You’ve probably heard that alcohol can make you sleepy—but what many don’t realize is that it can also lead to unsettling dreams and nightmares. While that evening drink might help you doze off faster, it can drastically disrupt your sleep architecture and alter your dream patterns in ways that leave you groggy and anxious the next morning.
You’ve finally settled into bed after a long day, ready to rest—but as soon as you get comfortable, your legs start to tingle, twitch, or ache. The urge to move them is impossible to ignore, and sleep slips farther away. If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing restless legs syndrome (RLS), a surprisingly common sleep disruption during pregnancy.
If you’ve ever felt yourself relax instantly under a heavy blanket, enjoyed the grounding comfort of a tight hug, or noticed how infants settle when swaddled, you’ve experienced the calming benefits of deep pressure therapy (DPT). This gentle but firm touch-based technique has grown in popularity because of its powerful effect on the nervous system—and its ability to improve sleep.
From weighted blankets and compression garments to massage and firm hugging sensations, deep pressure therapy helps the brain shift into a calmer state that makes falling asleep and staying asleep easier. Here’s how it works, why it helps, and simple ways to incorporate it into your nightly routine.
Waking up multiple times a night to use the bathroom—known as nocturia—can seriously disrupt your sleep and leave you feeling tired, irritable, and foggy the next day. While nighttime urination can sometimes be caused by medical conditions that require evaluation, in many cases, behavioral and lifestyle adjustments can make a significant difference.
It’s 2 p.m. Your morning coffee has worn off, your concentration is fading, and that wave of fatigue hits hard. The midday energy crash is one of the most common dips in productivity people experience—especially in the modern workday, where screens, stress, and sedentary habits dominate. But that afternoon slump isn’t inevitable. With a few lifestyle tweaks and science-backed strategies, you can keep your energy stable and your focus sharp from morning to night.
If you’ve ever felt soothed by a comforting hug or a heavy quilt, you already understand the principle behind a weighted blanket. These blankets—typically filled with glass beads or plastic pellets to add extra heft—are designed to provide “deep pressure stimulation,” a gentle, evenly distributed weight that helps calm the nervous system. Once used mainly in clinical and therapeutic settings, weighted blankets have become a popular tool for improving sleep, reducing anxiety, and enhancing overall well-being.
Here’s a closer look at the science-backed benefits and practical advantages of using a weighted blanket.
Few things bring as much peace of mind to new parents as knowing their baby is safe and sleeping soundly through the night. Thankfully, today’s technology offers an array of baby monitoring devices designed to help parents keep an eye on their little one’s safety, breathing, and environment—without having to hover constantly. From simple audio monitors to advanced smart systems, here’s a look at the options and how they can support restful nights for both baby and parent.
Many women notice that their sleep patterns shift throughout the month, often in sync with their menstrual cycle. That’s because fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone—two key reproductive hormones—directly affect sleep quality, body temperature, and even circadian rhythm. By understanding how each phase of the cycle influences rest, you can adjust habits and expectations for better sleep.
When people talk about sleep, dopamine isn’t usually the first brain chemical that comes to mind. It’s better known as the neurotransmitter of reward and motivation, fueling drive, pleasure, and focus during the day. But dopamine also has a surprisingly important role in how—and when—we sleep. Understanding this connection helps explain why sometimes we can’t fall asleep, why we feel groggy in the morning, and how brain chemistry balances rest with alertness.
When it comes to sleep, most of us think of melatonin as the key player. But behind the scenes, another brain chemical is just as crucial: serotonin. This powerful neurotransmitter not only helps regulate mood and appetite, but it also plays an essential role in the sleep–wake cycle. Understanding serotonin’s influence on sleep can give us insights into why rest sometimes feels restorative—and why it can be so elusive.