll also talk about our recommendations and why people prefer them.

• Sleep Issues Experienced by Men

• Benefits of Wearing a Sleep Mask

• Types of Men's Sleep Masks

• Conclusion

Too much light in the evening can push your bedtime much later. As we mentioned earlier, it can disrupt your circadian rhythms. And it may also suppress melatonin production.

If you’re light-sensitive, this makes things even more difficult. Even the dimmest light may interfere with your ability to drift off and stay asleep. Whether it's the blue light from your phone or a night light.

For instance, let’s examine the case of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS). It’s a disorder where you experience a sleep delay of 2 hours or more from the expected time. Limited studies have linked it to light sensitivity.

A study published in The Physiological Society focuses on participants with DSPS. They showed an increase in melatonin suppression when exposed to bright light⁽²⁾. While more research is in order, it’s telling of how light can prevent us from getting deep and restful shuteye.

To address light sensitivity, go the extra mile in keeping your bedroom as dark as possible. You might want to consider blackout curtains. Or even better, an excellent sleep mask for men.

Cleveland Clinic says 10 to 40% of people who do shift work experience shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). This condition causes excessive sleepiness, sleep that isn’t refreshing, and drowsiness. On top of this, it can lead to insomnia, low energy levels, difficulty focusing and even depression⁽³⁾.

It’s good that there are ways to help you manage SWSD and get the sleep you need. These include a regular sleep-wake schedule even during your days off. Another is wearing blue light-blocking glasses as soon as you’re done with your shift.

Getting your bedroom as dark as possible is essential. This is extra tough when the sun is shining outside. This is where a men’s sleep mask comes in handy. Especially when it has a superior light-blocking feature.

If your work takes you away from home into multiple time zones, it may lead to sleep problems.

Jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder. It’s brought on by traveling through many time zones. You may develop insomnia if your body doesn’t have enough time to adjust to your new time zone. It might also result in daytime fatigue, confusion and disorientation.

The best way to combat jet lag is to follow your destination’s time zone as soon as you take off. And this means when you sleep and eat. This can be tough considering all the distractions.

A sleep mask for men helps block out light and movement. This lets you catch some much-needed zzzs while traveling.

This travel-related sleep phenomenon occurs on the first night away from home. Unfamiliar surroundings can cause anxiety, which leads to sleeplessness.

The best way to prevent this from happening is to get familiar with your new environment. And bring a pillow or blanket from home. Blocking out light, movement and sound helps you slide into sleep faster.

Make sure to pack a sleep mask for men and a comfy pair of earplugs to ease your first-night jitters.

Also, if noise proves too distracting, noise-canceling headphones help. If you use white noise for sleep, Bluetooth sleep masks are an option, too.

💡 Key Takeaway: A sleep mask is an inexpensive and effective accessory for improving sleep quality. It helps reduce light sensitivity. And it can provide the darkness you need to sleep after a night shift. It can also block out distractions and make you feel less anxious when you travel.

Good sleep is essential for your physical and mental health. Unfortunately, the sleep issues we mentioned above make it difficult. As we mentioned earlier, a sleep mask for men helps address these.

Let’s take a look at its benefits.

Wearing a sleep mask for men blocks out light so you can fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. These two factors impact the quality of your sleep.

Darkness also encourages your body to produce melatonin. This sleep hormone helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle. It tells your body it's time to wind down and get ready for bed.

Getting enough restful shuteye with no interruptions is key to improving sleep quality. And a sleep mask can help you get there.

Anxiety and stress may lead to chronic sleep deprivation. Your body goes into a fight-or-flight mode when stressed.

This causes your heart rate to go up and your breathing to quicken. Not to mention triggers an increase in stress hormones. Drifting off and staying asleep becomes next to impossible.

That’s why it’s important to get in a relaxed state before hitting the sack. A sleep mask for men gives you sensory deprivation. It blocks out distractions from light and movement, helping you relax.

Without enough quality sleep, you’ll feel tired and lethargic during the day.

You’ll also find it difficult to remember information. It’s pretty much in one ear and out the other. And it won’t matter how much coffee or sodas you drink, too.

A study published in Oxford Academic revealed that using an eye mask to sleep has its perks. Namely, good memory performance and increased alertness the next day⁽⁴⁾.

Wearing a comfortable eye mask to sleep has many benefits. These include improved sleep quality and less pre-bedtime stress and anxiety. Not to mention increased energy levels throughout the day.

This is because it blocks out distracting light sources. You are then able to relax into deeper stages of restorative shuteye each night.

So, now you know the benefits of wearing a sleep mask for men. It’s time to move on to your options.

💡 Key Takeaway: Wearing a sleep mask overnight has its benefits. It helps improve sleep quality by blocking out light. It may also help you relax before bedtime. And studies say it increases memory and alertness the next day.

The thing about most sleep masks is they’re adjustable. While men tend to have larger heads than women, this is by no means a standard. Women can also wear an adjustable men’s sleep mask.

The eye masks mentioned below offer the benefits we discussed above. And then some.

Not all sleep masks are made equal, especially when it comes to light blocking.

An eye mask at its most basic is a flat piece of fabric with a flimsy elastic strap. Owing to its construction, light can seep in due to the poor fit. Not to mention it’s likely to slip off as you sleep.

Choose a sleep mask that blocks out light completely with a perfect fit. Better alternatives come with contoured eye cups to seal out light completely. They’re also a more comfy option as they won’t put pressure on your eyes.

We recommend Manta Sleep Mask PRO. It’ll provide you with complete darkness. On top of that, it’s breathable and designed for side sleeping. (Though it works with other sleep positions, too.)

This sleep mask for men is perfect if you’re extra light-sensitive. Plus, it has other neat features to boot. It’ll give you the darkness and comfort you need for quality zzzs.

One of the best ways to relax before bedtime is to listen to soothing music or white noise. A sleep mask with Bluetooth speakers is a great way to wind down with tunes. And shut out everything else.

This type of sleep mask is also perfect for travel. It’s a white noise machine and a sleep mask in 1. Wear it on the plane or train for a restful nap. Or use it on your first night away from home. It’ll help block out unfamiliar surroundings and soothe your anxiety.

If this is what you’re looking for, consider Manta SOUND Mask. It combines superior light blocking with portable sound.

Unlike other sleep masks with headphones, Manta SOUND's head strap has 2 layers. The interior is 100% machine washable. It also comes with an overhead strap to keep it firmly in place as you sleep.

💡 Key Takeaway: When it comes to choosing a sleep mask for men, there are many options. Choose one with a superior light-blocking feature. Breathability, comfort and sound features are a big plus, too.

Getting quality sleep is crucial for our health and well-being. But for many, it’s not as easy as it should be. A sleep mask for men might be what you need.

It blocks out light for better sleep quality. And may provide sensory deprivation when anxious or stressed. Recent studies also show that it improves memory and alertness.

Men’s sleep masks come in a variety of styles, from basic to more advanced options. If you didn’t find what you’re looking for here, explore our full collection. And consider other sleep products to go with your mask as well.

We hope this blog post helps you find the best sleep mask for men to suit your needs.

Sources:

(1) “Sleep Statistics.” Sleep Foundation, www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/sleep-facts-statistics. Accessed 20 March 2023.

(2) “Increased sensitivity of the circadian system to light in delayed sleep–wake phase disorder.” The Physiological Society, physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP275917. Accessed 20 March 2023.

(3) “Shift Work Sleep Disorder” Healthline, www.healthline.com/health/shift-work-sleep-disorder. Accessed 20 March 2023.

(4) “Wearing an eye mask during overnight sleep improves episodic learning and alertness.” Oxford Academic, academic.oup.com/sleep/article/46/3/zsac305/6912219. Accessed 20 March 2023.

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.