We all have our daily routines, whether it involves going to the gym, stopping at the grocery store, or even doing a closing shift clean before bed. At The Spruce, our editors are no exception. When we wind down at night, we all have must-haves that we simply can’t sleep without.
We asked our editors to share some of the non-negotiables they swear by for a good night’s rest—and you might want to give these a try too.
Lavender or Cotton-Scented Room/Linen Spray
“There’s nothing I love more than scentscaping my entire home, and my bedroom is no exception—especially with a cat. To set the tone for a peaceful, restful night ahead, I always give my room and bed a quick spritz of either a lavender scented or cotton scented room/linen spray. It makes my room smell so nice and lovely, I practically can’t sleep without it these days.” — Aliyah Rodriguez, Editor.
Earplugs
“While living in New York for eight years, I got into the habit of wearing earplugs to drown out all manner of annoying nighttime noises: cars honking, random fireworks during the summer, neighbors yelling or playing music, etc. But since moving to a quiet city in Canada two years ago, I haven’t broken the habit—in fact, I find it impossible to sleep without them now. I find wearing earplugs creates a kind of white noise in my head, and drowns out any little distractions, like my husband snoring or my dog being restless in her crate. The key is to upgrade from disposable foam earplugs to longer-lasting rubber ones, which are so much more comfortable and never hurt my ears!” —Kate McKenna, Associate Editorial Director
Extra Pillows
“I used to take a ‘less is more’ approach to my pillows—two on the bed while sleeping, maximum. I’d sleep facedown and would wake up with a host of problems. Since I started sleeping on my back and side, I’ve been obsessed with having an extra pillow or two to cushion between my arms and/or legs. Now, I have one pillow for my head, one for my legs, one for cuddling, and a fourth because an uneven number of pillows on the bed is just odd. Plus, sometimes my cat uses it.” —Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano, Associate Editor
An Extra Fluffy Duvet
“Even in the middle of summer, I need to make sure I have layered bedding. The star of the show? My duvet. Nothing says hotel-worthy bedding like a big, fluffy duvet to curl up under. Plus, it could not be easier to make the bed every morning with one of these.” —Caroline Utz, Senior Editorial & Strategy Director
A Weighted Eye Mask
“Who needs blackout curtains if you have a weighted eye mask? My favorite one blocks sunlight and applies enough light pressure to lull me to sleep. It works so well that I will wake up in the same position I went to sleep in, no tossing and turning fighting the light. Look for eye masks with ceramic beads and pop it in the freezer for cool relief on hot summer nights!” —Sara Brown, Social Media Editor
The Perfect Quilt
“For the six warmer months of the year, the best thing about my bed is my quilt. Something that’s 100% cotton with a cotton fill, and the exact perfect weight. I feel so cozy under it, yet never too warm. Any time I’m away on vacation, I end up thinking about my quilt and how much I miss it. Plus, a good quilt just makes the bed look so put together.” —Jenny Hughes, Associate Editorial Director