CNET’s team of sleep and wellness experts has been testing all things sleep-related for a long time. Whether it’s mattresses, sleepy mocktails or wearing sleep socks or mouth tape to bed, we’ve pretty much tried it all. If there’s a new or strange sleep hack trending online, you can bet we’ll give it a shot.
Along the way, our experts have each discovered unique ways of improving their sleep quality — and the methods might surprise you. From visualizations of falling to wearing sleep hoodies and toe spacers, here are some unexpected ways our sleep and wellness experts fall asleep.
Dillon Lopez, senior video producer
Having played sports his entire life, Dillon is no stranger to injuries, sore muscles or general aches and pains. “I often wake up in the middle of the night with aching feet and calves and I can’t go back to sleep unless I crack my ankles and stretch out my legs,” he explains. When Dillon saw an ad targeting people with this exact problem on social media, he ordered the product immediately to see if it would help him sleep better. The product in question? Toe spacers.
Rogue Fitness toe spacers are intended to improve foot mobility, realign the feet to their natural shape and reduce the risk of plantar fasciitis, bunions and blisters. As everything in our bodies is interconnected, the position of our toes and feet affects other joints, such as the ankles, knees, hips and back.
“I was skeptical at first, but since I’ve been wearing toe spacers to bed, I wake up fewer times throughout the night. I also can tell the difference when I get up in the morning because my feet, ankles and calves are not nearly as sore or achy,” he says.
Anna Gragert, wellness editor
Anna pictures herself in a cozy cottage in the woods to help her fall asleep.
To better immerse herself in the visualization headspace, Anna also listens to the sound of ocean waves at night on her phone by going to the “background sounds” function and picking the “ocean” option. Other relaxing noises to choose from include balanced or dark noise, rain and streams. “That feature is a lifesaver when I’m traveling,” she adds.
Dillon Payne, director of video production
We all know that listening to white noise and calming nature sounds can soothe us to sleep, but did you know that an action-filled audiobook of tragedy, suspense and drama could have the same effect? It’s true, and Taylor is proof of this.
“I listen to “A Song of Ice and Fire” audiobooks to fall asleep at night. It knocks me out immediately,” she says.
If you struggle to fall asleep and enjoy audiobooks, consider playing one read slowly and softly by someone with a calming voice. Like falling asleep in class listening to a remarkably soft-spoken or monotone professor, you might be surprised how quickly you’ll drift off to dreamland.
If you want to listen to an audiobook at night without disturbing your partner, try a pair of sleep headphones. If you don’t like earbuds, consider opting for sleep headphones that wrap around your head, such as the Hoomband Headband or the Manta Sound Sleep Mask.
Giselle Castro-Sloboda, wellness and fitness writer
Giselle’s Oura Ring suggests a bedtime each night to ensure she is getting optimal rest.
The Oura Ring is a wearable sleep tracker that monitors your vitals, health metrics and the time you spend in each sleep phase.
Giselle’s bedroom is specifically configured for rest. With the AC on, blackout shades pulled down, an air purifier running and the Hatch noise machine playing sounds, it’s like a sleep oasis.
“I love the Hatch for sleep. I use it as a sound machine and as a night light. When my son Charlie is going through sleep regression and wakes up, I play lullabies, and he also benefits from the white noise,” she says.
Read more: Oura Ring 4 Review
JD Christison, senior video producer
JD pictures a ship slowly sailing on the sea to lull him to sleep.
If the concept of slow-rolling ocean waves appeals to you, consider a noise machine that plays calming ocean wave sounds, download an app like Calm for relaxing audio or simply play a YouTube video — preferably one with a dark or black screen.
Caroline Igo, sleep editor
Owen’s sleep hacks revolve around reading and room lighting. To help him fall asleep faster, he reads for 15 to 20 minutes each night, right before bed. The genre of choice is typically dense nonfiction about history, politics or culture — something to tire out his brain.
“I’m very aware of the nighttime lighting. I do have a bedside lamp that I use while reading, but one thing I was mindful of is making sure the light bulb’s color temperature is very warm. I also do the phone and laptop screen color shift around 8 p.m. if I happen to use them at night,” he explains.
Nasha practices visualization techniques to help her fall asleep, though the specific scenario she plays in her mind may not be what you’d expect.
“When I wake up in the middle of the night and want to go back to sleep, I envision myself falling down a rabbit hole — similar to Alice in Wonderland. The farther I fall, the darker it gets. In my mind, it’s like I’m “falling” into deep sleep,” Nasha explains.
Wes Ott, senior video producer
Wes likes to fall asleep to the soothing sounds of white noise, whether it’s a fan in the summer or the heater in the winter. “I’ve also found that reading before bed helps. I don’t stick to one particular genre — I’m all over the place, but I always find myself quickly drifting off to sleep when reading at night,” he explains.
Wes no longer relies on his phone or a traditional alarm clock to wake up in the morning. Instead, he uses the Casper Glow Light. It gradually brightens, filling the room with a soft light for a gentler, more peaceful way to wake up and start the day. This light can also be used to unwind and relax in the bedroom as you prepare for bed at night, as the warm glow softly cues your mind that it’s time to sleep.
Read more: The 6 Best White Noise Machines
Aly Lopez, sleep writer
This lightweight shirt has a sleep mask in the hood for blocking light — which I need because our bedroom is bright at night.
The only disruptor of my sleep now is my cat, Jess, and I know I’m not alone in the tribulations of sharing a sleep space with pets. It’s estimated that nearly two-thirds of owners share the bed with their pets — and we all know that cats don’t stay quiet and still all night like we might prefer. If this situation sounds familiar, learn more about the pros and cons of sleeping with your cats and ways to sleep well without kicking them out.
