For Christmas, give the gift of sleep

Even as the year comes to a close, many are still dealing with piled up deliverables for school or for work. The all-nighters, coupled with a warped sense of time while in lockdown may have messed up our circadian rhythms, turning a good night’s sleep into something that’s often hard to come by.

It’s the holidays, so what better gift is there than the precious gift of sleep? Here are a few sleep-related gift ideas for your loved ones or for yourself.

Weighted blankets

Although they’re usually on the pricier side, weighted blankets are growing in popularity because of how they potentially improve quality of sleep. They provide a lot of pressure, warmth, and comfort on the body, and are usually made of high quality, hypoallergenic linen.

For local options, Blanket Hugs is one choice, made with organic cotton material and a bamboo-cotton cooling duvet. Prices start at P4,499. There’s also Good Mood Blankets, with prices that start at P6,250.

A weighted blanket is designed to provide deep touch pressure, just like a warm hug, aiding in the release of the feel-good, relaxing hormones, serotonin and melatonin, in order to calm the nervous system. The material also helps regulate temperature, making for a more comfortable sleep experience.

Another local option is Better Sheep, which sells a “lambing blanket” (P5,999) that comes with a 100% bamboo cover. It’s available in 4 colors: dream white, lush green, ocean blue, and almond beige.

To order, you can check the websites of Blanket Hugs, Better Sheep, and Good Mood Blankets.

New bedsheets

A comfortable and eye-pleasing set of beddings can vastly improve your quality of sleep. After all, it also provides comfort since it functions as a cushion between you and the mattress.

Neatens Manila has a classy selection of smooth and cool-to-the-touch bedding sets that include a fitted sheet, a duvet cover, and two pillowcases. They come in plain, striped, and zigzag variants. The 4-in-1 sets are almost always on sale, with prices ranging from P750 to P880.

The bedding sets are available on the Neatens Manila website.

Pillows

Pillows play a very important role in the sleep experience. Not only are they cushions for our head, but they also support our neck, shoulders, and spine. If you choose to sleep using a pillow not suitable for you, you may even wake up with a nasty backache.

Dunlopillo offers 3 options for pillows, which they call their “gift of comfort.” Their cotton pillows (P2,030) are made with anti-dust and anti-mite fabric, protecting you from any allergic reactions or bites. They also have a bolster fiber pillow (P1,820) made from fine polyester, and a breathable fiber pillow (P1,330).

Dunlopillo also sells mattresses and bed frames. They can be found on Instagram and Lazada.

Pillow spray

A pleasant-smelling pillow can make you feel more relaxed and peaceful as you doze off. If you want to feel like you’re sleeping in the middle of a garden of flowers, then you might want to look into scented pillow sprays!

Pillow sprays are infused with essential oils and other non-toxic ingredients that make for comforting, relaxing scents.

ThisWorks has a Deep Sleep Pillow Spray that contains lavender, vetivert, and chamomile, all known to promote relaxation and to calm you down after a long day of studying or working. All you have to do is spray your pillow before sleeping, and the soothing aroma will help you wind down.

The Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is available for P1,173 on Sephora.

For all-natural room and linen sprays, you can also check out homegrown brand Real Scents. They have a variety of calming and invigorating scents – sugar n spice, candy cane, brighter days, relaxing naturals (lavender), fresh bamboo, and white tea for P279. All you need are a few spritzes and you’re good to go. Just make your orders on their website.

Katha Aromatics’ pillow mists are also a god-send. They have at least 4 variants but the Better Sleep (chamomile and lavender) and Soothing Lavender (minty oils and lavender) are sure to put you in the mood for a restful night of sleep. The Cagayan de Oro-based business also sells other homemade knickknacks.

Eye masks

For those who can only sleep in the dark, eye masks are a handy tool. Not only are they comfy, but many also come in cute designs that complement your sleepwear.

Eye masks are quite easy to find, and are sold anywhere from sidewalks to shopping malls.

New variant come with a removable gel pack that helps relax your eyes and prepare them for a good night’s sleep. These can be refrigerated or heated, depending on your preference.

Eye masks can be purchased on Shopee and Lazada for as low as P45.

Diffusers, humidifiers

If you’re a fan of aromatherapy, diffusers will make it easier to spread calming fragrances into the air using a light mist. They are portable, so you can place them anywhere you want. If you decide to take a nap in the living room or even in your car, a diffuser can help make the area smell a lot better.

Diffusers ranging from P300 to P400 are available on Lazada and Shopee. Muji also has a sleek, compact diffuser for P3,950. Their essential oils start at P575.

If you also want to add more moisture into the air while you have your beauty sleep, then a humidifier may be the better choice. By regulating the humidity levels in your room, they can help relieve congestion and dry skin.

Humidifiers are priced from P300 to P400 on Lazada and Shopee.

Earplugs

For some, peace and quiet is a requirement for a true good night’s sleep. Earplugs are designed to block out external noise, relieve pressure, and be comfortable. 

TOMSHOO noise canceling earplugs regulates air pressure, which makes them safe to use. Their dual foam bands reduce noise, while their easy-grip stem makes them easy to insert and remove. The silicone material is also safe and non-toxic, avoiding itching and irritation.

TOMSHOO noise canceling earplugs are available for P195 on Lazada.

Portable massager

After a long day, a massage can help relax any overworked muscles. For many, a massage is a great treat to have before sleeping. With minimal effort, portable massagers allow people to relieve pressure in their muscles on their own.

The Super Life Mini Electric Massager is a small device that helps relieve muscle pressure and headaches. They are operated by softly pressing them on the top, and can be powered using AAA batteries or a USB cable.

The massager can be purchased for P55 on Shopee.

Sleepwear

A comfortable set of sleepwear can help put you in the perfect mood for sleeping.

Uniqlo has uni-sex loungewear sets available for men, women, kids, and babies. On Instagram, the shop Pajamas Overload sells comfy sets of pajamas with a wide array of designs.

Relaxing apps

Sleep? There are apps for that.

The app A Soft Murmur is a great resource for ambient sounds. You can listen to the rain, coffee shop chatter, or even television white noise. You can also blend together their selection of sounds into a mix.

The app has a free version on the Play Store and iOS App Store, but a one-time purchase of P99 unlocks their entire catalog.

If you want to meditate before going to sleep, Calm and Insight Timer are two apps that have a lot of resources on the benefits of meditation. Calm has guided meditations, music, and even short story audios that can help in achieving relaxation.

Calm is available on the Play Store and iOS App Store. The app is free, but a premium subscription unlocks more content.

Insight Timer has meditation and yoga courses, and you can also connect with other people through their “Circles” function. The app also hosts live events with meditation gurus and yoga instructors, which people can attend from the comfort of their homes.

Insight Timer is free on the Play Store and iOS App Store, but has a “Plus” subscription model that unlocks more courses and audio.

Spotify is also a resource for podcasts that will lull you to sleep. Look no further than Sleeping Pill With Inka, the Philippines’ most-streamed podcast on Spotify. The podcast Sleep With Me is also another resource that’s sure to send you to sleep in no time.

A premium Spotify subscription starts at P129/month in the Philippines (because who wants ads in the middle of their sleep podcast). But if you want the most bang for you buck, get a family plan (P194/month) and share the music (and sleep) with your family. – with reports from Bea Cupin/Rappler.com

Gift your friends sleeping essentials using this Lazada voucher.

Jericho Igdanes is a Rappler intern.