Sleep Accessories

Sleep mask — why it works

Light suppresses melatonin production, so even a street lamp outside the window, a charger LED or an early dawn can disrupt your sleep. A sleep mask gives you darkness wherever you are — in the bedroom, in a hotel, on a train or after a night shift. In a study by researchers at Cardiff University, people who slept in a mask for a week remembered new information better and reacted faster in an alertness test than in the week when the mask let light through.

Sleep mask — what to look out for

• Shape — contoured masks with eye cups don't press on the eyelids and lashes, while flat ones are lighter and easier to pack.
• Light seal — the mask should sit close around the nose and cheeks, as that is where light most often gets in.
• Strap — adjustable and elastic: too tight and it presses, too loose and it slips off during the night.

Warm compresses and eye massage

Warmth on the eyelids heats the glands that produce the oily layer of tears, which is why warm compresses ease the feeling of dry, tired eyes, for example after a day at a screen. A mask with warming inserts lets you combine such a compress with winding down before sleep. Compresses bring relief but don't treat the cause — with chronic symptoms, it is worth seeing an eye specialist. An eye massager also relaxes the muscles around the eyes.

Travel pillow — sleeping on a plane or in a car

When you sleep sitting up, your head drops to the side or forward, and these positions wake you up and leave you with a stiff neck. A U-shaped travel pillow supports your neck and limits your head tilting to the sides. Memory foam versions mould to the shape of your neck and return to shape when removed. If your head tends to drop forward, turn the pillow so that the thicker part is under your chin. When choosing, check whether the cover is removable and washable.

Travel accessories

Sleep accessories are made by brands such as Tech-Protect and Baseus. For a long flight, also pack a power bank for flying and comfortable headphones. Other small gadgets are in the other accessories and miscellaneous accessories categories.