Yes, sleep masks can help to improve your sleep quality. They help to create a dark and calming sleep environment for better sleep.
A good night's sleep has become a challenge for many as we face stressful jobs, busy lifestyles, and spend way too much time on our screens.
Despite poor sleep being quite common across the UK…
- The average UK adult only gets three days a week of good quality sleep.
…there’s still many who are not actively improving their quality of sleep.
- 38% of UK adults have never taken any action to improve their sleep, such as using guided self-help, keeping a sleep diary, or adjusting their bedtime routine (Mental Health Foundation)
But some are turning to useful sleep aids and hacks to improve their quality of sleep.
How do sleeping masks help?
Sleep masks help improve our quality of sleep because they are designed to block out light and create a dark environment to sleep in. Sleep masks can be particularly useful for sleepers who experience interrupted sleep due to light exposure or have trouble sleeping. Sleep masks can be helpful for sleepers who:
Have trouble sleeping
If you have insomnia or struggle falling asleep at bedtime, sleep masks help to tell your brain that it’s time to switch off and go to sleep. Adding sleep masks to your sleep routine can help tell your body when it’s time to rest for the day.
Are disrupted by light
It might be the early morning light peeking through the curtains, or streetlights shining outside. You may even work shifts and have trouble sleeping during daylight hours. Sleep masks can block out the light that’s impacting your quality of sleep, particularly if you don’t have blackout blinds or curtains
When to use sleep masks
The added benefit of sleep masks is that they are suitable for any type of sleeping environment, whether you’re at home or on the go.
- You can use sleep masks at bedtime in your own bed to turn your bedroom into a dark sleep environment.
- Having a quick nap on the sofa instead? Sleep masks will help block out that daylight that’s disrupting your nap time.
- If light’s interrupting your sleep on a plane or in a hotel room, sleep masks are small enough to pack in your hand luggage when travelling.
What makes a good sleep mask?
There are many different types of sleep masks available, from weighted sleep masks to heated sleep masks. One popular material for sleep masks is silk as it is soft and gentle on the skin.
As well as blocking out unwanted light for a better night’s sleep, Jasmine Silk sleep masks with silk straps are:
- Snug on your face without being too tight.
- Made from quality 100% 19-Momme Grade 6A mulberry silk.
- Delicate on the skin to prevent skin creasing.
- Hypoallergenic and great for those with eczema or allergies.
- Moisture repellent so your skincare and haircare products can do their work.
- Come with a drawstring bag suitable for travelling.
Factors that affect our quality of sleep
Wearing an eye mask to sleep in primarily helps block out light to create a dark sleep environment to rest and relax in. But there are many other factors that affect our quality of sleep. Taking a look at each more closely can help you to adjust your routine if needed to improve your quality of sleep:
Your sleep environment
To fall asleep much more easily, our bedrooms need to be dark, calm, and free of disruptions and noise. Creating a dark and quiet sleep environment to sleep in, is where eye masks, blackout curtains, and ear plugs come in very useful.
Room temperature can also play a big part in the quality of our sleep as it’s important that the room we’re sleeping in is not too hot or too cold. Additionally, using calming scents such as lavender and camomile can help create a calming sleep environment.
Your lifestyle
Being physically active during the day helps our bodies get moving before they need to wind down for the end of the day. Getting your body moving can help reduce stress which impacts sleep.
Reducing your alcohol and caffeine intake can also help improve your sleep, particularly if you enjoy your coffee a bit too much or have it too late in the day. Some studies suggest that you should avoid caffeine after 12pm and should avoid consuming too much alcohol during the day.
If you do need a nap during the day, there’s actually a right and wrong way to do it. Ever had a nap and felt worse afterwards? 20-30 mins napping can be beneficial to help you reset and recharge during the day, but anything longer than that can make you feel groggy instead.
Your screen time
Too much screen use during the day can disrupt your sleep and make you feel more awake at bedtime than you should. Reducing your daily screen time is one of the best ways to improve your sleep as blue light has been shown to have an impact on sleep quality.
You might want to consider limiting screens in the bedroom and using night light brightness features on your devices to block out blue light.
Your stress levels
If you’re worried about the next day’s events, or are having a stressful week, it can keep you awake and be hard to relax and rest well. Create a pre-sleep ritual that relaxes you properly with relaxing activities before bedtime such as taking a calming bath, meditating, or reading.
Stress, overthinking, and worrying, can all cause problems with sleep. Additionally, poor sleep can impact our mental health, for example leading to poor focus and concentration.
Research cited by Mental Health UK shows that:
- Almost 1 in 5 people in the UK aren’t getting enough sleep.
- 25% of adults in the UK cite money worries as negatively impacting their sleep.
- 66% of adolescents cite poor sleep as negatively impacting on their mental health.
Sleep hacks that are popular right now
Made popular by social media and influencers, there are many sleep hacks that are gaining momentum at the moment.
Taking magnesium supplements
Magnesium has fast become one of the most popular sleep aids to use right now. While the most common type of magnesium supplement are capsules and tablets, magnesium is in foods like leafy greens, nuts and seeds, and some fish. More research is needed, but some studies suggest it’s related to better sleep.
Dark showering
The new ‘dark showering’ social media trend has impacted sleep routines recently. Focusing on less stimulation when showering before bed, the trend is simply: showering with the bathroom light off.
Unlike a traditional morning shower, which energises and awakens, a dark shower, best enjoyed 60 to 90 minutes before turning in, is about winding down at night, reducing light exposure, regulating body temperature and gently nudging the body towards sleep. (Vogue)
Improve your sleep with silk sleep masks
If you’re struggling to stay asleep through the night or want deeper sleep, there are many sleep aids and hacks to test out. Sleep masks are one popular aid right now that can help towards improving your sleep quality. By blocking out unwanted light, they create a dark sleep environment that is ideal to sleep in.
Discover our silk sleep masks today and find a colour and style that suits you!
