Welcome to Good Night's Rest

Your ultimate resource for all things sleep. You can explore our reviews on mattresses, sleep aids and more. Or you if you're generally looking to improve your sleep, we've created sleep guides ranging from meditation to music playlists.

I Want to Sleep Better

"If a man had as many ideas during the day as he does when he has insomnia, he’d make a fortune."

Griff Niblack

"The worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to."

F. Scott Fitzgerald

"The amount of sleep required by the average person is five minutes more."

Wilson Mizener

"Man should forget his anger before he lies down to sleep."

Mahatma Gandhi

"A well-spent day brings happy sleep."

Leonardo da Vinci

"Tired minds don’t plan well. Sleep first, plan later."

Walter Reisch

"I count it as a certainty that in paradise, everyone naps. "

Tom Hodgkinson

"I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know? "

Ernest Hemingway

"Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn. "

Mahatma Gandhi

"There is no sunrise so beautiful that it is worth waking me up to see it. "

Mindy Kaling

"Sleep is God. Go worship."

Jim Butcher

"Sleep is the best meditation. "

Dalai Lama

"Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."

Thomas Dekker

"The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep."

E. Joseph Cossman

"Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine."

Thomas Aquinas

"It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it."

John Steinbeck

"No day is so bad it can’t be fixed with a nap."

Carrie Snow

"A day without a nap is like a cupcake without frosting."

Terri Guillemets

"Sleep is the interest we have to pay on the capital which is called in at death; and the higher the rate of interest and the more regularly it is paid, the further the date of redemption is postponed."

Arthur Schopenhauer

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book."

Irish Proverb

"A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow."

Charlotte Brontë

Pros of Good Sleep

Good Sleep
Immunity Boost

Positive Physical Health Cycle

Less Physical Health Complications
  • Associated with a longer life span and better quality of life.
  • Improves athletic and overall physical performance.
  • Increases the human body's physical pain threshold.
  • Supports overall health by boosting metabolism and immune system functions.
  • Aids in the prevention of vascular (heart) diseases.
Good Sleep
Cognitive Boost

Positive Mental Health Cycle

Less Mental Health Complications
  • Strengthens memory and alertness, improving focus and the ability to learn.
  • Boosts abstract thinking, creativity and problem-solving.
  • Contributes to mental and emotional stability.
  • Lowers stress and improves overall mood.

Cons of Bad Sleep

Poor Sleep
Immunity Decline

Negative Physical Health Cycle

More Physical Health Complications
  • Increases appetite and stimulates cravings for food high in carbohydrates and fat.
  • Triggers the inflammatory response of the body's immune system.
  • Complications can lead to diabetes, obesity heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
  • May give rise chronic pain and sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea.
Poor Sleep
Cognitive Decline

Negative Mental Health Cycle

More Mental Health Complications
  • Can cause mental fatigue and forgetfulness, as well as difficulty concentrating.
  • Leads to crankiness, irritability, lack of energy and loss of motivation.
  • May result in keeping an irregular schedule, hampering social interactions.
  • Increases risk of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, and vice versa.

The Importance of a Good Sleep Environment How to Set Up a Bedroom

How to Set Up a Bedroom

Light

  • Darkness or night light
    (warm red or orange hue)
  • Sleep mask
  • Smaller/directional lights (ex: lamps vs. overhead)
  • Blackout curtains (works as sound blockers, too)

Sound

  • Carpets, rugs, plush furniture and accessories
  • White noise machine
  • Earplugs or sleep headphones
  • Acoustic panels, or shelves against a shared wall

Atmosphere

  • Air purifier or aromatherapy diffuser
  • Furniture with rounded corners
  • HVAC/thermostat
  • Bedroom plants

Comfort

  • Cool colors (blue, green) for walls, bedding, etc.
  • Separate bedding or even mattresses
  • Nightstands of appropriate height with clean surface
  • Personal and significant items (photos, mementos)

Other

  • Pets in bedroom but in separate pet bed.
  • Cuddling and cozying up
  • Proper sleeping clothes (or sleeping nude, though subjective)

How Not to Set Up a Bedroom

How to Set Up a Bedroom

Light

  • Night light
    (cool white or blue hue)
  • Screens (TV, smartphone, tablet, computer)
  • Appliances with digital displays (alarm clock, etc.)
  • Translucent curtains covering windows

Sound

  • Entertainment systems (stereo, gaming console)
  • Bare floor (tile, hardwood, glass, etc.)

Atmosphere

  • Food, drink, plates, cups
  • Too much or disproportionately large furniture
  • Open window
  • Clutter and mess (attracts dust and holds smells)

Comfort

  • Warm colors (red, purple) for walls, bedding, etc
  • Too many pillows and unneeded sheets
  • Hanging ceiling fixture exactly over bed (plant, lighting, etc.)
  • Any work- or hobby- related items

Other

  • Pets on bed
  • Fights and emotionally charged talks
  • Snoring sleeping partner! (haha)

Factors that Affect Sleep

  • Darkness

    Natural darkness at night induces sleep, while natural light in the morning invites alertness and a willingness to get up and out of bed.
  • Light

    Artificial light impairs your eyes’ innate ability to recognize daytime and nighttime, which can make it difficult for you to follow a natural sleep pattern.
  • Time

    Crossing into a new time zone while traveling leads to jet lag, which is your internal body clock being temporarily out of sync with your local surroundings.
  • Place

    Working night shifts require your sleep patterns to be routinely out of sync with not just natural darkness and light, but also family and friends keeping regular hours.
  • Physical Condition

    Chronic physical discomfort and pain caused by conditions like acid reflux, arthritis, premenstrual syndrome and others can disrupt sleep throughout the night.
  • Mental Health

    Anxiety, depression and other mental health issues can prevent you from completely relaxing; so bedtime can be a problem, and restful deep sleep hard to achieve.
  • Food

    Heavy meals, especially if spicy or fatty, take more work to digest. This keeps you from relaxing and makes it hard to fall asleep.
  • Drink

    Alcohol intake may initially help you sleep, but it increases night awakenings and decreases sleep quality. Even drinking too much water right before going to bed can have you waking up to go to the bathroom multiple times.
  • Medications

    Medications for various conditions---from headaches to high blood pressure, even depression and ADHD---come with side effects that can disrupt your sleep cycle.
  • "Other" Substances

    Stimulants like caffeine and nicotine should be avoided close to bedtime.
  • Work

    Computers, smartphones and work-related materials in the bedroom will distract you from the prime purposes of your sacred space: sex and sleep.
  • Stress

    Stress induces the secretion of cortisol, which increases alertness; therefore, physical and mental stressors---from strenuous exercise to emotional confrontations---should be avoided right before bed.
  • Routine

    A set of relaxing habits can condition you to look forward to sleep. A pre-sleep routine may include taking a bath, reading a book, writing in a diary and even meditation.
  • Consistency

    Keeping a consistent schedule, even during weekends, is the key to better sleep health. This keeps your internal body clock in check and helps you avoid sleep hangovers.

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