These 6 Tools Will Help You Maximize Your Sleep and Recovery

If you’re dealing with low energy, unusual amounts of stress, or a weird appetite, getting better sleep is probably the answer. In the long term, not getting enough sleep has been tied to many chronic diseases and conditions, including obesity, depression, diabetes, and heart disease. In the short term, not getting enough sleep can be just as detrimental to your health. After all, sleep can help you better handle stress and emotions on a daily basis and help you control your cravings and hunger cues. Plus, it’s the key to muscle recovery (and consequently, fitness gains).

The proper amount of sleep for most healthy adults is somewhere between seven and nine hours. And, according to the CDC, a third of U.S. adults report getting less than the recommended amount. But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, your body and mind have a tough time falling asleep. The good news? There are plenty of gadgets for better sleep on the market that can help.

If you fall into the category of adults not getting enough rest, we have your back. These six tools are sure to help you fall — and stay — asleep.

6 of the Best Tools and Gadgets for Better Sleep

1. Casper Glow Light

Try this innovative nightstand light from Casper to make it easier to drift off to sleep and wake up. The touch lamp slowly dims to help you fall asleep with a warm light that gives out little to no blue light — which has been shown to be disruptive to natural sleep rhythms. In the morning, it slowly brightens, mimicking the sun to help you feel more awake. You can even adjust your bedtime and wake up times in the corresponding app.

2. Bose Noise-Masking Sleep Buds

These new wireless earbuds are designed to combine the features of earplugs and traditional bedside white noise machines in one innovative design. The buds come pre-loaded with soothing sounds that neutralize distracting noises — like your snoring partner — so you can fall asleep faster and stay asleep. Plus, they’ll wake you up with an alarm that only you can hear.

3. Signature Sleep Nanobionic Recovery Mattress

Say goodbye to night sweats. This mattress is made with a far infrared textile that promotes muscle recovery. It’s made with latex oils to help redistribute body heat and a gel- and charcoal-infused memory foam layer to cool down your body temperature.

4. Dodow Sleep Aid Device

Do you find your mind racing with anxious thoughts as soon as you get into bed? This meditative device, which helps to slow your breath and ease your anxiety, can help you drift off faster — one of our favorite mind-focused gadgets for better sleep.

Here’s how it works: After activating either an eight or 20-minute mode, the device displays a relaxing blue light on your ceiling that prompts you to synchronize your breathing by inhaling when the light expands and exhaling when the light retracts.

5. Bluetooth Sleep Eye Mask Wireless Headphones

If you’ve written off sleep masks as a trivial accessory, think again. Sleep masks block out light, which is crucial for regulating your body’s circadian rhythm; if there’s light flooding in, your body will suppress the release of the sleep hormone melatonin, making it harder for you to fall asleep. This version also happens to have headphones built in, making it perfect for travel.

6. Gravity Blanket

If you suffer from anxiety-related insomnia, a weighted blanket may be able to help by relaxing the nervous system. If the anecdotal evidence isn’t convincing enough, a few studies have shown that weighted blankets can help with anxiety and insomnia and help you wake up feeling more well rested. How? The gravity maximizes relaxation and minimizes movement while you sleep for a deeper REM cycle.

The Spartan Editors

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