Getting a good night’s sleep is incredibly important for maintaining a healthy and enjoyable life. When we don’t get the sleep we need it can affect many aspects of our physical and mental health including our mood, immune system, sex drive and cognitive ability. 

There are many reasons why someone might not be getting the restful sleep they need, such as being cold, stressed or lacking certain vitamins and minerals. Some of these issues, such as being too cold, can be easily solved with simple yet effective solutions, such as wool duvets and warm pyjamas. 

However, when the reason for your lack of quality sleep is less obvious, it can be difficult to identify the best course of action. Luckily, many different gadgets and methods have been designed to help ensure people get the correct amount of high-quality sleep. 

In this study, we have investigated some of the most popular practices, products, scents and foods that people claim are great for increasing the quality of your sleep.

Ultimate sleep trends

It’s no great mystery why good quality sleep is so important to health, both physical and mental. For some of us, however, achieving a good night’s sleep can seem like something of a mystery. 

The good news is that there are countless trends out there to get your full 40 winks, but which of these trends have proven the most popular?

1. Dehumidifier           Popularity Score: 9.37

Taking the top spot as the most popular sleep trend is the dehumidifier. This handy bit of kit can help to improve sleep quality by improving air quality, particularly in homes or rooms that suffer from dampness. 

Sleeping in a damp room can cause a lot more health problems than just disturbed sleep, so dehumidifiers can be an essential home accessory.

2. White noise Popularity Score: 9.20

Taking the second spot is white noise, something that has proven to be particularly helpful for people who struggle with their sleep. For some, trying to sleep in silence is a real challenge, but music or audiobooks can be distracting. In these cases, white noise can be the perfect solution, offering an alternative which doesn’t distract when trying to clear the mind before sleep.

This trend has seen a huge increase in searches, with interest in the trend rising by more than 65% since 2021.

3. Sleep meditation Popularity Score: 9.05

After a busy day, it can seem impossible to switch your mind off to get some peaceful sleep. However, sleep meditation can provide a great way to clear your mind of the worries and trials of the day before drifting off into a relaxing sleep. 

With 147,000 monthly searches, it’s clear to see that this is an incredibly popular trend, helping a huge number of people get the sleep they need.

The most popular sleep practices

In this section we can see which sleep practices are the most popular, having the most coverage online, receiving the most Google searches, and having the biggest increase in searches compared to the previous year. 

1. Sleep Meditation Popularity Score: 9.60

Sleep meditation is the most popular sleep practice, with a score of 9.60 out of 10. Meditation is well known as a great way to relax and calm your mind, so using it to help with sleep seems like a natural progression. 

Sleep meditation can take many forms, incorporating music, breathing exercises and spoken guides. There is a huge variety of sleep meditations to choose from, all of which help to reduce anxiety, calm your senses and prepare your body for deep restful slumber.

2. White Noise Popularity Score: 9.19

White noise is the second most popular sleep practice with a score of 9.19. Many people struggle to sleep at night due to it being too quiet, which can be unsettling when you’re trying to relax. Meanwhile, others may find themselves focusing on any noises they hear which can distract them from falling asleep. 

White noise is an excellent solution to both of these problems by providing a blanket of non-specific background noise to fill in the silence and block out any little sounds made by things that go bump in the night. White noise comes in many forms such as the sound of rainfall, washing machines, or radio static, all of which are easy to find online.

3. Sleep Hygiene Popularity Score: 7.98

Sleep hygiene is the third most popular sleep practice, with a score of 7.98. Sleep hygiene refers to the idea that your environment and habits can be optimised for better quality sleep, though this can mean slightly different things for each person.

There are many ways of improving your sleep hygiene, such as establishing a regular bedtime routine, getting regular exercise, not consuming too much caffeine during the day, and making sure you eat a balanced, healthy diet. There are also environmental factors that can be modified to improve your sleep hygiene, such as making sure your bedroom is well-ventilated, the correct temperature, and free of distractions like phones and computers.

The best sleep gadgets

While developing good sleep habits and practices can drastically improve the quality of your sleep, many gadgets on the market can make it a little easier. In this section, we take a closer look at some of the most popular sleep gadgets.

1. Yoto Player Gadget Score: 8.06

The Yoto Player tops the table as the best sleep gadget with a score of 8.06. The Yoto Player is an audio device designed just for kids that provides a range of audiobooks, sleep sounds, educational audio and music activities. This easy-to-operate device makes use of physical cards that kids insert into the Yoto Player to play back different types of audio. 

Retailing at £89.99 and with a review score of 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon, the Yoto Player is a much-loved sleep aid that helps to take the stress out of bedtime. The device has been widely discussed online, being featured in 439 articles in the last year, and has seen a 31.17% increase in searches since 2021.

2. Philips Hue (white & colour starter kit) Gadget Score: 7.94

Philips Hue is a range of smart lights that are perfect for many different settings, though we think that it makes an excellent choice for bedroom lighting, having earned a gadget score of 7.94. The white and colour starter kit gives you everything you need to get set up with soft, relaxing lighting that can create the perfect cosy atmosphere you need before bed. 

This starter kit might be a bit more expensive than your average bedroom light at £169.99, but its 4.7 out of 5 review score and 2,322 pieces of online coverage are testament to the high quality of this product. 

3. Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB Gadget Score: 7.26

The Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB is the third-best sleep gadget in our study with a score of 7.26. This high-tech alarm clock offers a complete audiovisual experience, capable of recreating the natural light of a sunrise combined with the music or sounds of your choice. 

This gentle awakening has been shown to have a positive effect on mood and energy levels and is great for creating a regular and relaxing sleep cycle. Retailing at £229.99, this high-tech alarm clock, bedroom light and sound system is a top-quality device with an Amazon review score of 4.4 out of 5.

The most popular types of sleep gadget

In this section, we take a broader look at the different types of sleep gadgets, rather than focusing on specific products. Here we can see which gadget types are the most popular based on how often they are searched for and written about.

1. Dehumidifier Popularity Score: 8.94

When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, air quality is an essential consideration and many older houses in the UK aren’t built with this in mind. When the temperatures outside drop and we start to turn our central heating on, you may wake up to find condensation on the inside of your windows. This, alongside other factors, can lead to dampness in your home which can be disastrous for your health. A dehumidifier can go a long way to dealing with this problem, ensuring your walls stay damp-free and helping you to breath easy at night.

2. Alarm Clock Popularity Score: 8.18

Alarm clocks are one of the most sought-after types of sleep gadgets, with 810,700 average monthly searches. A staple feature of any typical bedroom, many of us rely on alarm clocks to make sure we get up on time in the morning. 

While mobile phones can perform the same basic function as alarm clocks, it is wise to try and limit the number of screens in the bedroom so you can fall asleep more easily, free from unwanted distractions. There are many types of alarm clocks available out there, from stylish pieces with interesting designs to novelty alarm clocks or even high-tech devices capable of providing a multisensory wake-up call.

3. Air Filter Popularity Score: 7.88

Air filters complete our top three with 155,000 monthly searches and 6,805 articles. The quality of the air we breathe while we sleep is very important for ensuring we wake up feeling fresh and well-rested.

While you can always open a window to get fresh air into your room, this isn’t always a great option. Air filters allow you to extract any allergens or pollutants from the air in your bedroom without letting in unwanted noise or pollutants from the outside, creating a controlled environment for you to sleep in. This is especially useful for people with allergies or respiratory conditions such as hay fever or asthma.

The most popular sleep scents

Aromatherapy is the practice of using different scents to trigger certain responses in your body, and when it comes to sleep, there are many scents which can be beneficial. In this section, we look at 10 of the most popular sleep-inducing scents out there.

1. Peppermint Popularity Score: 8.50

Peppermint is the most popular sleep scent with an average of 162,921 monthly searches. The scent of peppermint has been shown to perform just as well as lavender in increasing the quality of sleep when using essential oils, as the menthol in peppermint causes your muscles to relax, relieving stress and anxiety.

2. Lemon Popularity Score: 8.00

Lemon is the second most popular sleep scent with a popularity score of eight out of 10. The scent of lemon is used to evoke a fresh and clean feeling and can create the perfect environment for your bedroom.

3. Jasmine, Lavender, Frankincense, Rose Popularity Score: 7.67

Third place is shared by several scents which can ease you into a peaceful sleep. From the soothing essence of lavender to the luxurious scent of frankincense. Each of these scents achieved a popularity score of 7.67 out of 10.

The most popular foods and drinks to help you sleep

While our bedtime routines and the environment we sleep in can have a major impact on how well we sleep, the food and drink we consume can be just as important. We all know that stimulants such as caffeine should be avoided if we want to experience deep, high-quality sleep, but what foods can have a positive effect on our slumber?

1. Milk Popularity Score: 9.06

Milk is the most popular sleep-inducing food or drink with an average of 5,270 monthly searches, an increase of 17.11% since 2021. Having a glass of warm milk before bed is a traditional method of ensuring a good night’s sleep, a practice that is now supported by science.

Milk is a rich source of the amino acid tryptophan, which is important in the production of both serotonin and melatonin. Seratonin is good for sleep because it relieves feelings of anxiety and helps you relax, while melatonin is known as the “sleep hormone” because it is released by your body in response to darkness and helps to regulate your circadian rhythm.

2. Honey             Popularity Score: 8.70

Taking second place is honey, with a popularity score of 8.70 out of 10. There are several reasons why a little honey can be beneficial for sleep, including the presence of tryptophan, just as is the case with milk. Honey also gives your body enough natural sugar to balance your blood sugar, staving off hunger pangs that can be disruptive to sleep. This does mean, however, that you should only have a little before bedtime, as too much sugar can be detrimental to your quality of sleep.

3. Cherries Popularity Score: 8.55

While cherries may not seem like the most obvious choice for a bedtime treat, sweet cherries contain melatonin, the hormone that tells your body that it’s time to get 40 winks. This means that the fruit can aid in improving sleep quality and tackling insomnia.

With a popularity score of 8.55 and an increase in searches of over 32%, cherries are growing in popularity due to their bedtime benefits.

The most popular bedding

When you’re getting cosy under the covers, making sure you have the right type of covers and bedding is essential. Whether you have sensitive skin or allergies that make feather pillows a no-no or whether you want the luxurious feeling of satin, there are plenty of options for every preference, but which are the most popular?

1. Bamboo bedding Popularity score: 8.39

This might not be the material that comes to mind when thinking about bedding, but bamboo is the bedding of choice for most people. Bamboo bedding offers an array of benefits, from helping temperature regulation to being kind to the environment, it’s easy to see why bamboo is the material of the moment. With a 9.88% annual increase in interest, this trend claims a popularity score of 8.39.

2. Cotton bedding Popularity score: 7.36

While bamboo bedding might not be the most obvious choice, our second-place scorer certainly is. Cotton bedding is as popular as ever and for good reason. This material is breathable, comfortable and kind to the skin, making it perfect for every member of the family.

While interest in cotton bedding saw a small dip in popularity, it is still popular enough to warrant the thousands of articles written about it.

3. Linen bedding & flannel bedding Popularity score: 7.01

Third place is held by two types of bedding, linen and flannel. Linen is particularly popular during the warmer months due to its breathability, however, it is also beneficial in the winter as the material keeps you warm when it is cool and keeps you cool when it is warm.

Flannel is a great material to use for bedding as it is particularly soft and has a warm and cosy feel to it. The thick material is ideal for the winter, keeping you comfy even when the temperature drops.

The most popular sleeping positions for a good night’s sleep

Getting to sleep can be challenging for some of us, but can our sleeping position really make a difference? Based on the number of searches as well as how often they’re written about, we explore the popularity of each sleeping position to see which one the world favours.

1. Sleeping on back & stomach Popularity score: 6.67

Taking joint first place, sleeping on your back or stomach are equally as popular. While there were fewer searches for ‘sleeping on your back’ than on your stomach, back sleepers saw a 2.03% increase in interest, while stomach sleepers saw a decrease in interest of -7.37%.

The healthiest sleep position is considered to be that which best promotes healthy spinal alignment. However, this can be different for different people and depends on your own body and situation. For example, during pregnancy, certain sleeping positions can be more comfortable than others and those who are expecting may find that they need to switch their positions to find the most comfortable one.

3. Sleeping on left side Popularity score: 5.00

In third place, we have sleeping on your left side, but why is the left side more popular than the right? This benefit is all related to the way our internal organs are positioned inside our bodies. It is thought that due to the position of our digestive systems, sleeping on your left side can be beneficial for digestion, effectively using gravity to encourage your morning ‘movements’.

Methodology

We wanted to investigate which sleep practices and products are the most popular. 

To do this, we first gathered examples of popular sleep products from websites such as Men's Health, Review Geek and Science Focus. We then found each product’s RRP and review score from Amazon, the number of articles that mentioned the product in the past year via BuzzSumo, and the average monthly Google searches for each product in 2022 from Keyword Planner, as well as the % increase in searches compared to the previous year.

This allowed us to create an overall gadget score by which we ranked the products, revealing the top scorers.

Next, we looked at the most popular sleep practices, again creating a list of examples using sources such as the Sleep Foundation, CDC and Dreams. We then collected the total number of articles in which each practice was mentioned via Buzzsumo, as well as the average monthly searches and annual search increase using Google Keyword Explorer.

This allowed us to create a popularity score which we used to rank the sleep practices, again revealing the top 10.

In addition to these sections, we also looked at broad types of sleep gadgets, foods that could aid with sleep, and sleep scents, ranking each category using Google search data and the number of articles according to Buzzsumo. Examples of foods for sleep were taken from websites including The Sleep Charity, Good Housekeeping and Healthline, while sleep scents were taken from Mother and Baby, Sleep Cycle and Prestige Beds.

When calculating the popularity score for all trends, each was compared to one another, with scores being relative to all factors. However, when calculating scores for each section, trends were only compared to other trends within that section. This means that scores will differ in our overall trends section when compared to each section individually.