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20 Weird But Genius Products That Can Significantly Improve Your Sleep

There is just nothing like a good night's sleep. You wake up feeling refreshed, like you can do anything at all. Those mornings are my favorite, and I've decided I want more mornings like this, so I found some weird but genius products that can help you sleep, so you can wake up feeling well rested all of the time.

Making sure you have a quality sleep environment is super important, but so is preparing yourself for bed, or even changing the way you do certain things before you lay down. I'm that person who gets ready to go to bed and then spends another hour either looking at Instagram or watching Snapchats on my phone, or binge watching Netflix. And then I'm no longer tired because I've been staring at a bright light. Then there are the times that I just can't get relaxed because my sheets are scratchy, or my mind is going everywhere. Perhaps my biggest struggle is that my hearing is so great that I end up fixating on a noise and can't block it out, and then I can't fall asleep.

Luckily all of these issues can be helped (and your sleep improved) with creating the right ambient light, replacing your sheets or pillow, or even investing in a sound machine or fan to block out noises. Whatever is preventing you from waking up feeling great, it won't be a problem anymore because your sleep will significantly improve with just a few changes.

by Taylor Fuller

1. Relax Before Bed And Fall Asleep Faster

Nightwave Sleep Assistant, $58, Amazon

I don't know about you, but sometimes I just have a tough time falling asleep. I think for me it's constantly changing timezones and routines. It could also be an overactive mind, or stress. If you have trouble relaxing before bed, a great option for helping you out is the Nightwave Sleep Assistant. It guides you through a pre-sleep relaxation routine by using a soft light that slowly moves and dims. Sync up your breathing with the wave, and you'll be fast asleep before it even shuts off.

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2. Regulate Your Temperature While You Sleep

Bed Fan, $89, Amazon

If you find yourself overheating while you sleep, or you often wake up drenched in sweat, you might be having trouble regulating your temperature during the night. A bed fan is a great way to fix this without turning the AC on even higher. The adjustable fan has an air vent that fits right under your sheets at the foot of your bed and blows an even stream of cold air under. It comes with a wireless remote, so you can easily adjust it.

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3. Keep The Light Out

Deconovo Room Darkening Blackout Curtains, $11, Amazon

I'm someone who can't sleep in a room unless it's pitch black (even lights from cable boxes bother me). And sometimes I end up waking up in the morning — if the shades let it even the tiniest bit of light. That's why blackout shades are so great. They keep the sun out (and they also keep your room colder), so you can still sleep in the dark. These ones comes in 26 colors, so you can find ones that match your bedroom decor.

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4. Use Essential Oils To Calm Yourself Before Bed

Deep Sleep Night Oil by This Works, $46, Amazon

After your shower, apply this night oil for the ultimate feeling of relaxation. It's made with lavender, vetivert, chamomile, and grape seed oil to help tensions and stress melt away. It smells beautifully and is incredibly moisturizing. Plus, it reduces the signs of aging and leaves you with hydrated and smooth skin. One user said that she tried it at a hotel and when she got home she immediately purchased her own bottle.

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5. Super Soft Sheets That Will Help You Sleep Better

Zen Bamboo Hypoallergenic Sheets, $30, Amazon

I stay in a lot of hostels and hotels, and I can't ever fall asleep if the sheets are scratchy. That's why I make sure that my sheets at home are smooth and comfy. I use bamboo sheets at home because they're super soft, don't trap heat, and are hypoallergenic. I can sleep comfortably and wake up feeling more refreshed when I sleep on bamboo sheets because of how they feel on my skin and how cool they stay.

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6. Block Out Blue Light Before Bed

Blue Light Blocking Glasses, $69, Amazon

I spend hours before bed laying in the dark, scrolling through Instagram, watching Snapchats, and playing games on my phone. Other nights, when I'm in the middle of binge watching a show, I can stare at my computer, episode after episode. And then I'm no longer tired anymore. That's because of the blue light that's being emitted by my electronics. So, invest in a pair of blue light-blocking glasses. They may look silly, but you'll be surprised at how much better you sleep when you don't spend the time before bed staring at a bright screen.

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7. Listen To Music Without Headphones Getting In Your Way

CozyPhones Sleep Headphones, $22, Amazon

If you enjoy listening to music or meditations before you go to bed, but you find your headphones to be annoying because you're either getting tangled in them, they hurt, or they're too big to sleep comfortably in, these CozyPhones are the answer. The lightweight headband fits around your head and doesn't cause pain to your ears while you sleep. The speakers fit inside and are adjustable. You won't even feel like you have headphones on.

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8. Rest Easy With A Humidifier

Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier, $40, Amazon

Your quality of sleep can be heavily affected by the moisture in a room. For instance, I can't fall asleep when my body feels super dry, or if I can't breathe. A humidifier would help with both of those problems because it emits a cool mist that actually adds moisture to the air. This one can work for up to 16 hours before it automatically shuts off (because of low water levels). One user said, "I purchased three humidifiers last week and after using them for several nights, I absolutely love them. They're the best humidifiers I've ever had."

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9. Experience Relief And Relaxation From An Eye Mask

Inerzen Hot or Cold Eye Mask Gel Pad, $12, Amazon

Going to bed with a headache or when you're sick can be really tough. I sometimes can't lay down because I'll start to feel like someone is hammering my head. So when that starts happening, I usually will reach for a hot or cold eye mask. They're eye masks that you can freeze in the fridge or freezer, or heat up in the microwave or with hot water. It provides pressure relief to your eyes and head and makes it a little bit easier for you to relax and drift off to sleep.

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10. Snuggle Up For A Sounder Sleep

Leachco Back'N Belly Contoured Body Pillow, $65, Amazon

I'm a side sleeper, and I often wake up feeling super sore because of that. Side sleepers would benefit from the use of a body pillow that actually wraps around your whole body. This thing isn't just for pregnant women. It's a great way to stay comfortable while you sleep. Plus it's perfect for people who have stomach issues (because apparently laying/sleeping on your left side relieves them).

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11. Fall Asleep Naturally With Melatonin

DRIFTOFF Natural Sleep Aid, $20, Amazon

I swear by melatonin. I use it when I'm traveling on long overnight flights, and I almost always wake up feeling refreshed (as long as there are no screaming babies around). This one is also made with valerian root, chamomile, tryptophan, and lemon balm, which are all ingredients that help the body and mind to relax. They also help reduce anxiety, which can be a cause of insomnia. You'll feel well rested in the morning when you use melatonin, instead of being groggy when you use other sleep aids.

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12. Lavender Soothes And Sleep Comes Easily

Lavender And Chamomile Aromatherapy Mist, $23, Amazon

One thing that I never leave home without when I'm traveling is lavender sleep mist. You never know when you're going to have trouble falling asleep when you're on a long trip. It's something that's easy to throw in your toiletry kit, and you'd be amazed at how frequently you'll use it. All you do is spray the mist on your pillow, and the essential oils of lavender and chamomile will soothe your mind and help you relax before drifting off to sleep.

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13. Fill Your Room With White Noise Or Nature Sounds For A Deeper Sleep

HoMedics Sound Spa Relaxation Machine, $22, Amazon

Sometimes, when my mind is racing, or if I've suddenly started to fixate on a noise in my room (I can't sleep with a ticking clock in my room because the sound bothers me so much), I will turn on a sound machine. It drowns out my thoughts or any annoying sounds that are going on around me. This one comes with six different sound options: white noise, thunder, ocean, summer night, rain, and brook. It also has an auto off timer that can be set to 15, 30, and 60 minutes.

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14. Don't Let Snores Wake You Up

SleepWell Pro Anti Snoring Solution Nose Vents Set, $20, Amazon

If you have a partner that you live with or have sleepovers with on a regular basis and their snores are keeping you up at night, help them out with an anti-snoring solution. By increasing the air flow through your nose, snoring stops. All you do is put the nose vents in your nostrils, and breathe normally. One user said, "I bought these at midnight after another sleepless night due to my husbands snoring. His snoring can be heard in the next town it's so loud. Only had them one night and holy crap it stopped the snoring."

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15. Sleep Better, Wake Up Better

Philips Wake-Up Light, $82, Amazon

Waking up the wrong way can ruin a good night's sleep. If your alarm goes off while you're in a deep sleep, you can often feel groggy the next day. This wake-up light is an alarm that helps you wake up naturally, with the light. It mimics the sunrise by gradually increasing in brightness over a 30 minute period before the time your alarm is set for. The light actually allows your body to slowly come out of a deep sleep, so you wake up feeling refreshed and energized.

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16. A Relaxing Environment Makes All The Difference

Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser With Wood Grain And Changing LED Lights, $46, Amazon

Melt away the stresses of the day with an aromatherapy machine. They're not that expensive, and incredibly worth it. It's like having a spa environment in your own house, whenever you want it. Just add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the diffuser and in minutes your room will smell amazing. Choose scents like lavender and chamomile to relax, and citrus to wake up. This diffuser is super quiet and also has seven soothing LED lights that will make your relaxation time even better.

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17. Keep Track Of Your Sleep

Beddit 2.0 Smart Sleep Tracker, $60, Amazon

I love sleep trackers, and if I didn't travel so often, I'd invest in one that is more accurate than the ones you can use on your phone. This one connects to your mattress (and then to your phone via Bluetooth) and tracks your sleep time, heart rate, snoring, breathing and night-time events. I think the coolest thing is that it has a smart alarm that will wake you up at the perfect moment of your sleep cycle. And when you wake up, you can check your app and see how you can improve the quality of your sleep for the next night.

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18. The Right Lighting For Better Sleep

Lighting Science Good Night Light Sleep Light, $34, Amazon

Place this lightbulb into your bedside lamp and you'll be on your way to a better night of sleep. It actually helps your body naturally produce melatonin and will help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up more rested. I'm the most restless sleeper ever, so if a lightbulb can do all that, I'm going to have to give it a try.

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19. A Ventilated Pillow Keeps You Cool

LINENSPA Dual Zone Gel Memory Foam Ergonomic Pillow With Specialized Neck Support, $25, Amazon

I sleep with a ventilated memory foam pillow, and it's amazing. I get really hot at night if the temperature isn't just right, so a pillow with ventilation holes is my savior. Basically the holes promote air circulation, and the memory foam provides you with a lot of support, so you can sleep better. One user said, "This is a nice, cool, and comfortable pillow. My body runs more on the hot side, and I have noticed I sleep better with it."

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20. Cleaner Air, So You Can Breathe Easier

O-ION B-1000 Permamnet Filter Ionic Air Purifier, $50, Amazon

My best friend swears by her air purifier. She has told me countless times how much it makes a difference for her when she's sleeping. I asked her why she uses it and she told me it is because of her terrible allergies. Her air purifier is an Ionic one, just like this one. That means that it removes allergens, pollen, mold, smoke, pet dander, odors, dust, and more from the air. The purification fan cleans and sanitizes the air around you, so you can breathe easier. The best part about this one is that it has UVGI technology, which means that it kills germs, viruses, and bacteria that can make you sick.

Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from Bustle's editorial and sales departments.

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