How are you sleeping right now? Like a baby, heading to bed early and racking up the hours? Or are you struggling to drift off and keep waking up when you eventually do? If the conversations I’ve been having with friends recently are anything to go by, when it comes to sleep, there doesn’t appear to be a middle ground. 

According to the Sleep Foundation, most healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night, while some might get by on six. But for those of us who struggle to fall asleep, even the lower end of those estimates can feel daunting, even when we’ve done everything we can to keep our bedroom cool.

There are some simple tactics you can use to encourage sleep, such as having a bath with Epsom salts and misting your pillow with a lavender-infused spray. It makes sense: if we have set routines for our skin and hair, why not create something similar for a sleep routine. And one step that many people swear by is wearing an eye mask. 

Eye masks have long been thought to help with conditions including migraines and dry eyes. They can help people to shut out the outside world and drift off, especially during a heatwave. But do they really help on our quest for a better night’s sleep?

We spoke to sleep expert Anandi, also known as The Sleep Guru, to uncover the reasons behind sleepless nights and learn more about the benefits of wearing an eye mask. 

Why do some people find it hard to fall asleep?

“Your sleep is governed by the light and dark cycles, and if you respect those cycles, your body is able to get into a good rhythm.” says sleep expert Anandi. “If your body is out of rhythm, you may be producing melatonin at the wrong time of day. Making sure you get plenty of daylight during the day is important, but cut down your light levels in the evening. Try to ensure the room is completely dark when you go to bed.”

What are the benefits of using eye masks for sleeping?

Put simply, masks block out light if you’re having trouble doing so naturally. “Sleep hormones are light sensitive. It’s important to get out in daylight early in the morning. In the evening, it’s important to make sure the lights are turned down so that melatonin production is not inhibited,” explains Anandi. Light control and levels may seem like a dismissible factor, but they play a huge part in our sleep pattern. “If there’s any light coming in through the curtains or any of the doors at night and you are a light sleeper, a sleep mask will help. If there’s no light, melatonin will be produced which is your sleep hormone,” she says. 

Who should use eye masks?

Anyone can wear an eye mask for sleeping, but they’re particularly beneficial for those with certain sleep conditions. “If you’re an insomniac and you have issues, then an eye mask would be extremely helpful,” says Anandi. In addition to building up a sleep routine, the NHS also recommends cutting down on caffeine, exercising regularly and making your bed as comfortable as possible.

We know that eye masks can help us to get a more restful sleep quicker, but which masks help with what? We’ve curated a list of masks that are suited to particular needs.

Images: courtesy of brands