

Getting a good night's sleep has been difficult for me the past few years. I'd attribute that to my anxiety and the fact that I was using my room as my workspace. If you're a freelancer or someone who brings their work home, you probably know what it's like to work from bed or have a desk where you "do a little work" before turning the lights out, but it is statistically proven that separating your work from your bedroom is key for a restful night's sleep.
Since moving into my new place, I have made some significant adjustments to my bedroom and how I approach getting ready for bed. I plug in my phone away from my bed, I read, and I disconnect from social media. I haven't been able to give up screens completely, as I need my Golden Girls fix before I call it a night.
On top of lifestyle changes, I made some decor upgrades too. I bought a new bed frame and mattress, added a new pillow, sheets, and a new piece of technology. These changes have helped me get on a good night, seven hours of uninterrupted sleep when my average was about three in the past.
Here are a few items that will help set the tone for a good night of sleep and items that we're sure could help you too.
*This list is specially curated by the xoNecole team and some links are affiliate links. If you purchase an item from an affiliate link, xoNecole might earn a small commission.
Anti-Wrinkle YourFacePillow
Shutterstock
Okay, this pillow looks a little like something out of an "I wanna eat your brain" horror film, but hear me out. Sleeping on your back will help combat wrinkles since getting your z's on your side can put pressure on your face and cause the skin to wrinkle.
Sebastian Rod Pocket Insulated 100% Blackout Window Curtain Panel
From 11 PM to 3 AM, our bodies produce melatonin (the hormone that helps us fall asleep), and light can disrupt the hormone's ability to help us have a restful sleep. Blackout curtains are a great option for keeping out the light, and also keeping rooms cool during the summer months.
Milemont Gel Mattress Topper
Shutterstock
Buying a new mattress is a big investment that takes a great deal of research, so instead of recommending a new mattress, I say add a topper. Amazon has many great options, but this two-inch foam topper has over 1,000 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5 rating with reviewers saying, "So comfortable! I haven't slept this good in ages."
ZonLi Adults Weighted Blanket 20 lbs
Amazon
With over 2,000 reviews, I'd say this weighted blanket is worth a try. If you're someone that deals with anxiety or chronic pain, research shows that weighted blankets can calm the body while sleeping.
MADETEC Cool Mist Humidifier With Aromatherapy Diffuser
Amazon
Dry air, no matter the time of year, wakes me up at night usually with a coughing fit, so I invested in a humidifier. But, what if I told you, you could have both a humidifier and diffuser to mist your favorite scents in the air while you sleep. MADETEC's duo stretches your coin and comes with a remote control and timer.
Threshold 300 Thread Count Organic Cotton Solid Sheet Set
Target
There was a time in my life I could have cared less about sheets. But, one day I woke up and became an adult. Good sheets from brands like Brooklinen costs upward of $100 (which I think is worth it), but Target has a set of sheets I keep purchasing over and over — their 300 Thread Count Organic Cotton Sheets. They're soft, durable, and wash well.
Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen
Amazon
Hi, my name is Bianca, and I'd like to introduce you to my new best friend — the Echo Dot. The Echo Dot has been a game-changer for me and my ability to sleep through the night. I either ask Alexa to play rain sounds or an Audible book, and I wake up the next morning without any interruption. You can take the Echo Dot a step further by adding smart bulbs and plugs to your home, so you never have to get out of bed to turn off a light or the television again.
Marpac Dohm Classic White Noise Sound Machine
Marpac
Marpac Dohm is an O.G. in the noise machine game, and they have over 14,000 reviews to prove it. Whether you're looking for more sound sleep for yourself or a new baby or both, you'll get more rest.
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- How To Get Better Sleep: 15 Sleep Hacks - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- The Best Sleep Sounds to Help You Fall Asleep Faster - xoNecole ›
Bianca Lambert is a proud Atlanta native soaking up the Los Angeles sun. She is the founder of Mae B: a stationery company for women of color and a digital content creator on a mission to elevate the voices of women of color everywhere.
Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Mother's Day is loading and so is our new series. Meet Michelle Ganey, Laurencia Bright, and Joy Ferrell as they each share their motherhood journey and the ups and downs that come along with it. Whether you're in your motherhood era, wanna be one, or just love yours deeply, The Mother Load series will have you laughing, crying, and calling your mom.
Motherhood is one thing, but Black motherhood is its own unique institution. From fears that only Black mothers can understand to the unspoken language that connects them, our series delve into the vulnerable conversations that are often not highlighted in mainstream media.
Laurencia Bright
xoNecole YouTube/ Screenshot
“They are products of their environment, of your parenting, of your personality, things like that. So check yourself,” Laurencia reminds us. Motherhood may come with a whole set of challenges and having to face yourself can be one of them. Laurencia opens up about how motherhood taught her to break generational cycles.
Joy Ferrell
xoNecole YouTube/ Screenshot
Joy, like most mothers, put their kids first. However, the mom of two is now learning that it's okay to put herself first. "It's okay to not fill your life up with your kids," she says. "It's okay to still be an individual and to actually actively and aggressively pursue being an individual versus a mom."
Michelle Ganey
xoNecole YouTube/ Screenshot
When it comes to Black mama rules, Michelle Ganey reflects on a classic one, "Do not embarrass me in public," she says. "I think one of my hardest struggles with kids is not caring about how they look when they leave the house and it feeling like its a direct reflection on me as a mother."
Watch the full The Mother Load series below:
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