The Sleep Helpers That Elevate Your Nights — Because Rest Should Feel Like Love

A cozy, coastal-calm guide from someone who has tried… a lot of things, so you don’t have to.

If you’ve ever stood in the “sleep aisle” at Whole Foods or Target with a lavender spray in one hand and magnesium gummies in the other, wondering if you’re being scammed or saved… welcome. You’re in excellent company.

I’ve tested the lotions, potions, gadgets, lights, masks, and all the pretty promises. Some truly transform your nights. Some are sweet little luxuries. And some? Well… cute packaging, zero benefit.

Let’s break it all down so you can create a bedroom that feels like an exhale instead of a project.

✨Tools That Really Do Make a Difference

1. A Gentle Sunrise Alarm (or a Hatch Light)

Game. Changer.

Anything that wakes you softly — rising light, warm glow, gentle sound — is infinitely healthier than a phone blasting you out of sleep with panic in its voice.

I promise, once you wake this way, you won’t go back.

Why it matters:

Light cues regulate cortisol and circadian rhythm. Calm mornings turn into calm nights. It’s science!

2. A Cool Bedroom (non-negotiable — truly)

You can give me flowers, kindness, or chocolate… but if you want my heart?

Set the thermostat to 68°F.

If you don’t love a cool, cozy, sleep-friendly home, I am simply not your girl.

Your body sleeps better in cooler air — deeper sleep, fewer wake-ups, better REM.

Worth it: 100%.

Bonus: clean, soft, smooth, breathable sheets.

3. The LectroFan (my ride-or-die sound machine)

I have tried so many sound machines, but my forever favorite is LectroFan.

It’s under $50, fits in a travel bag, never glitches, and offers those perfect, steady, soothing sound options that actually work.

Pink noise, brown noise, true white noise — not that tinny looping stuff.

I love it so much I gift it to people.

I travel with it like it’s a beloved pet.

LectroFan has been with me through life changes, hotel rooms, and apartment walls.

It’s reliable, comforting, and not the least bit fussy.

Worth it: beyond yes.

4. Blackout Curtains (or a Simple Eye Mask)

If your room is bright, your brain thinks it’s morning  — perhaps long before you’re ready.

Blackout curtains are amazing — unless you’re someone like me who typically loves to wake naturally with soft morning light.

There’s no wrong choice… just choose your intention.

🛌 A Side Note on Blackout Curtains & Eye Masks

I’m personally not a blackout-curtain or eye-mask girl when I’m at home. I adore waking up to natural morning light spilling softly into my room. It feels like the day is greeting me gently, and it supports my natural rhythm beautifully.

But… blackout tools absolutely have their place.

Plenty of people sleep far better with:

• a fully dark room

• a soft, comfortable eye mask

• space completely free of early sunlight or street glow

And when I fly?

Oh, I love an eye mask. It is the only way to stay sane on a plane with those bright overheads coming on and off, and it helps my body know it’s safe to rest.

When I need to go to bed earlier than usual — or when I know I need to sleep in past sunrise — blackout curtains are wonderful. I don’t rely on them every day, but I absolutely use them intentionally.

So if full darkness supports your sleep, embrace it without hesitation.

Your sleep tools should match your biology and your needs — not someone else’s preferences.

5. A Supportive Mattress & A Just-Right Pillow

You don’t need the fanciest brand.

You do need alignment, breathability, and something that doesn’t trap heat.

Think comfort first, price second.

🛏 A Little Honey Note on Pillows & Sheets

Let’s talk about pillows for a moment — because the right one can truly change the way you sleep.

I am a big fan of COOP pillows. I love that they come with extra filling so you can customize them to your perfect firmness. Personally, I tend to use most — if not all — of that extra stuffing. I like a pillow that actually supports my neck and keeps everything aligned. But the beauty of COOP is that you get to choose what feels just right for your body.

And pillowcases?

Give me luxury. Every time.

A smooth, cooling silk pillowcase makes such a difference for:

• keeping your temperature stable

• helping your hair behave

• and just making bedtime feel a little more elevated

As for sheets… oh, I do not skimp.

Good cotton sheets are an investment in your sleep, your skin, and your serenity. Soft, clean, high-quality cotton — that’s my sweet spot. I love slipping into sheets that feel fresh and smooth and breathable. It’s one of those small pleasures that pays off every single night.

Because good sleep matters.

And the things we touch every day — the pillows under our head and the sheets around our body — should feel like a gift.

6. Evening Light Control (the real MVP)

Warm, dim lighting sends your brain the message that the day is winding down.

You don’t need fancy “sleep lights.”

Use:

• warm bulbs

• soft bedside lamps

• overheads OFF

• motion-activated low light for nighttime bathroom trips (life changing!)

Simple can be powerful.

✨Nice-to-Have Tools (But Not Essential)

1. Sleep Sprays, Pillow Mists & Cute Rituals

Lovely? Yes.

Necessary? Nope.

Think of them as ambiance — not neuroscience.

2. Weighted Blankets

Some people love the hug-like heaviness. Others, like me, find them too warm.

Try before you commit.

3. High-Tech Trackers

Helpful only if you use them lightly.

If you wake up stressed about your REM percentage… skip it.

✨Tools You Can Skip Entirely

1. Anything With Valerian Root

This is just my personal truth…

But it smells like dirty feet to me.

I’ve wasted good months trying Valerian teas, capsules, tinctures — all of it — hoping I’d magically get used to it.

I did not.

If you love it, bless you. But this one is not for me.

2. “Instant Deep Sleep” Gadgets & Supplements

If something promises to override biology… run.

3. Blue-Light Glasses That Try to Save You From Bad Lighting

If your house is lit up like an operating room at 8 p.m., glasses can’t undo that.

Fix the bulbs, not the lenses.

A Gentle Truth

You don’t need more stuff.

You just need the right stuff — and the willingness to create small rhythms that honor your nervous system.

Good sleep isn’t about perfection.

It’s about softness, consistency, and a home that supports your peace.

Your bedroom should feel like a sanctuary… not a science experiment.

🍯Honey Note

Choose tools that bring ease, calm, and that quiet kind of joy that makes you smile when you walk into your bedroom. Skip anything that feels chaotic, complicated, or like one more thing to manage. You deserve a life — and a home — that supports your health in the sweetest, simplest ways.

With softness, humor, and a bedroom that loves you back,

Honey 🐝