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Napshave always held an allure for me, but my relationship with them grew complicated with age.
Images courtesy of the brands
As the pressures of school and adolescence intensified, I struggled with drowsiness and fatigue.
Take care of yourself, they said.
I heard their advice but did little to heed it.
Without knowing, I waspower nappingbut with no real strategy and a lot of shame.
I wondered why other people seemed able to stay up,sleep little, and get their work done.
I worried that I appeared weak for needing sleep.
At 28, after another decade of unstable sleeping patterns, I had two back-to-back seizures.
The second left me with a concussion, a black eye, andan adult-onset epilepsy diagnosis.
In fact, itsessentialto my performance, health, and survival.
Take it from this epileptic: Everyone can benefit from better sleep.
Since my diagnosis, Ive upgraded my sleep setup forhigher-quality restand nap several times a week with pleasure.
Nodpod Gentle Pressure Sleep Mask
Amazon
Thissleep maskis my numero uno nap essential.
I cannot overstate the importance of light-blocking for good sleep.
Blackout curtains are effective, but if youre napping anywhere thatisntyour bedroom, you need another solution.
It completely blocks light, and the weight of the beads helps soothe the tension in my forehead.
If my headache is particularly nasty, I pop the mask in the freezer before using it for relief.
The mask is machine washable, and its the thing I truly need the most for blissful sleep.
These best-selling tapered foam earplugs, designed for sensitive ear canals, are my go-to.
I never fully relax until Ive snugly inserted them, the noise of the world quickly receding.
Another nice aspect of these ear plugs is how many you get.
Plus, theyre comfy.
I rarely nap without them.
Philips Smart Sleep & Wake-Up Light Therapy Lamp
You know whats not restful?
Alarm clocks that sound like alarm clocks.
How is a loud ringing or a siren blaring the best way to come out of a calming slumber?
Conversely, the clock has a slowly dimming sunset feature that draws me into a deep sleep.
I always awaken feeling refreshed instead of disoriented.
L.L.Bean Maine-Made Cotton Twill Blanket (Queen Size)
L.L.
Thismattress in a boxis like a parfait of cooling, supportive memory foam.
