Our experts spend hundreds of hours researching, testing, & recommending the best gear to help you get better rest
So this week, we're diving into all things sleep related, from advice on napping to avoiding mattress sales traps
Here you’ll find our best advice, tips, and hacks for sleeping better.
How not to feel dead tired this winter? ✅
Your Ideal Sleep Position? ✅
How to make sleeping together suck less? ✅
Debunking dubious bedding claims? ✅
How to clean bed pillows? ✅
President's Day weekend = basically the best day of the year to buy a mattress wrctr.co/3b5wJ1t
A bad pillow can literally become a pain in the neck, which is why it’s so important to get a good one.
We've tested over 100 pillows to find those that work well for a wide range of people so you can get the right pillows for a better night’s sleep. wrctr.co/37ehjXL
Our team rigorously tests sheets, duvet covers, comforters, & blankets to see how well they hold up in the wash, whether they’re breathable, and if they’re comfortable against the skin.
A 2018 study involving 6 men in their 20s found that they fell asleep, on average, in 7½ minutes when they wore socks vs ~15 minutes when they didn’t.
The study also suggested that the socks allowed the men to sleep longer & wake up less during the night. wrctr.co/3amNVAl
In a 2007 Dutch paper, eight subjects with no sleep issues who were between the ages of 21 to 39 fell asleep, on average, in about 11 minutes when they wore socks to bed vs 16 minutes without. wrctr.co/2ZpqT5v
In the mid-2000s, Blue Microphones had a great reputation for sound quality and a retro-futuristic design aesthetic when they released the Snowball, their first foray into USB mics.
At the time, there were few options for a decent, affordable USB microphone.
Meanwhile, the desktop content creation boom was just beginning.
Just some of the things that were quickly gaining popularity:
💝 An important factor we assessed in our testing for the best online flower delivery service: how true the arrangements were to their online photos: wrctr.co/374GITF
Left: how the flower arrangement we ordered from our top pick appeared on its site
Right: the flower arrangement we received
Left: how the flower arrangement we ordered from Costco, our budget pick, appeared on its site
A common question: Can you get addicted to lip balm?
According to the dermatologists we spoke with: Not really. If you find yourself reaching for lip balm constantly, it’s probably out of habit. Is it a true addiction? Not in the sense that there's a chemical dependency on it.
A board-certified dermatologist compared overuse of lip balm to other common behaviors: "Some people scratch the back of their head. Some people pick at their nails." But again, there's no evidence that lip balm is chemically addictive or causes withdrawal symptoms if you stop.
If your balm isn’t working, or if it’s irritating you, try switching formulas.
Although there’s no single ingredient that always causes irritation, try avoiding lip balm that has menthol & camphor. Any kind of added flavor or fragrance has the potential to irritate some people.
1. Enable two-factor authentication for your Apple account
Go to "Security" > [Your name], then tap "Turn on two-factor authentication"
After you set it up, even if someone has your password, they shouldn’t be able to access your account w/o also having your phone or computer
2. Set a strong passcode (& consider disabling Touch ID or Face ID)
Tap "Settings" > "Touch ID [or Face ID] & Passcode". If your phone supports Face ID, make sure the "Require Attention for Face ID" option is enabled so that your phone can’t be unlocked when your eyes are closed