I know there are endless studies about how important sleep is… but honestly, after a couple rough nights, I don’t need research to convince me. I feel it in everything. My patience gets shorter, my brain gets foggier, and even basic tasks start feeling like I’m dragging myself through mud.
And the part that always makes me laugh is how many health “protocols” start with sleep. These usually begin with: “Sleep in a dark room.” Like that’s just a simple switch you flip.
In our room, there’s always something glowing. A dehumidifier, an air scrubber, phones charging, smart watches, smart rings, a TV set-top box… and then those little random lights that exist for no reason other than to turn your bedroom into a tiny Las Vegas strip. On top of that, somebody’s reading light is always “accidentally” left on. It’s a whole thing.
So I stopped trying to create a perfect sleep environment and started focusing on what I could actually do: block the light, calm my brain down, and give myself a backup plan for the nights I already know are going to be harder.
This is what’s been working for me. It’s not fancy. It’s just real life.
1) The Fix: A Real Blackout Sleep Mask
The fastest win for me has been surprisingly simple: block the light without needing to unplug half my bedroom. I’ve tried a bunch of sleep masks over the years—everything from the free ones that feel like a scratchy headband, to nicer ones that still somehow let light sneak in from the sides. What I learned pretty quickly is that a sleep mask only helps if it’s comfortable enough that you’ll actually keep wearing it.
What I look for:
- Comfort + fit: If it’s too tight I feel restrained, and if it’s too loose it slides off the moment my head hits the pillow.
- Cupped eye space: I can’t do masks that press on my eyelids. If I feel pressure on my eyes, my brain stays awake and annoyed. The contoured/cupped style is the difference between “I’ll try it” and “I’ll actually use it.”
- True blackout: Some masks just dim the room. I prefer full blackout. I don’t want to be thinking about which little LED is glowing across the room.
- Breathable: If it feels like my face is sweating under a blanket, I’m not going to make it a habit.
- Washable: We wash pillowcases all the time. A mask should be washable too.
- Bonus: Audio to distract me from my daily routine, and anxiety-filled internal monologue.
The Sleep Mask That Finally Stuck for Me: Manta PRO (Bluetooth), Especially as a Side Sleeper
This is the The mask I keep coming back to is the Manta PRO Sleep Mask with Bluetooth, and I’ll tell you exactly why: I’m a side sleeper, and most “sleep audio” setups are basically a joke if you sleep on your side.
I used to use earbuds and other little sleep headphones, and it was always the same routine. My ears would hurt, the earbuds would fall out, and I’d wake up irritated and spend half the night adjusting or looking for them. It made me feel like I was doing bedtime wrong.
What I like about the Manta PRO Bluetooth setup is that I can listen while side sleeping without that hard, pokey earbud pressure. That one detail makes a huge difference for me. I can put it on and not spend the next hour thinking about my ears.
And audio is non-negotiable in my house. My wife and I listen to something, it usually about murder, not something that relaxes me. So using an external speaker doesn’t work. If I played what helps me sleep, it wouldn’t help her sleep (and vice versa). The “separate audio bubble” thing is not just a preference for us—it’s how bedtime stays peaceful.
Click here to shop the Manta PRO Sleep Mask – Save 10%: Use discount code HIPPIE at checkout.
Watch the Manta Sleep Mask Review Video:
2. The “Brain-Off” Layer: Sound That Helps Me Shut Down
For me, silence can be a trap. If my mind is even a little stressed, silence is when the mental to-do list shows up. It turns into “remember this, fix that, don’t forget the other thing,” and suddenly I’m wide awake solving problems that absolutely do not need to be solved at midnight.
So I use sound—just not music. Music keeps my brain engaged, and if there are lyrics, forget it. My brain will treat it like a karaoke night and keep working.
What works best for me is low-stimulation audio: sleep stories, gentle narrations, calm guided wind-downs. I’ve used YouTube for this, but ads can be disruptive and it ruins the whole “calm” vibe when a random commercial cuts in.
I’ve also used the Calm app because it has sleep stories and relaxation tools that are designed for exactly this. It helps me keep my brain from taking the wheel.
I’m also really trying to cut back on social media and doom scrolling at night. It’s one of those things that feels harmless in the moment and then you realize it’s been 45 minutes and your brain is buzzing. That said, I’m human, and I do still watch how-to videos as a wind-down sometimes—because for me, a calm “here’s how to build/fix/make something” video is way less stimulating than news or social media.
3. My Backup Plan: SOM Sleep (But Not Every Night)
Let’s talk consumables. I know a lot of people swear by CBD, THC, Benadryl, and other options. I’ve tried plenty of things, and for me, many come with some kind of downside—feeling groggy, building tolerance, or just feeling “off” the next day. New studies show that Benadryl is a no-no for continued use for sleep as it can cause dementia.
For the nights when I already know my usual routine might not be enough, I’ll sometimes use SOM Sleep. I have a full variety of flavors, and honestly, they’re all good. I’m picky about taste, so the mellow clear mixture with a pleasant flavor surprised me.
The way I do it is pretty simple: I try to drink it 45 minutes to 1 hour before bed. I also don’t want to drink anything after I brush my teeth, so timing it earlier keeps me from doing that annoying “I already brushed… do I brush again?” debate.
AD Shop SOM Sleep Drink Packets Here & Save 10%: Use discount code HIPPIE at checkout.
My Simple Sleep Routine (The Version I Can Actually Stick To)
- Late morning: last caffeine (my #1 rule)
- Evening: I try to cut doom scrolling; how-to videos are my “wind-down compromise”
- Bedtime: Manta PRO Bluetooth mask on
- Audio: my own thing, ie Calm (because my wife and I listen to different content)
- When needed: SOM Sleep 45–60 minutes before bed
I’m not claiming I’ve solved sleep forever. But this routine has made bedtime feel less like a battle. It’s simple, it’s realistic, and it works even when my bedroom is glowing like it’s trying to win an award for “Most LEDs Per Square Foot.”
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). I only share things I actually use and genuinely like.
