4 Sleep Aids Safer than OTC Sleep Meds
Can’t sleep? You’re not alone. One-third of adults don’t get enough sleep.¹ During a sleepless night, many of us reach for an over-the-counter sleeping pill (like Nytol, Sominex, Tylenol PM, or Unisom), but hold up. OTCs can leave you with a hangover the next day, making your morning commute dangerous. They can also cause constipation, dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, and a litany of other problems.²
The solution to getting consistent, restful sleep could be as simple as employing a little tech into your bedtime routine. I gave these four sleep aids a try and got some great results.
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Bedtime apps
Abhinav Singh, an expert at SleepFoundation.org, says that one of the best ways to get a good night’s sleep is to limit your phone usage in the bedroom. But for most of us, this isn’t easy and we need a little outside help in the form of bedtime apps.
These apps will shut down your phone, cut off your access to social apps and the internet, or simply make your phone’s screen grayscale to make doomscrolling and checking up on your favorite celebrities less appealing.
I simply used the bedtime mode that can be found in the Digital Wellbeing section of the settings on my Android phone. This mode changes the phone screen to grayscale and mutes calls and alerts. Surprisingly, the lack of color made me put down my phone.
Some apps you can try on your phone to make you stop your scrolling include Sleep Timer, Flipd: Focus & Study Timer on iOS and Android, and AppDetox.
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I must admit, when I first opened Morphee’s box, I was skeptical. It’s a wooden device with three metal keys. It looked very steampunk but useless as a sleep aid. I was wrong.
Morphee has 210 audio sessions that are designed to gently ease and relax the mind and body so that you naturally go to sleep. Sessions include meditation, body relaxing exercises, relaxing noises, and more.
I’ve tried these types of sessions through apps on my phone, but the big problem with these apps is the bright light from the screen and the fact that you need to interrupt your relaxation to close out the app when you’re done.
With Morphee you just set and forget. It isn’t connected to the internet and you don’t even need to have it plugged in. You just turn it to the session you want and to an eight or 12-minute time limit and hit play.
I was going to sleep sooner and sleeping better after just one night with Mophee by my side.
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
I’ll admit that I’m super picky when it comes to pillows. I need a soft pillow because I sleep on my stomach, but not too soft. I was super excited when I found out about Layr. This pillow can be tweaked to feel just the way you want it.
Being my typical self, though, I was skeptical. At least until I gave it a try. Layr comes with inserts so you can choose how soft and how tall you want your pillow. For me, this is particularly important because I like a little height in my pillows.
At first, it was a little difficult to figure out the inserts. But once the pillow was assembled I was hooked. I’ve been sleeping on it ever since.
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
Many sleep experts believe the pressure can cause the body to naturally create melatonin, dopamine, and serotonin. These are important hormones that can create better sleep and a feeling of happiness and wellbeing. It may also reduce the production of cortisol, which can inhibit sleep.³
I’ve found weighted blankets to be super soothing. On nights when my insomnia was at its worst, snuggling under a weighted blanket will put me right to sleep.
Before you go shopping, there are some things to remember:
- If you’re claustrophobic (like me) choose a very light weighted blanket.
- If you run hot at night pick a blanket made from a breathable material, like the Aricove Cooling Weighted Blanket.
- For extra coziness, pick a blanket that’s soft and fuzzy like the Luxome Cooling Weighted Blanket.
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Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Sleep and Sleep Disorders.” Accessed March 16, 2022.
- Mayo Clinic, “Sleep Aids: Understand Over-the-Counter Options.” Accessed March 16, 2022.
- Sleep Foundation, “How Do Weighted Blankets Work?” Accessed March 16, 2022.
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