Retro Recomendo: Sleep

Recomendo - issue #502

Our subscriber base has grown so much since we first started nine years ago, that most of you have missed all our earliest recommendations. The best of these are still valid and useful, so we’re trying out something new — Retro Recomendo. Once every 6 weeks, we’ll send out a throwback issue of evergreen recommendations focused on one theme from the past 9 years.

Brown noise for better sleep

I use a simple and free app called Soundly Sleeping to play brown noise while sleeping. It muffles the wheeze of my CPAP machine and other unwelcome nighttime noises. (Brown noise is mellower than white noise). — MF

Silicone earplugs

Mack’s moldable silicone earplugs are superior to squishy foam earplugs because they completely seal the opening to your ear. They do a fantastic job of blocking out sound. These silly-putty-like plugs have saved my sleep many times when staying in noisy hotels and Airbnbs. — MF

Non-Sleep Deep Rest tracks

Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR), also known as yoga nidra, induces deep relaxation while maintaining awareness. If you’re too tired to nap but can’t fall asleep, I’ve found that one of these free 9-minute NSDR tracks produces a similar restorative effect. The guided breathing slows my heart rate, while the body scans draw my focus away from external stimulation into a state of pure rest. — CD

Wake up earlier, naturally

I wasn’t sure I’d like the Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock, but in just a month it’s trained me to wake up earlier—naturally. I set the alarm for my desired time, and the light gradually brightens about 20 minutes beforehand. That’s usually when I wake up. When the wake-up light doesn’t work, I get woken up by the sounds of birds chirping. Either way, I’m never startled or grumpy. — CD

Bargain mattresses

Auto tires are such a bargain at Costco that many folks get a Costco membership just for the tires. Mattresses are a similar bargain. You can get high quality branded mattresses – including classic bedspring models – for a lower price from Costco than from almost anywhere else. And Costco will deliver to the room, set up, and haul away your old mattress at no extra cost. And you can order them online. — KK

Cheap nightlights

I’ve spread these ultra-cheap Uigos LED nightlights throughout our home. They are bright enough to guide me in the dark, but not too bright to use any measurable energy. A six-pack is $10. — KK

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Recomendo is an authentic, hand-crafted, human-written weekly newsletter that is free, but not cheap. Consider supporting our work with a paid option, now at the low price of $45 per year. Paid subs enable us to keep making it free for others. Recomendo is published by Cool Tools Lab, a small company of three people. We also run the Cool Tools website, a YouTube channel and podcast, and other newsletters, including Gar’s Tips & Tools, Nomadico, What’s in my NOW?, Tools for Possibilities, Books That Belong On Paper and Book Freak.