Reddit mentions: The best sleep & snoring aids

We actualy found a beast of a spider in our luggage one morning. Unfortunately, battle had to ensue and it was a serious duel. Obviously one of us won. keep your tent closed up tightly and you should have no issues, but keep an eye out of course. I posted a good list of tips on another thread that outlines camping at this location.

I have a few solutions to this as i myself have gone to the extremes on sleep deprivation at lib. Here are a few game changers that made a world of difference.

Your tent. We found that righ as the sun comes up sleep is almost impossible due to light and rockstar heat. We got a bunch of those emergency thermal blankets and lined the exterior of our tent almost entiely in them. This both blocks light and a huge amount of sun heat. They make it seem like air conditioning compared to not using them. Packing tape works very well on holding them together and allows you to customize their shape to fit your specific tent. Another tip is to sandwich or layer them between a fabric material to dampen the noise they make with the wind as they move. Those mitary guilly style camo covers work well too. You basically want to hold them down as well as possible to limit how much they move to eliminate the noise they make, which is like tin foil. Be creative and innovative with these as they can look really cool too! Your tent will be dramatically more comfortable all day.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01LZN0KGB/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526521307&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=survival+blanket&psc=1

They come in multi packs to save money. Also if you have extra, im sure your neighbors will appreciate it greatly if you donate a few. The only drawback is the noise, so ensure you address this. Installing them on the inside of your tent is also an option.

Sound. Earpeace hd earplugs are amazing https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076VTXWBP/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526521562&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=earpeace&psc=1
I go to tons of concerts! These are exceptional not only for being FRONT ROW! but amazing for sleep as well. They are inexpensive and worth every dollar, and super comfortable!

Brain spa.
Onnit new mood!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AFB5U3Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526521888&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=new+mood+onnit&psc=1

Take these before bed. Such a great balanced formula and one of the best regenerative items ive found yet!
Nuff said

Light in the morning or anytime of the day.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GSO1D9O/ref=mp_s_a_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1526522197&sr=8-5&keywords=eye+mask+for+sleeping&dpPl=1&dpID=31eeIOXqJoL&ref=plSrc

Ill keep this short, they just work, period.

Cool as LIB! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00XKLYWFU/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1526522342&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=cool+towels+for+neck&dpPl=1&dpID=41vWMI5EJzL&ref=plSrch
We discovered these and theyre awesome! We wet them down at the water stations which are everywhere throughout Lib. They feel amazing in the sun and in a wierd way are kinda fun, idk. Lol

Bring vitamins! I recommend D3, ZINC, B COMPLEX, AND FISH OILS.
Make sure you keep these all cool and dry.
I recommended a cooler scenario in another sub, but ill repeat it here.

Dry ice in your cooler is the best way to refrigerate all weekend that i have found, minus actually having a refrigerator.

Tip: careful with dry ice as it can burn you and mess up your cooler if not prepared properly. Wrap it in brown paper to prevent direct contact with the sides and bottom of your cooler. Also, if you put actual ice around the dry ice this works too. We got a solid 3 days of awesome cooler performance this way. Cover your cooler during the day with the above mentioned mylar blankets for even better performance.

Protein power! You need nutrition if you want to rage like a rockstar! Many flavors and its super fast and simple to prepare. I use mp combat protein, works well and tastes great!

Bed/air mattress. One oddity we found with our air mattress. At night the ground and ambient air temp drops a bunch on some occasions. So the air inside the mattress cools as well which made for an extra chilly experience one night. We insulated the bottom and sides of our air mattress with a fleece or similar blanket which helped keep our body heat inside the mattress.

Feed me! Bring good healthy food like apples, avocados, bananas, pita bread, peanut butter or almond butter. These are delicious and full of proper energy. Keep junk food to a minimum, but dont eliminate it, because well, sometimes cheese its are bomb as hell! You just dont want to be weighed down by garbage. Tip: the acai warrior bowls at the food courts are legit! And, try the poutine for breakfast! You wont regret! Also we found that Mountain house freeze dried packets are a convenient and awesome way to chow down. You'll need hot water for some and regular temp for the cereals and desserts.

I hope this helps. Unfortunately I can't be at LIB this year, so this post helps me cope with said situation.

I have many other pro tips if anyone is interested so hit me up

Love you LIB!

Here are mine:

• Secure Beginnings Crib Mattress - a totally breathable crib mattress. You can take the "sleep surface" off and throw it in the washing machine when needed. I surprisingly don't do it that often. The mesh fabric and space under it helps in temperature regulation and air exchange. Basically, helped me as a new mom not worry about suffocation. I ended up going wild and getting two sleep surfaces per mattress. I got one set in the regular size and a mini crib for our room.
  
• LED Touch Light - these suckers are rechargeable and hold their charge a long time. They're super portable. What I like best is that you can turn them suuuuper dim, which is great for middle of the night wake ups and diaper changes. We have one hanging from our headboard and one hanging above the changing table. And then another around the house. There are tons of sellers of this type of product and they're quite inexpensive.
  
• Wet Bag - a reusable and washable bag to stash wet/dirty stuff. An essential for cloth diaperers, but also great for pooped on clothes, bathing suits, etc.
  
• Fischer-Price Ultra-Lite Day and Night Play Yard - this is a smaller and less expensive version of a traditional pack and play. We kept it in the living room and baby spent a lot of time there as a newborn.
  
• Gripe Water Lots of gripe water. Good for gas, sometimes hiccups, and gentle relief for stomach upset. Also helps some newborns poop.
  
• Grovia Magic Stick Diaper Balm - made for cloth diapers, but would work for sposies. A barrier "cream" on a stick, so you don't have to get your fingers gross. Smells amazing - I literally sniff the stick every time we use it.
  
• Freemies - great for hands-free pumping, especially in the car or at work. Fits inside the shirt. Can be hit or miss on if it works for individuals, but it works GREAT for my boobs. Regular flanges hurt me and didn't yield good output, but Freemies agreed with my body wonderfully.
  
• Spectra Pump I have nothing but good things to say about the Spectra pump. I have the S1 (battery operated), S2 (plugs in), and the S9 (battery operated, but not as fancy as S1). I haven't had any issues with my pumps, but others have had great customer service experiences. It's a "closed" system, which means it's impossible for milk to get into the pump on accident. This is a good thing.
  
• Kiinde Storage Bags - these breastmilk storage bags are more expensive, but highly durable. I love the twist top - much easier to use then a zipper top. We used the whole bottle system from 0-6 months. At six months, he realized he could take the nipple off the bottle and we switched to Como Tomo bottles. But for those months, it was SO NICE to just send the bags to daycare and wash only the nipples (the shells stayed at daycare).
  
• Lillebaby Complete Airflow Baby Carrier - while baby carrier preferences will vary widely by body type and personal preferences, I love my Lillebaby most. It doesn't require any special insert for newborns and the lumbar support was awesome. The airflow version was great, as I live in a very hot state.
  
• Lectrofan Sound Machine - you may be wondering why this is $45 and other sound machines are $20. Because it is amazing, that is why. Seriously 100% amazing.
  
  Hope this helps somebody!
  
  Edit: added a few more after the Spectra.

Do it before she arrives. It is more difficult to set them yourself but once you have them in place you can hide the straps easy. And I don't recommend leaving the room, but I do recommend a blindfold. I've listed below some cheap starter equipment if you are looking for more tools to play with. Generally I will start slow and work up to something be it an orgasm, or paingasm and then start the cooldown.

So start slow, build up, climax of some sort, then aftercare. Remember the aftercare. Seriously, aftercare. I generally will take some virgin coconut oil and give my sub a massage after we play.

• Blindfold - Cheap version ($10 http://amzn.com/B001E7BPPW) Expensive nice version (http://amzn.com/B003CGJRNK)
  
• Cuffs - Neoprene with velcro ($14 http://amzn.com/B0052Z8UUK) are the easiest but alot of people like handcuffs ($10 http://amzn.com/B001D4XSYM) but the metal is really taxing on a sub. Leather ones are the best IMO but not cheap (http://amzn.com/B007W52ACW)
  
• Forced orgasms/orgasm denial - The hitachi magic wand is best for this ($47 http://amzn.com/B0089175GE). It's expensive but worth it. Plus you can buy attachment heads for it down the road.
  
• Rope play (Shibari) - You can grab some soft rope for bedroom play ($13 http://amzn.com/B002UV70DM) and visit twistedmonk.com for some instructional videos. For serious rope work you might want to invest in hemp ropes from twistedmonk and sissors for cutting free (http://amzn.com/B001D6YXIU)
  
• Sensation play - feathers ($7 http://amzn.com/B0026I02JI), tickling, pinwheels ($10 http://amzn.com/B000B7N1DA), ice (free, check your freezer)
  
• Spanking/slapping - Using a hand and staying in roughly the safe areas (ass, tits) till you know limits and interest levels
  
• Nipple clamps - Get some aligator nipple clamps that are adjustible so you can start out light and work your way up to harder ($10 http://amzn.com/B002JVWZSI). If you like you can add weights to them down the road
  
• Wax play - You will want to buy special paraffin candles that melt at lower temp for dripping melted wax on your partner ($10 per candle http://etsy.me/18Gwv7b)
  
• Floggers - You can make a call on this based on your experience with spanking ($40 and up http://flogmebaby.com/)
  
  These toys should give you a good baseline on what you like and what you don't. From there I would look around at places like stockroom.com or extremerestraints.com and find out what interests you. Stockroom.com has some of the best selection but is expensive.
  
  Best of luck.
  
  *Edit fixed some links

I tried to post this earlier, but I think the age of my account triggered the filter:

The Waterfall system is an interesting idea, but is it worth it at its current price? In a comment on the original announcement post, Abe mentioned that the Waterfall could hold "more than people are assuming," and that's technically true. The system can accommodate my Spirit-Airlines-LA-to-San-Francisco-No-Carry-On flying kit, which includes a water bottle, a light shell jacket, a book, a sleep mask, ear plugs, a passport wallet (can't find a link for this, it's a slim-ish RRL epi-leather thing), and a cell phone charger with cord--but not comfortably. If you're only carrying flat things (even heavy ones), it's surprisingly stable and very pleasant to use. But when items with a horizontal height of more than an inch or so are loaded into it, the system starts to feel unbalanced and awkward to me.

It might be okay as a super-minimalist laptop bag, but I'd be afraid to set it down anywhere without giving the landing zone some thought. The last generation 13MBP feels made for it, but nothing bigger than that, including the new 15-inch models, will fit. You can throw the charger in the medium pouch, but if you wrap the cord around it like I do, it bulges pretty substantially, and will bang into the laptop (audibly) if you move at anything faster than a walking pace.

In general, I think the bag looks quite nice, and I actually enjoy the mandatory compartmentalization. The AustriAlpin slide adjuster works well, but some of the coating was worn off around the mechanism when it arrived. That's a small thing, but I really feel that if it's going to maintain it's current $425 price-point after the experimental phase, it's really going to have to be perfect. The Dynylon Molly Webbing deserves a shoutout, as it looks much better than tradition molle (especially on the front, where it's installed in such as way as to be slightly recessed). The main Dyneema material is still its same crinkly self, and for whatever reason this bag felt louder than the Quadzip to me, especially when it rubbed against the gore-tex of my coat.

In short, I quite like this bag aesthetically, and I'm glad that Outlier decided to do the experiment, but my own use case is too limited to justify the somewhat eye-watering price tag. Fortunately, I do still have a very nice non-backpack option that I'm quite attached to.

For a shaving cream, try the 7-cream sampler from Al's Shaving: a really superb shaving cream. You can read a recent interview with Al for more background. In mainline products, Taylor of Old Bond Street Avocado is a good place to start. Or Speick shaving cream, which comes in a tube rather than a tub.

Read this post on blades, and not the importance of the sampler back. Use the first brand of blade that works for you for at least two months. By keeping the brand of blade constant, variation from shave to shave is (probably) due to prep and technique, so you can focus more on perfecting those by not changing the razor or brand of blade. Also, after two months, you'll really know what that brand of blade feels like so when you try a new brand the differences are highlighted.

A styptic helps in case of cuts. My favorite is My Nik Is Sealed, but Clubman Pinaud Dab-On styptic also works well.

An alum block is a pleasant aftershave skin treatment, and is mandatory if you suffer from skin blemishes or acne.

Here are some brush possibilities, in ascending order by price:

The Ecotools Bamboo Finishing Kabuki brush, which makes a terrific shaving brush; you can pick it up for $7.50 in the cosmetics section of (e.g.) Walgreens.

In the $8-$14 range, any of the Omega boar brushes would do a good job, and those are available from many sources. I prefer the brushes without the dyed band---the plain white brushes---but both work well. Read this beginner's guide to boar brushes on proper use. These are soaked before each use: just wet well with hot water and leave it sitting while you shower. I really like the Pro 48 (10048); it's large, but I still find it comfortable for face lathering.

The Omega 11047 boar/badger brush, which you soak for boar content, but then acts like a badger---and makes a good travel brush as well as an everyday brush. $17 plus shipping, but you can buy something in addition for little or no extra shipping charge.

One of the HJM black synthetic brushes from ConnaughtShaving.com for $25, including shipping. (US residents do not pay VAT.) This is a supeb brush, as gentle as any silvertip and quite efficient at lather creation.

The Whipped Dog silvertip badger: $26 including shipping with your choice of resin handle. The 22mm size is the best all-round size.

Avoid the four most common mistakes cartridge shavers make when switching to a DE razor. .


You can take a look at the reader reviews of my introductory guide and decide from those whether the book is likely to be helpful to you. It's available from all Amazon sites.

Welcome, and I believe that you'll enjoy this.

First - Babygate all the way. Your 4 year old can get into so much dangerous trouble running around the house on their own. Hell no.

Second - I got a clock that turns colors. It's dark blue (and doubles as a nightlight) when it's sleepy time and turns yellow when it's time to wake up. (You program it and can have different bed and wakeup time for the weekends)


When she was four years old: I closed the baby gate and she was told NOT COME OUT OF HER ROOM OR MAKE NOISE UNTIL THE CLOCK IS YELLOW. It mostly worked.

Now that she is 5 she is not allowed to get out of her bed unless she has to go the bathroom until the clock is yellow. She also may not make noise or wake me up unless it's an emergency - and we talked about what those are.

Then, after she is asleep each night, I put a flashlight and her books near her bed. If she wakes up before the clock is yellow she can read quietly. If she makes nose, I take the books AND make her lay their quietly until the clock is yellow. It works beautifully.

There are two kinds of clocks and I recommend the more simple version and an open box version from the manufacturer.

The clock is available on Amazon, but I bought a used one directly from the manufacturer. I bought it 4 years ago and it's worked perfectly and looked perfect since the day I go tit.

http://www.mytotclock.com/buy_now.php



My next recommendation is the Dhom Classic Sound Machine - it's really the best one. My daughter started sleeping far deeper and far longer when I got a white sound machine on the recommendation of my pediatrician. It's the kind they use in therapy offices. It really does fill up the whole room with white noise - I can barely even hear the garbage trucks on garbage day. The bonus is that if it's going in her room, I can have an adult conversation or watch a "bang bang shoot 'em up" type movie without her listening in and the noises of the house don't keep her up. I don't have to TIPTOE until she's asleep! WOOT! Privacy is divine when you live in a small place!

You can get them cheaper on Amazon Warehouse. They are Open box but work perfectly: https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?m=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&s=warehouse-deals&ie=UTF8&qid=1549570064&sr=8-1&keywords=dohm%2Bsound%2Bmachine&th=1

Hint on the sound machine: Put it in a corner of the room farthest from the child. I actually have mine up on a dresser in the far corner from her bed. That way they don't play with it on the ground. Best thing I ever did for her sleep.

OH! Lastly, the flashlight is hand crank and I got it from IKEA for cheap - they sell them in the kids section! https://m2.ikea.com/us/en/p/ljusa-led-flashlight-hand-powered-30190857/

A tablet + a server running plex.

Replaces a TV, DVD player, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon et al accounts. Provides tons of entertainment when at home and when traveling.

Sleep Stuff

Personally I think there's really no proper way to value a good night's sleep. After years of dealing with poor sleep due to breathing problems in a dry climate and living with obnoxious neighbors whose religion prohibits using headphones figuring out some cheap solutions to my sleep issues has yielded immeasurable quality of life improvements.

Nasal dialaters.

I was having a lot of problems sleeping due to narrow nasal pathways + seasonal changes and my BP was off the charts. The quality of life improvement from quality sleep is hard to quantify as a value.

[Really comfy sleep masks.] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FJQFJX8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1)
The inner lining on these ones reliably peels off for me but I still use mine and I think I could put these on 1 mile from the sun and not see light.

Super comfortable noise canceling ear buds
I have a ridiculously loud 300lb stomping upstairs neighbor who enjoys putting together furniture at 3am due to either meth or sleep apnea or both. He also really enjoys his shitty 1990s R&B. I've had several confrontations and he's changed some of it but you can't request someone not walk around their apartment when they want. I think he has knee problems so his steps are really heavy. These things are the best answer I could find. If I put these on + a TV show it drowns him out. It sucks to rely on noise to cancel out other noise but I love these things, they're super comfortable and they do the job I need.

Coffee Stuff

GeneCafe Coffee Roaster

So I'm the sort of person who is willing to spend the right amount of money when there's value. For me roasting my own coffee provides tons of value. For starters you can order green beans online for $3-5 a lb. I order 6+ months worth of coffee at a time for around $100, give or take. This roaster has now paid for itself compared to buying coffee at my favorite roaster and is in line with the stale, burnt tasting shit you can buy in giant vats at the grocery store.

But beyond just that I get the supreme joy of truly fresh roasted coffee roasted to a level I like which is a lot different than the black and greasy shit you'll get at Kroger's or whatever. I also love that I can bring this is going to be useful if/when I'm living on a homestead somewhere.

Stainless Steel French Press

Goes with the above. I used to buy glass ones and break them, but this $40 french press will probably last for a very long time with only the screen to worry about replacing and god only knows how long that will take.

[Rough Bur Grinder] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001804CLY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
I really enjoy replacing electronic equipment with stuff I can power with elbow grease. It's not much of a workout, but it's quieter and still does the same job as the electric one I had purchased and unless other electric ones I'm not sure this one will ever break. My previous ones would break/clog constantly, this one has been trucking without issue for a year and I suspect will last several.

I live in a small apartment and can relate. Baby's room is our closet.

Diapers I choose cloth because it saves over 1,000 dollars a year. They have cloth diaper services that clean and drop off, you can buy used or just do disposible.

Toy library allows you to rent toys versus storing them and honestly my kid could care a less about toys till she was 5/6months

Library for books they just outgrow them and you can trade out frequently.

Bouncer is usefull for soothing and sitting upright for 20 mins after feedings which helps with spitup.

Muchkins bath was a lifesaver went through 3 before i found it. It can hang on the back of a door.https://www.walmart.com/ip/Munchkin-Sit-and-Soak-Baby-Bath-Tub-0-12-Months-White/936568083

Pack and play with a diaper changer station and some even have built in drawers which makes life easy.

Doona carseat expensive but stroller and carseat in one. Is amazing for airport, road trips. And grocery trips. Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base - Night (Black) - US Version https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UJ7EPC8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UQJlDbHFHAAVH

This sitting saucer and also a carseat and turns into a booster seat https://www.walmart.com/ip/Summer-Infant-4-in-1-Super-Seat-Teal/366486333?selected=true

Jumper the graco one with the bumpers is the best packs up for travel. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Graco-Bumper-Baby-Jumper-Little-Jungle/7976545

Pacifiers and bottles as every kid has a diffrent prefrence dont go ham until you see if you kid likes it. I had massive success for dr.brown bottles and pacifiers. Only had gas 3 times.

Bibs 2 silicone for when on real food (just wash with soap and water in sink). I recomment cloth bibs for formula or milk and drool as it adsorbs better. Get one with buttons all velcroa die within 2 or 3 washes.

I use ikea diah drying rack for all diahes no need to buy a bottle specific one.

I reccomend a rack for bottles mine is an under the counter and holds bottles, bibs and paper towel.

Swaddles 1 halo and 1 swaddle me one with the arms. Every baby is diffrent and some wake up if they get the arms out of the halo. Once you find on just get 2 so if spit up gets on it you have a back up.

Clothes. Skip pjs no need for them when they are in a swaddle.

Portable noise machine: White Noise Sound Machine | Portable Sleep Therapy for Home, Office, Baby & Travel | 6 Relaxing & Soothing Nature Sounds, Battery or Adapter Charging Options, Auto-Off Timer | HoMedics Sound Spa https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hXJlDbN7YRVCP

Oh and baby meds and a humidifer i reccomend the babyfrida one it is easy to clean and helps a ton when she had a cold.

Baby swing will save your sanity for those hard nights. i reccomend the fisher price it swings both left/right and front to back.

Eddie bauer diaper bag. It holds everything.

If you have a very needy baby the infantio baby carrier is amazing and when they get big you use it as a backpack carrier for them.

Skip everything else they grow out of it or just dont use it.

These are all things that not only I love but a lot of people in my bumper month group really liked as well, and that I didn't think to ask for in my registry and wish I did:

VAVA nightlight
USB charged, this touch operated nightlight was my best friend in the hospital and at home for late night feeding

Love to Dream swaddle
Amazing swaddle that's super easy to use and lets baby self soothe with their hands

Merlins magic sleepsuit
When baby outgrows swaddling (which happens fast!) this helps muffle the startle reflex to keep baby asleep.

hushh portable sound machine
Basically the only way I get any sleep

beaming buggy
Plays music, lights up and has white noise. Somehow is total magic.

Oball toys
Because there's always someone who wants to just buy toys and these are great for small hands

Ideas about your current stack:

Maybe drop the oxiracetam for a while, I've read a few anecdotes on the racetams (and also bacopa, interestingly enough) about them "dulling" your emotions, while not always a bad thing, it can be to a degree in some people.

Consider going half alpha-gpc and half cdp-choline (300mg alpha-gpc, 250mg cdp-choline) here or here, some people notice more benefit with CDP-choline for mood

Switch out your multivitamin, ashwagandha, b-complex, zinc, next time in favour of Legion Triumph. It's got a few adaptogens in it (lavender, rhodiola, garlic might be one too, a small amount of acetylcysteine)

Drop the caffeine for a while and just try the theanine on it's own. A lot of people don't realize that caffeine can have a negative impact on your mood when used regularly, and not intermittently (a few times a week)

10,000IU of Vitamin D long term might be excessive, try tapering down to 5000IU (and Triumph also has 2000IU in it right now, so maybe even just 1000-3000IU or from an independent supplement)

Definitely drop the yohimbe/yohimbine. Maca can be good, tribulus I've read reports of it negatively effecting mood in people as well (agitation/irritability).

For the zinc/magnesium, they're both good, but if you're already getting enough zinc in your multi, you might be overdoing it. Magnesium is fine in large doses (as long as you don't get diarrhea! Then split up your doses more).

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Obviously the light box will help. I'd also advise some quick HIIT in the morning time (4 sets of 10-20 squats as fast as possible, depending on your level of activity, with minimal rests in between) to get you up and about for the day. You can even do squats, push ups, glute bridges, and burpees, or something (one or two sets of each). This will take the absolute piss out of you for 5-10 minutes after, but that's a perfect opportunity to stand in the shower and pant like a dying dog.

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Improve your sleep too! It's not just about getting up and doing crap, make sure you're sleeping at least 7 hours a day, or try for the next two weeks getting at least one hour more of sleep every single day, and see how that makes you feel. Get flux/twilight all that crap, turn off all the brightness on your laptops/phones after it gets dark outside, turn off the lights in your room 1-2 hours before bed, all that jazz.

If you're drinking heavily (14+ standard drinks a week in men, or 9+ in women) or even drinking to help you get to sleep some nights, definitely stop doing that. Even if it isn't to improve your sleep, it's got a shit load of negative health effects. Same thing goes with smoking, but it can be hard to quit/reduce both of these things. Try to avoid smoking/drinking less than 3 hours before bed, at least. Also avoid doing the same 3 hours after waking up.

Definitely avoid caffeine within 8 hours of bed time. Honestly I think cutting this out for a couple of weeks might help a decent amount (cutting out yohimbine more)

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Next comes potential supplements:

Taurine, 1-3g/day (I prefer to take 1g pre-workout and 1g at night before bed) here or here (or much much much cheaper in bulk from powder city)

Inositol 0.5-2g/day (some people notice it actually reduces the drive to do things in higher doses. here or here <--- you can also just eat more citrus fruits instead (oranges or cantaloupes are good sources), some grains are also good sources. <--- consider taking the same time as taurine

Acetylcysteine (0.6-2.4g/day), I take 0.6g in the morning and 0.6 around dinner time, I've noticed it's help a shit ton with my cravings for cigarettes too. It's a decent mood stabilizer in general, and glutamate excitoxicity = bad news bears for a lot of things. here or here. Also much cheaper in bulk, but whereas taurine/inositol have a pleasant taste, acetylcysteine smells and tastes a little bit like rotting eggs (sulfur smell, although it's funny taurine doesn't have that)...

Melatonin, 300mcg at night here or here (try this even if you feel like you sleep fine, seriously)

You could also consider switching out your oxiracetam for some ALCAR/Carnitine (at 0.5-2g/day, avoiding it later in the evening) and Carnitine also might have some mild mood boosting effects in addition to it's cognitive benefits, and exercise benefits.

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Oh if you'd like, you can use my coupon code from iherb for some $5 off your first order, it's JIT328... but a decent amount of this crap is actually cheaper on amazon if you buy it from there (or in bulk from other places like powdercity), so just do whatever is cheapest for you.

Read this pretty long post about DE shaving. The "HERE" link inside that post has good information as well.

Some comments about the products you have chosen:


> So I've been looking into buying a DE starter kit and looked at all the suggestions and I've sorted out this much so far.
Razor: DE86bl
Blades: Sampler
Pre-Shave Soap: Glycerine
Alum: Alum
Styptic: Clubman Pinaud

The Edwin Jagger is a very good razor.

The sampler comes only with 2 blades per brand, which could be enough but in my opinion 5 blades per brand would be better. Blade samplers in amazon are somewhat expensive.

Clearly natural is a pre-shave soap which is not necessary, but some people do find them helpful. You use it to wash your face before you lather your shaving cream/soap. You are missing the shaving cream/soap from your list.

Alum again not necessary, but some users like it.

Styptic pencil, do you bleed a lot? I ask because I hardly ever bleed, my blood coagulates really fast. So I have never seen a use for a styptic pencil.

> So for brushes it sounds like boar or badger, which I believe is preferred, hair is the way to go, but then the recommendation for the $75 level is bamboo and at the $100 one of the 2 recommended is synthetic.

The Ecotools bamboo brush is a women's makeup brush. Using it for shaving seems rather extreme. However I'm not sure how its making process differs from a shaving brush, do they use different glue or what. But I have seen threads posted where people say that the brush has died on them. If you are on a very tight budget and want a very soft brush that you can also find locally, then I think the Ecotools is a good option. That being said you can get Omega boar brush for about $10 from various online stores.

> I was looking through some of the threads and somewhere I found someone recommend this set which seemed nice, has a badger brush a little cup for lathering and a thing to hang the brush on to dry and comes with little starter shaving soap (although I have no idea if the soap is any good). So thoughts on that set and any inputs on brushes would be appreciated.

I don't think that recommendation had many upvotes. The brush is a pure badger brush and it's also prone to excessive shedding. The soap is nothing special. A brush stand isn't necessary. After you are done shaving thoroughly rinse the brush with running water from the tap, shake out the excess water, and use a towel to dry the tips of the brush, leave the brush standing on its base in a open space to air dry. The apothecary mug is not necessary either. It's mainly intended to hold the soap puck. However most shaving soaps will come in their own containers. The mug can also be quite small so when you are loading your brush you end up banging your fingers against the sides. I wouldn't recommend this set.

> And then lastly, how important are aftershaves? Are they just to smell nice or does it help you skin take a breather after threateningly rubbing sharp stuff all over it? My main mental picture of aftershave never having used it before is the scene from Home Alone, so feel free to educate me.

There are many different kinds of aftershave products; alum block, afershave splash, aftershave balm, moisturizing cream, moisturizing oil like jojoba oil, unrefined shea butter, and witch hazel. You pretty much have to try which works for you, but I'd start with a cheap aftershave balm like the Nivea sensitive aftershave balm (if you get satisfactory results with it you don't have to explore the other options unless you want to).

In the Home Alone he used aftershave splash. I'm not really a fan of these, the alcohol can be too drying for your skin and they are often more heavily scented which can irritate your skin. Some users do love them though, but I'd say they are for normal to oily skin. I like to use the other type of products, such as the aftershave balm, it soothes/heals and moisturizes your skin.

I’d highly recommend a “white noise sound machine” such as the Marpac Adjustable model.

Marpac

I’ve tried fans, apps, looping sound clips and YouTube videos but nothing has worked as well as my Marpac. Read though some of the 11k reviews and you’ll come to understand why it’s helped allot of folks.

In my case; I’m a light sleeper and it does a great job of masking outside noises which otherwise would have woken me up easily. I like being able to adjust the air vent ports to suit the tone I’m comfortable with and given that’s it’s an actual small fan spinning within a container, it sounds much more natural and soothing than some app.

Use a heavy blanket, make sure your room is a bit chilly and use a physical white noise machine to help you fall sleep and stay asleep.

I hope this helps

For the sweet tooth (like my dad, these are all things he likes):

• A candy jar or bowl filled with her favorite candy.
  
  
• An artisan ice cream scoop.
  
  
• An ice cream maker. You could get an ice cream recipe book as well.
  
  
• One of my dad's favorite gifts was a sugar dispenser... I think that shows his level of sugar commitment.
  
  
• Some artisan marshmallows.
  
  
• A milk frother that doubles as a hot chocolate maker.
  
  For the executive (like my mom, these are all things she likes):
  
  
• A high quality thermos for coffee on the way to work.
  
  
• A smart home setup, maybe an echo and some smart outlets or the google home. Really good for turning lights on/off, asking for the weather and news, listening to music, etc.
  
  
• A FitBit to help her keep healthy even working long hours.
  
  
• A popcorn maker that allows you to make non-microwaved popcorn in the microwave.
  
  
• A white noise machine. If she has any trouble sleeping this thing is AMAZING.
  
  
• A Roku or Chromecast that makes it easier to watch Netflix on the TV.
  
  
• Wine tasting or cooking class that you can do together. Really my mom loves doing stuff with her family.

Uh I'm so sorry to hear this. You definitely have a nuisance neighbor and that's so anxiety inducing on top of a chronic illness. I also have a chronic illness and work incall from home.

Have you thought about ways you can limit or muffle the noise? Do you have a carpet or can you put down an area rug? If you don't want a rug, maybe you can wear flip flops or slippers at home to help dull the noise? Do you ask clients to take their shoes off at the door?

I have a white noise sound machine that I use for sleep but a lot of psychologists use them to muffle noise in their office so people can't hear their patients. I have the professional one they use: https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2IN38LJZ07OLK&keywords=white%2Bnoise%2Bmachine&qid=1566443701&s=gateway&sprefix=white%2Bnoise%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-7&th=1

It's pricer then the others but it's worth the $$.

I had a problem with my headboard & bed frame after 6 months of working. It was banging on the wall and creaking loudly during activity, it's a freakin miracle my neighbor next to me didn't' complain! It was a single guy so maybe he was happy to listen 😂. I ended up investing in a new bed frame when their was a memorial day sale and I'm pretty happy with my purchase. It's pretty and super quiet now.

I cannot sleep on planes, so long flights are hell. Here is how I do by best to cope with it.

Firstly, make sure you are comfortable, don't wear too tight clothing, wear layers in case it gets too hot or cold. I also bring slippers and change into those on the flight. (Mainly because I'm usually wearing my largest hiking shoes to save on space in my bag.) Also if you can put as much as you can in the overhead, don't waste your precious foot area space with another carryon that you don't need for the next 11 hours.

I also usually have either a travel blanket or sarong with me to use as a blanket. I then have a "DogBone" style travel pillow, which I find is better than the half intertube type travel pillows. I then have an eye mask that blocks out light, even though I cannot sleep it helps to make you feel like you are in a different place. I also have a bunch of ear plugs as I tend to easily loose them.


Then you need to have your distractions. I make sure to have movies/tv already downloaded to my phone or tablet. Same with ebooks and music. I also travel with multiple USB power packs to rejuice my devices. And then I carry a sudoku book, and extra paper (to write travel memories or doodle.)

I also make sure to have at least 2-3 full water bottles, as you want to keep hydrated. Avoid salty foods as well as those with too much sugar. But I also make sure to have snacks on hand. The name of the game is preparedness.


I don't have any experience with OTC drugs to sleep, as again I cannot sleep on planes. I would suggest trying whatever you have out prior to taking the flight, as you might have strange reactions. Nothing like trying to take something, and instead be bolt awake and not feeling well. I do have prescribed sleep medication, but its weird, if you don't fall asleep within 20-30 minutes of taking it, it has the opposite reaction and you'll heart will start racing. So I don't take it on flights.

Make sure to stretch and change up your seat position. I like to rest my eyes by putting the pill in front of me and essentially face plant the seat in front.

Make sure to get up every once in a while (mine is every 3-4 hours) and go to the bathroom, or just walk and down the aisle, etc. Stretch as you go. Note that some flight attendants won't like or won't let you just hang out at the back of the plane. (Usually because of safety issues.) Even if the flight attendant is being rude to you, make sure to be nice and smile. It will help later, as you can usually go to the back and request some water to keep hydrated. Also make sure not to get up during drink/meal service.


And good luck. I can handle 9 hour flights no problem, but longer than that its awful.

I would say a fan that is loud enough, usually the square floor fans (you can point it toward a wall so it doesn't hit you, otherwise you may get chilly). I usually keep mine on the lowest setting, but sometimes have to bump it up to medium if neighbors are playing music. I really find that the cheaper, square, medium'ish sized ones work the best. The more expensive ones try to actually be quiet, which is not what I want.

Also, i would get one of these bad boys: http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-SleepMate-980A-Electro-Mechanical-Conditioner/dp/B000KUHFGM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303068647&sr=8-1

I have found that other noise machines (rain noises, etc) just have a loop back that I can pick up on and it actually keeps me up even more because I am following the loop back. The white noise machine above has no such thing, I love them.

I have their travel one because I am on the road for work 3 weeks out of a month. Works great. If I was you, I'd use both. Put the fan by the window, on the right setting. Put the white noise machine on your dresser, next to you.

The secondary glazing sounds great, and if I asked my landlord to do this he would laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh, then hang up on me. I feel your pain, man. I hate noise while i'm trying to sleep. But what I have said above has worked in some pretty shitty situations before.

1. A Dohm sound machine - seriously, this thing is amazing. My toddler still uses hers and my husband and I actually bought one for our room and we use it every night. It goes with us when we travel and it's essential to good sleep for us.
   
2. Gummy bear night light - it must be red! This was recommended to me from a sleep class we took before our toddler was born and it's amazing for middle of the night feedings. You squeeze the belly and it turns on and there's a separate adapter I recommend buying so you don't run out of batteries so quickly. The red light helps your baby (and you!) fall asleep quickly so you don't have sleep that's even more disrupted.
   
3. Seamless underwear - I wasn't expecting a c-section and ended up having an emergency one and I had to have my mother-in-law run to Macy's to find some seamless underwear for me because regular underwear hit exactly at my c-section scar and was extremely uncomfortable. She picked up some Calvin Klein ones and I've since purchased several pairs and I really love them, even when not pregnant, but it was something that I wasn't expecting to need. (I would find the link for them but I'm currently at work so I'll edit it later with the link, haha)
   
   Splurge item: a baby monitor with a camera and app on your phone. We originally used a motorola one because I was convinced I needed a separate little screen and I could still see it on my phone through an app, but we recently bought a Nest camera and I love it. I love being able to see what time she goes to bed if we have a sitter, I can tell when she's gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom - even if she doesn't wake us up and its several hours later... overall, I just really love it.

What kind of tape would you recommend? 3M Micropore paper tape or something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Strips-SomniFix-Breathing-Nighttime/dp/B076CQ1NR8

And do you think there's any benefit to using Flonase to encourage deeper breathing even though I don't have any allergies now?

Update: Used Nexcare Gentle Paper Tape last night (best I could find locally). Didn't have any trouble whatsoever falling asleep or staying asleep. Awoke feeling refreshed, perhaps slightly more refreshed than normal, but not eye-opening, dramatically more refreshed. Wore a DenTek Maximum Protection Dental Guard underneath. It juts out just a little, but I used 2 layers of tape, and I felt like the seal was pretty good. Woke up with a moist mouth. Noticeable saliva on the gums. Though, I will say my throat was a little dry. I might have been biting into the guard a little too much, and the impression might be rubbing on my gums. But that might have been happening anyway, and I suppose it's better to have that friction with a well moistened mouth than a dry one. I'm going to try the tape with a low-profile, disposable Plackers one that needs to be changed out every few days.

Edit: Definitely feel more refreshed, the more I dwell on it. But, could be a placebo effect.

I have bipolar 2 and am on meds, but use supplements to support me.

This website has comprehensive information about lifestyle and supplements that make a difference. I highly recommend that you explore it completely. (It looks clunky/unsophisticated, however I have researched the MD who created it and he is respected in the field...although considered a bit of cowboy.)

Fundamentals you may have already addressed: Exercise, bipolar specific cognitive behavioral therapy, establishing a consistent daily routine (an ongoing process for me).

Most effective for depression is light therapy; it can actually trigger mania, so be careful. It has rarely failed me. I use a dawn stimulator and morning lightbox. The combination of light and dark therapy I think is ideal but I haven't added dark therapy (I'm on reddit at night and can't break the habit).

Re: your stack:

• Make sure you are taking a EPA /DHA combo of at least 60%. And the DHA is important. Don't just take EPA.
  
• Assume you're on methylfolate 15mg?
  
• Probiotic: I'm not familiar with Symprove. However you need to choose the probiotic strains (name and number) that have research backed evidence of helping with depression. I used the resources of r/HumanMicrobiome and this spreadsheet to choose these strains to take: Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 - mood (NOW probiotic-10). Bifido. Longum/Infantis 35624 - Immune modulation incl. TNF, IL-6, CRP, depression (Align Digestive Support) because there was crossover with my other problem, rheumatoid arthritis. With some work, you can find something specific for you.
  
  Personally, I would stop all supplements except methyfolate, NAC, fish oil (EPA/DHA >60%) and maybe theanine if it helps you sleep. Add a light box in AM. Make sure you are taking melatonin 300 mcg (not more than that) every night (add a low dose time release melatonin if you still wake at night.) Give it one month of consistent use then re-evaluate.
  
  Good luck and feel free to DM me!

Lived in FHK the first two years it was coed (96-98).

• Bring flip flops to wear in the shared shower.
  
• The desks and cabinets do uninstall from the walls if you want to do a creative loft.
  
• Train noise reverberates through the quad, but you'll adjust quickly. A white noise machine like this will help immensely.
  
• Unless things have changed (I'm sure they have) your closest laundry not in the dorm will be in the study room behind Keathley adjoining Davis-Gary.
  
• Heldenfels is a short walk (10 mins), and that's where the majority of life sciences (for fish) should be.
  
• If you're in a room at the end, you can install a hammock on the corner of the railing pretty easily.
  
• Most important of all, leave your door open when you're there! Jam your music loud enough for passers-by. It's a great way to meet folks.
  

A few of my suggestions have been said but I will go through my routine-
During work, I take a Vitamin B Complex about halfway through my shift (I decided that’s the time it worked best for me- doing 12’s wears on my mental capacity).
Sunglasses on the way home, make no stops on your way home unless you NEED something.
Get home, strip, take a melatonin, shower, my routine is to fill the bath tub with an inch or two of hot water and and a few drops of lavender oil, sometimes epsom salt (depending on the night of course), immediately brush my teeth and lay down ASAP. I used to have blackout curtains but it was almost too much- we have a dark tan sheet doubled over the window. It lets in some light so on the days it bothers me, I use an eye mask .
I enjoy white noise, I have an app for it on my phone, but I also keep earplugs nearby.

If you didn’t notice, I really like essential oils so I also have a diffuser going with something calming.

Jut try to shut your eyes ASAP. Don’t underestimate melatonin, it is your friend. Benadryl makes me feel groggy the next day.

So sorry for the novel, but I have my routine down to a science. 😂

Edit: during the winter I use my heated blanket to help warm up and drift off to sleep. 💤

We did our first trip when my son was 8 months old. Full disclosure: it was super stressful. I vented online that I was on vacation but it did not feel like a vacation at all. It took an older mom friend to tell me “That’s because you are on a family trip, not a vacation.” That stuck with me a lot and helped shift my perspective. In hindsight, he probably did really well given the circumstances, but it was much harder for me (more night wake-ups, I’d nurse him to get him to go back to sleep, which meant another night feeding I had to work to eliminate once we got home. However, right now we’re on a trip with our now 20-month-old and it’s going amazingly.

Tips: we bought a portable sound machine this one I think, and some travel blackout curtains, these ones. That’s helped mimic the sleeping conditions he has at home, which has helped a ton. For us, that also means bringing a sheet from home and books and keeping the bedtime routine as close to home as possible. We’ve been pretty rigid with our routines at home for so long that I honestly think that’s why this trip is going well and it’s allowed us some flexibility in a weird way.

Make a couple stops on the drive. Aside from sitting in the backseat, there is not much you can do to keep him from falling asleep. Maybe plan the stops for when his normal “wake” times would be and hopefully that can help have the sleep be during his normal “nap” times. I know they aren’t always recommended, but I like having a backseat mirror to have a rough idea of awake/sleep time. You can also bring some small, soft toys to introduce and periodic points during the drive (with the disclaimer that, like the mirror and anything else loose in your car, there is the risk of them being projectiles in the event of a crash).

I know a bunch of people have already said this, but I'm tossing in my input too. I couldn't stand sleep masks until I got one that didn't sit directly against my eyes. It's amazingly comfortable and I wear it all the time. As a bonus, it looks hilariously like a miniature bra. This is the specific one I use/have successfully gotten my mom and boyfriend to both use. They love it too. I saw someone linked a similar one which is probably just as good, but this is mine:


https://www.amazon.com/Bucky-Ultralight-Comfortable-Contoured-Extensions/dp/B000WNX21Y

On mobile, sorry for the lack of formatting.

I have a 9-5 and I lift from 7 AM - 8:30 AM. Not every workout is 1.5 hours but that's my window.

For me, the trick has been and always will be caffeine. Namely getting it into my bloodstream as fast as possible.

Here are some tactics to get out of bed:

• Drink preworkout in bed. Have a large glass of water on the nightstand, a plastic spoon, a scoop or 2 of preworkout, pre-measured waiting to go. When the alarm goes off, dump the preworkout into the water, mix, chug, and lay back down. In 15 minutes or so the caffeine will begin to go to work. You won't be able to sleep, so get up! The plastic spoon is to save your spouse from having to listen to you mix.
  
  
• Caffeine pill. Same as the tactic above. Wake up, slam, and lay back down. You won't be snoozing for long.
  
  
• If you can actually get out of bed and get caffeine into you quickly, it's a lot easier to get your day started. I crankily wake up, drink preworkout in the kitchen, and then force myself to pack my gym bag and clothes for the day. After 5-10 minutes, I feel fine.
  
  It's never going to feel great waking up super early to lift, but after a while, it just becomes a part of your schedule.
  
  Lastly, try to wake up at the same time every day regardless if it's a training or rest day. Having the same schedule helps your body adjust and wake/sleep more easily. On rest days, I still wake up at 6 AM, but I play Xbox, do laundry, or even grocery shop. As a 30-year-old dude with a fiancee and 2 dogs, any time to myself is much appreciated!
  
  Oh yeah, I'm a light sleeper too. White noise has helped immensely in masking noises from outside my condo. I prefer physical white noise, as opposed to a digital sound, so I bought this: http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-DOHM-DS-Natural-actual-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM. I love it.

I used to have two chihuahua-mixes. One was high-anxiety.

When we also had two cats, the dogs couldn't relax unless they were in a room with the door closed where the cats could not go. The dogs would stay vigilant the entire time the cats were around. The high-anxiety dog would follow the cats around and try to herd them. We had to re-home the cats (due to allergies we weren't aware of before) and the dogs were so much calmer after that. I know you said you tried closing the door, but, maybe he won't feel relaxed unless the cats no longer live there.

Exercise also really helps with their anxiety. I understand this isn't your dog and you are doing your best. Maybe someone else will have a great idea to help in this area.

You could try a thundershirt? It didn't work for my anxious dog but there are lots of success stories.

If noises set him off, you could try a white noise machine. You can even download a white noise machine app on your phone to test it out. The dog could go in a room without cats, and have the white noise turned on.

To me it seems like you may have done everything you can. It sounds as though the dog would need a lot of training and effort to get him to be happier and more well-adjusted, and your roommate isn't willing to do that :(

I have 2 poodle mixes, and I also work from home, and these guys also bark at every freakin' noise in the apartment hallway. After years of trial and error, here is what works best for me; hopefully it'll work for you too.

• white noise machine. They are super small and super cheap on amazon and it helps drown out both noise in the hallway and noise of them barking. plus the noise reduction on most phones/microphones take out the noise of the machine
  
  
• desensitization - I've done a ton of this with them. Hell I even recorded the sound of the elevator door opening, and played that back to them non stop to desensitize them to the sound.
  
  
• frozen raw bones - they love it. they'll chew that thing for at least 40mins with no sound, and it's good for their teeth
  
  
• walks don't do anything.. i go to the off leash park and have them run around lots. bonus points if they wet, because their energy goes into keeping themselves warm, and they have less energy later for barking
  
  
• I routinely put them in a room somewhere and shut the door, then I go into my room and shut the door. Between the noise machine (which I put by the entrance) and another door in the way, they can't hear much
  
  
• I'm also super, super ashamed to say it, and it goes against all the best dog training knowledge and philosophy.. they they have vibrating collars that vibrate when they bark. Alone this doesn't work, but this little extra bit of positive punishment along with a ton of positive reinforcement (like the video above) seems to do the trick
  
  
• I use a headset for when I'm on the phone, with a very accessible mute button on the cord. I'm on mute pretty much anytime I'm not talking.

I use a sleep mask when I'm trying to sleep while it's still light out... this one is great. And I find my fitbit super helpful with sleep, and also in general. The calorie out counter is pretty accurate for me, and I find it motivating. Worth every penny, in my opinion. Good luck!

I've dealt with that in shared households -- one bit of laughter, and I feel like I'm missing out on something fun and find it hard to get my "flow" back.

Many people dismiss the effectiveness of typical bedroom hollow-core doors because they underestimate the impact of the space around the edges of the door on transmission of voices into the room. A bean-bag draft-stopper at the bottom of the door and simple weatherstripping correctly applied at the edges of the doorframe will help considerably in isolating you from what is going on in the rest of the house.

In "open plan" offices where many people are working in the same room and cannot always be quiet because of phone-calls and necessary in-person communication, several techniques have been developed to help people keep attention on their work:

• The typical office cubicle carrel acts like "blinders" for a horse -- what should have your attention is within the cubicle, distractions are out-of-sight

• since sound is ineffectively blocked by the cubicle partitions, "sound masking" is used - this consists of audio speakers playing a steady "white noise" background noise that is not dissimilar to air noise from a ventilation/air-conditioning/heating system. The idea is that if speech has to be that much louder or closer for us to understand it because of the interfering noise, our brains won't attempt to parse distant speech not directed at us. There are many "sleep machine" type boxes available that do the same thing, but one can also have a noise file playing from a phone, computer, or media player through a speaker in the room. It is best early on in using this technique to start the noise at what will be an effective volume just before leaving the room for some task outside the room, then when you return the noise itself won't be so much of a distracting stimulus. Perhaps if you are in a forced-air home you could start it while the heat is running and match the noise-level of the heating system, then the background masking level would stay fairly constant as the heat cycles on and off. If you have a calibrated dB meter app, 40 to 45 dBA is the typical target sound level.

Sometimes office cubicle walls are available cheap or free on Craigslist or the equivalent, but one can also make a carrel on a desktop by using panels of any sort, such as tri-fold presentation display boards. If you can back your chair against the wall/pull out the desk so that the very little of your room is visible past the carrel, even better.

If you find that you must use a computer for study purposes, download a browser other than the one you use for social-media and recreational use, and set the parental controls of that browser to either blacklist known distracting sites or allow only whitelisted appropriate sites for your work. Then make a rule for yourself that during designated study time you may only use that browser.

Missed it myself as we were over there for a show already, but we have no problem hearing a lot of their events all the way in South Walkerville. I'm glad you have such a great attitude about noise pollution though, I guess. Hah

Anyway, if you ever want a white noise machine instead of having to run actual fans, this is the best one I know of

It's kind of pricey for what it is, but the best part is it can get LOUD, so it really masks noise. Maybe not fireworks so much, but the vast majority of other stuff depending on how close you sleep to it. It has one setting that basically sounds like a regular box fan.

I work nightshifts and have developed my own routine. First: I take a shower. Doesn't have to be a fast one and you don't have to wet your hair. I can't remember the science behind why this works, but it really does.

Then I make some tea with valerian root. Chamomile and lavender are lovely and sweet at calming you down, like a mom tucking you into bed. Valerian root is more like getting hit with a sleep bat, hard. Also, because it's an herbal tea, you want it to steep for longer. 10-15min about. I let it steep while I shower. It might smell weird, but it doesn't taste weird.

I live next to a train, so I have to wear earbuds and play straight white noise drone. I also put on a *good* eyemask (look for one that doesn't fall off and does not let eye in from under the mask... I use this thing from amazon). I use it all the time now; the sun sucks and wakes me up. Then, to complete my look, I throw on a snug hat so nothing falls off my dang face and for just a little extra 'fuck off, train' cushion over my ears. Sometimes, if even that isn't putting me out, I play some asmr from youtube. This weirdo has been conking me out as of late.

The biggest piece of advice I have though... is to avoid anything interesting or engaging.

And seriously, screw the sun. Make sure your phone/computer/ect switches from blue light to orange light around bedtime. The blue light is too much like the sun and the sun sucks.

You use DEARMAN to get something you want (you have an objective) DEAR is what you say (describe, Express using I statements, Assert, Reinforce (give to get) MAN is how you say it (stay Mindful, Appear Confident, Negotiate (if possible)

You use GIVE when preserving/keeping the relationship. (the relationship is important to you and you don't want to fudge it up)

FAST is about your self-respect OR ending the relationship. In this case, the relationship is not the priority, YOU are. For example, if someone is taking advantage of you and using you, you might use FAST.

You can also search the sidebar for Interpersonal Effectiveness Activities that deal with conflict, How to be assertive, etc.

-------------------

That all being said, you have a few options to deal with your neighbor. Hopefully, some of these might give you some ideas you can use that will be helpful.

First, before speaking to them directly, What noise is the dog making exactly? Is it barking? Or is it just moving around (paws on the floor type noise)? If it's not barking and it's just motion noise, I think you might just have to deal with it, or ask the neighbor to get some carpet if they have bare floors. You could also try recording the noise in your apartment to play for both the neighbor and the landlord to prove your point. (ie: here's how loud your dog is at 2am)

What does your lease say about animals? Are they allowed or does your neighbor have a dog that they shouldn't have? Does the lease mention anything about complaints regarding animals and how to address them? If the lease says nothing about animals, you might want to speak to your landlord and see if you can file a complaint through your management company regarding any kind of barking. If this is a long-term rental (condo) you could ask the management company about putting in some kind of sound dampening/insulation between the walls of your units. This is where you could play your recording for them to prove to them how loud it sounds in your apartment. If the dog is barking late at night chances are you are not the only person who is pissed off by it.

If the management company is 'hands off' you could try approaching the neighbor, or writing a letter to the neighbor (if you don't want to speak with them directly) It is possible they don't realize how loud the dog is being. They are just 'used' to it.

If they don't resolve the noise regarding the dog, you should then start filing complaints with city bylaw. If the dog is barking for hours at a time and it's not stopping, and you've attempted to speak to the landlord, and your neighbor and nothing is changing, call your city bylaw department. Here's an example from LA Animal Service regarding Nuisance Barking. Some places want you to contact your local animal shelter and some want you to contact bylaw. Call your city to find out who to report this to. Keep in mind though, if you do this after all the other steps, your neighbor will know that it was you that called to file a noise complaint and may make things difficult for you. (I had it happen with my neighbor who would get pissed drunk and sit out on his porch blaring music and screaming along for hours at a time)

Your other nonconfrontational options include, getting a white noise machine or using a regular fan (works exactly the same but isn't as compact.) You can also try noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs at night when you sleep.

Your last resort would be to wait until the lease is up or break your lease (again, check your lease agreement for penalties). You could also ask the management company to move you to a different apartment within the complex away from the dog person (but that wouldn't necessarily guarantee you peace from other neighbors.)

Best of luck in resolving your situation!

Another white noise fan. This is what I use. I like the sound of air moving better electronic white noise.

Melatonin helps me drift off. It doesn't make me sleepy, but if I'm already a little tired, my thoughts become more like dreams than thoughts, and I stop reacting to sounds or ideas. Isn't enough if I'm wired or wound up.

I also take mitrazipine now, which is similar to trazadone. They are antidepressants that are also commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia, among other things. I take a tiny dose, specifically to help me sleep. Taking it doesn't change the rest of my medication plan, it's just a little bump. Docs commonly give trazadone to old folks who can't sleep due to evening anxiety - it's that harmless (compared to other sleep and anxiety drugs). My 93 year old grandmother who was medically frail was taking it!

I don't do this, but I diaphragmatic breathing is very helpful for bringing down the anxiety and can help get you out of your head. So peaceful. Plenty of tutorials online.

Summertime Sadness

well for working every day for a month I guess you got a FAT paycheck. and I dont thing you spent it all on your vacation so get your self something like make this day a treat day. do a bunch of little things that you like that lead up to one big thing! like when you get of work get a coffee/tea then get a movie think of what you would love to have for dinner tonight and get it! and don't forget a sweet dessert. something you dont have a lot. and on your way home maybe get a new pillow! (nothing is better than sleeping on a new pillow) then when you get home get this contest out of the way or hell wait till tomorrow there is no rush. and when you do get to finishing this contest get your self something nice! like this to help you get good sleep. and to give you something to look forward to when you are working. idk just my thought. and if you dont have money from that fat check..... just do something that you have not done in a long time that makes you feel good. like sleep lol :P

OKAY so I went through this and was deemed the "mother shusher" lol. A few things that helped me:

-Make being quiet a GAME for older kid. I did this by "playing" ninjas. Who can be the quietest and sneakiest? I always win! You have to get better! (spoiler alert! He got better and is the best ninja in the house).

-INVEST IN A WHITE NOISE MACHINE IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE. I spent $$$ on this one because it has various types of sounds and can be played LOUD. You have to have it louder than you think. It drowns out ALL NOISE I SWEAR IT. LO sleeps like a dream and even sort of pavlov'd him because I turn it on and he knows its sleep time.

-If possible keep older son on opposite ends of the house. The baby is upstairs with his white noise machine and older son is downstairs while baby is napping.

I have an actual white noise machine in my living room and one near my bed. I run them almost constantly. I see what you mean about not being quite the same but after a while I actually like them more than fans. They have a smoother whirl sound and I dont usually like to have fans on as much as I enjoy having them always on. My girlfriend used to say she felt like she was sleeping in a wind tunnel and I was like "exactly, world's best sleep!" [specifically this one] (https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM). I like it because it doesnt feel like an artificial speaker noise or phone app would

> Thank you so much! And yeah, my fiancé says I don't know how to do anything in moderation 😂

Yeah, my husband is the same way. He has only one setting: Eleven! 😹

> I will definitely report back after all is said and done!

Please do!

> Ooooh, sounds like I should really look into one!

Definitely do! I have this one.

You can try a sleeping mask, it is a lot cheaper than curtains and works probably better, it is less comfortable, but not very uncomfortable in my opinion. If you buy a sleeping maks, make sure you get a 3d model, and not a flat one, so there is room for your eyes and your eyelids don't touch the fabric, these will be much more comfortable. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Mask-Bedtime-Bliss-Comfortable/dp/B00FJQFJX8/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1537308233&sr=8-4&keywords=sleep%2Bmask&dpID=41v5DMWuoZL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&th=1

I don't have these myself, so I don't know if this one is comfortable.

An overnight bag, for weekend trips.

This coffee table book, to inspire future travels.

A luxurious sleep mask, for restful nights.

This shower oil, which is great for dry winter skin.

This relaxing and ambrosial aromatherapy diffuser.

I'd be happy to provide more suggestions if these seem a little off :)

I agree that if you are used to the air handler, that may be a different story, but for people not used to forced air heat (like guests) the on off of the air handler is not subltle at all.

Just say you like to sleep with a fan on and use a desk fan. Box fans actually move air more quietly than a smaller fan, so for this purpose a smallish desk fan is probably best.

you aren't the only one who thinks natural noise is better noise, but thats an option too:

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-All-Natural-White-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1482344003&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=white+noise&psc=1



I really don't care if you think I'm a dick, but your lpt sucks.

The fans aren’t really an issue. We use a noise maker for the kids that’s a little fan that just makes noise. It’s pretty amazing I added the link below and can’t recommend it enough. After our 1st kid we had to buy one for our bedroom because we couldn’t sleep without it!

Also we have a dyson fan and it’s worth the money.

Marpac Dohm Classic (Tan) | The Original White Noise Machine | Soothing Natural Sound from a Real Fan | Noise Cancelling | Sleep Therapy, Office Privacy, Travel | For Adults & Baby | 101 Night Trial https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KUHFGM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zaLWDbVNVH6TJ

1. Darkness can be my best friend when I don't feel well. This mask would be amazing to keep the light out.
   
2. My favorite colors are girly, purple and pink mostly. Animals are cute. I'm pretty flexible.
   FLAX

The white noise machines that play noise through a speaker are supposedly not as good as those that produce noise mechanically. This mechanical white noise machine is very well-regarded, however I own one and it still doesn't beat a box fan. With light there's a concept of getting a full spectrum light. It's similar with noise. You want a rich, wide spectrum of noise.

Barring that, there are phone apps you might try such as White Noise Lite, Relax Melodies, and Chroma Doze. Relax Melodies is pretty neat, as it lets you create custom noise by layering in different sounds. These apps are on Google Play, dunno about iTunes.

I was thinking of buying practical stuff on Amazon (since canadian amazon is rather limited or pricey) and buying fun stuff somewhere else like Etsy but I just don't know what to get

also if you ever want a good sleep mask

https://www.amazon.com/Blinks-Ultralight-Comfortable-Contoured-Blindfold/dp/B000WNX21Y/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_194_bs_lp_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=F19ZEFKRAM7YDDKEAJQ3

is the most comfortable one I've ever tried blocks out 100% of the light for me personally, wish I really appreciate if I'm trying to sleep on a train or plane!

My Fiance, my 3 year old (possibly ADHD) daughter, and I went on a 13 hour road trip to see family just a few weeks ago.

It went incredibly well, seriously.

My Plan:
Bring lots of dry snacks and things she normally has, and some things that are limited treats. We brought Lemon Zest Luna bars, lots of NutriGrain bars, fruit cups, pudding cups, single serving snacking crackers. We also brought a cooler for her to have her lactose-free milk and propel waters chilled.

I bought a few look and find books for her (Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Sofia the First, and Bubble Guppies), loaded her ipad with episodes of Wally Kazaam, Little Einsteins, and a couple of movies she hasn't seen in a long time (Finding Nemo and Monster's Inc). I also bought some Crayola Color Wonder coloring books and markers.

We started off the trip without any entertainment, no music/movies/books, just conversation. After about 3 hours, she fell asleep (it was around her usual nap time). After she woke up from her nap she was a little irritated that we were still on the road, so I broke out the ipad and snacks.

After she would settle down, we'd take a break from entertainment and just talk. We rationed entertainment for when she was getting uncomfortable.

Even though she's been potty trained for over a year, I dressed her in a Pull-Up in case we couldn't get to a bathroom in time, or if she had an accident while asleep (something that does happen at home).

For sleeping, we brought her own sheets, pillowcase, and mattress cover, oh and her special blanket. We brought along her white noise machine as well. This is her Dohm and it seriously saves my life on a regular basis. We did semi-normal bedtime routines in both hotels and my in-laws.

I was incredibly stressed out before the trip, just try to write a real plan down that fits with your kids. You know them best! I tried to research things to do on road-trips, but my daughter could really care less about license plates haha.

Good luck!

The Marpac Dohm original white noise machine is the one I’m referring to. Here’s a link:Marpac is the best thing for sleep if you are sensitive to noise or live in a noisy place. I used to live above a night club and it was so helpful.

A lot of people use these apps that have digital loops of soothing sounds but for one thing the loop itself can be distracting. And the other thing is it functions in a different way.

The white noise of the Marpac tricks your brain into masking the obtrusive sounds, that’s why it can take a couple weeks to get the full effects- your brain needs to get used to it.

The sound is similar to a fan, but a much smaller device, more effective and you might not always want a fan blowing air around.

You might need quite a bit of sound paneling but you could start small and see how it goes. It’s amazing to me what even a small amount can do to dampen sound.

Good luck and I’m sorry about your noisy roommate situation!

Ugh I’m sorry health insurance is an issue (I’ve had my experience of not having it for a month and it freaked me out).

The book recommends taping your mouth shut with special tape. I don’t think the book recommends anything specific, but they do make social tape for it:
Sleep Strips by SomniFix - Advanced Gentle Mouth Tape for Better Nose Breathing, Improved Nighttime Sleeping, Less Mouth Breathing, and Instant Snoring Relief - Pack of 28 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076CQ1NR8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_buGzDbM1JB4SA

I almost want to try this for my husband because he snores & sleeps poorly. But I don’t think he would want to pay for a new box every month.

I wonder if there is a cheaper option.

Whiskey for when she gets home.

This sleep mask

High quality ear plugs. My fiance and I are both nurses, I can sleep fine with my bulk box of foam ear plugs from Walmart but she likes higher quality softer ones. I've tried them. They are better, but mine work fine.

Side note, for her birthday I paid for custom plugs made at an audiologist. They were more comfortable but don't block enough sound for her to use. So that was $80 well spent.

Maybe a bottle of melatonin? Or just more whiskey.

I have this one and I like it. Popular and gets good rating. The second one is also popular and has a good rating,
https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Natural-Sound-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484716947&sr=8-2&keywords=white%2Bnoise%2Bfan&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/LectroFan-White-Noise-Machine-Sounds/dp/B00JU8P8VY?th=1


All the best!

I bought an amazing white noise machine because my neighbor's dogs love to bark a lot at night. It's the best thing ever- you could just saw you need an extra white noise machine to help you sleep now that you don't have the noisy fan anymore.

This is the one I swear by. I even bought an extra one to travel with.

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Natural-Sound-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1499181322&sr=1-4&keywords=white+noise+machine

Invest in a good eye mask, a nice quality one will be comfortable and much more effective at giving you total darkness. This is the one I use and it's great: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00M9BC1M8/

finally something I can comment on from experience!

I used a standard box fan for ten years before my SiL gifted us one of these lil beauties and we'll never go back. The fact is, it creates a noise more soothing than your standard box fan without air circulation...which if you're a person who doesn't dust every week (like me) it's a nice change to not have the contents of your home swirling around all night long... highly recommend it!

I second and third all the previous comments that suggest contacting your community board, city councilman and other elected officials.

Since you're the parent of a newborn, you need immediate help to improve the situation. So I suggest getting a white noise sound machine to help you and the kids sleep. Here's one I found on [Amazon]
(https://www.amazon.com/Adaptive-Sound-Technologies-LectroFan-Non-Looping/product-reviews/B00E6D6LQY) but there seem to be many good options. Good luck!

if white noise helps and you want a sound machine in the future--this one's affordable and great. I esp like it bc according to precious little sleep you need to keep the sleep environment consistent so you'd need the white noise on all night. HoMedics SS-2000G/F-AMZ Sound Spa Relaxation Machine with 6 Nature Sounds, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.yirybCGGXK92

On the darkened room: I love my eyemask; I have trouble sleeping with ambient lighting, but living fairly far north in the summers you get about four hours of "night", plus my wife has a nightlight for when we get up to let the dogs out. Try a cheap one like this with the molded eye bumps so it won't tickle your eyelashes. Or, get a super fuzzy one for giggles. :)

Of course. In terms of tinnitus treatment, without a comprehensive hearing test and counseling, I would not recommend any of the following methods. In most cases, tinnitus is frequently associated with hearing loss. When you treat your hearing loss, the residual benefit is that the tinnitus is mitigated. So, without knowing whether you have a hearing loss or not, I cannot say with a high level of confidence that the following methods will have optimal results.

​

Explore tinnitus relief apps for android and apple products. For example, Starkey Relax app (a lot of fine-tuning capabilities), Resound Relief app (a lot of soundscapes to choose from), etc.

Explore The Original White Noise Machine. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KUHFGM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000KUHFGM&linkCode=as2&tag=ppliedearing-20&linkId=7258be29e86b953f0f5deab741d7c1a5&th=1 .

Explore http://neuromonics.com/ - This is the most patient-centered approach, starting with a hearing test completed by your audiologist. There are a variety of products that are tailored to your level of tinnitus perception.

​

You can also visit and watch Dr. Cliff Olson's videos on tinnitus and treatment options. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ3ZZ6OELFE

​

You are not alone with tinnitus. No matter how old you are, start with a comprehensive hearing test by your audiologist and go from there.

​

Audiologist in Arizona. :]

It sounds like they’re partially attention seeking, and potentially partially thinking that your wife is “barking” at something outside the window.

I have two suggestions.

First, prevention. Specifically, opaque window film. If that doesn’t do enough to prevent the barking, a white noise machine on a low setting near the window might help as well.

Second, I recommend also desensitizing and teaching an alternate behavior. My recommendation is to get each dog a bed to keep in the room, and teach both dogs to go to their bed and wait quietly on cue. As part of that process, I’d recommend your wife have her phone out and pretend to talk on the phone while simultaneously dropping/tossing treats in the dogs’ beds. Building up a strong reinforcement history for quietly hanging out in their beds will be one of your best tools in breaking this habit.

Hey so, some wireless headphones will fix the noise issue, as for the brightness, remember these? http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000JE2C9Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_3/178-2588291-7387652?qid=1395547283&sr=1-3&pi=SY200_QL40 they work. Maybe you tried one before and it didn't, me too. Until someone got me a good one, that exact one in particular. You are in total darkness and it is wonderful and I've slept like a baby since period. I hope you'll try it! As for the alarm, maybe once the noise and brightness stop keeping you up an extra hour you'll be able to wake up the hour earlier?? Hope it all works out!

Gorgeous room!! If you haven't gotten one already, might I recommend a sound machine? I mention it because of the doors leading to possibly lively general living spaces. We have one right inside the bedroom door and it deadens most noise so we don't have to creep around the house like shitty ninjas. We also have a second, portable one which might be overkill but whatever gets us sleep gets a 👍 from me!!

In case anyone is interested we have Marpac Dohm and Marpac Hushh which also is great for clipping to her carseat!

Yes, it gets better. It might take awhile, but it gets better.

Our twins didn't fully sleep through the night for 11 months. It was not a fun experience; honestly I was a zombie for basically a year and I really don't remember much of it. We were woken up 3-6x per night that entire time. Not fun.

BUT, now, our girls are a month shy of being 2 and they sleep like champs. I honestly can't remember the last time I had to get up in the middle of the night to do something for them. They go down in their cribs between 7:30-8pm, we close the door, they might whine for 5 minutes or less, and then they're asleep until we wake them up in the morning.

Do you have some sort of white noise machine? We have one of these in their room and it works great (in fact we have one in our bedroom too).

Distraction is key - if you guys don't have a sound machine, get one immediately. Best 50 dollars I've ever spent - worth every penny.


(If interested, here is link to the one I have and love and it's on sale!)


Listen to lots of "nice" music, quietly. You can take the initiative here. When I say "nice" I mean quiet-ish, acoustic.

And most importantly --- talk about it. Ask him about it. He's going to have to learn to live with this (or it will go away!)

Good luck!

Assuming you're not interested in sites like Simply Noise (which I use a lot), I would recommend the Marpac Sleepmate. I bought one for my mom and she loves it. She let me test it when I went home to visit, and it was pretty awesome.

This one is great. Super comfortable. Great quality, blocks ALL the light, cant even lift the head and sneak a peek out the bottom (trust me). $20.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CGJRNK/ref=oh_details_o03_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can buy basically anything on Amazon and it will come in a plain brown cardboard box. Under-the-mattress restraint systems work well and you can tuck them away when not in use. If buying things online isn't possible, you can get rope at the hardware store. If you do get into rope bondage, make sure to read extensively on safety. And someone who is tied up should not be left alone.

For a blindfold, I really like this silk sleep mask. It's very soft and it covers well without putting pressure on your nose bridge.

Check out /r/bdsmcommunity for more help.

I second a white noise machine. Two actually. One that stays in the nursery (not necessarily a baby one, there are cheaper options that do the same job) and a portable one for travel like the marpac hushh.

Stationary: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V4F5RG7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WlRYDbHFJMSWE

Travel: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D50RYSC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tkRYDb4XWHNPM

Also a milksnob.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XG8Z56W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OjRYDbDQ2GJVB
it's the most multipurpose item I got. we've used it as a breastfeeding/pumping cover while out, it blocks out light over the car seat when she's overstimulated or needs a nap, and now that she's older we've used it as a seat cover in shopping carts and high chairs in restaurants when we forgot to bring our own little pop-up one.

Also, Amazon doesn't offer them but some sites have bottle samplers. I would try one of those before you go all in on one type of bottle. I researched the crap out of bottles, went in hard on the nanobebe bottles, daughter gets here and can't latch to them. ended up using Dr. Brown's and having a lot of useless nanobebe stuff lying around taking up space. the samplers will let you try a bunch of different optand see which one babe likes best before you commit to buying a ton of one kind.

EDIT: this one is on sale right now on babylist
https://www.babylist.com/gp/babylist-bottle-box-2/15248/239255




Congrats 😊

For my big kids, we only did it for naps when they were younger - we actually started it at night for them when #3 came along (I didn't want them waking up to her crying).

...somewhere along the line WE got addicted to the white noise, now we all have white noise machines in use for nighttime and naps. I love them, I know I sleep much better with it.

(We have two of these (It's almost identical to the one posted by /u/smittypants below, just slightly different sounds). We will eventually get a 3rd. When the big kids were little, and now for the baby, we have a super old 13" TV that plays static which works well enough.

I used a white noise machine with my first kid starting when she was a baby, and she still uses & loves it today. She's 10. I use one too! It's scientifically proven to help you sleep better, plus it just blocks out some noise. To be most effective, get a white noise machine that uses actual air to create the noise, rather than a digital recording. It really fills the room without sounding harsh or grating. I love this one. It's $50 but it completely gives us our money's worth.

You have my absolute sympathy, we lived in an apartment for our first baby and now we're in a house for our second, and it really is a whole different ball game.

I use a basic Homedics white noise machine ($20 on Amazon), and it works great. I grew up on white noise machines, and they definitely help me sleep more rested. My wife feels the same way, and she never used one before meeting me.

If you want to try it for a night or two, check out the app White Noise Free. The brown noise setting is the closest thing to my white noise machine, and the app is great to bring on trips.

As someone who is constantly on the road and also a full-blow fan-while-I-sleep addict I have to recommend the Marpac Dohm-DS.

It's "real" white noise caused by the movement of air, but can be packed extremely easily. Trust me, it saved my life and marriage.

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-DOHM-DS-Natural-actual-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM

How much luggage does he travel with and how many countries is he going to? That will determine what’s a good choice.

My fave travel gadgets have been

1. battery charger, a large one that can go multiple days without charging. And also your friends will like to use.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00X5RV14Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511981716&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=20000+mah+portable+charger&dpPl=1&dpID=31MnmAEjDaL&ref=plSrch
   
   
2. micro towel. (It’s a game changer) I got the one at rei in a large. Just big enough to wrap around your waist.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01K1TX77W/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1511981752&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=travel+towel&dpPl=1&dpID=416HcYQQ56L&ref=plSrch
   
   
3. cabeau travel pillow, eye mask, ear plugs (if he’s flying a lot or going to a lot of places. This is my sleep anywhere kit and essential if traveling multiple countries)
   
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004ZIDXK2/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511981907&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=cabeau+evolution+pillow&dpPl=1&dpID=41RvkBLi8jL&ref=plSrch
   
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GSO1D9O/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511981971&sr=8-3&keywords=eye+mask&dpPl=1&dpID=41NEugUfp7L&ref=plSrch
   
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00XW0P84I/ref=mp_s_a_1_11_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511982013&sr=8-11&keywords=ear+plugs
   
   
   
4. collapsable water bottle(spending money on bottled water adds up and you can get water after you pass through security for the plane when the air gets dry. I get dry throat on planes)
   
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B015RZTPJY/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1511982056&sr=8-8&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=collapsible+water+bottle&dpPl=1&dpID=41lBy7By8XL&ref=plSrch
   
   
5. a collapsable travel day back pack (man purse or if you buy things. I keep my water bottle and battery in there. Extra clothes, selfie stick etc and if you’re over your luggage limit you can take stuff out and put it in there. When not in use it fold up into a small bag.
   
   http://www.eddiebauer.com/product/stowaway-packable-20l-daypack/82300168?showProducts=111&color=147&sizetype=&size=
   
   
   
   

Turn of the AC and use this for white noise - https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_8_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1541728196&sr=1-8&keywords=white%2Bnoise%2Bmachine&th=1

Very effective - I have recommended it to many people who all have said it was a lifesaver! Apps on phones just aren't the same as this is a physical noise like an AC or fan would be.

I love sleeping to a fan but it's too cold in the winter to do so. I bought a DOHM and love it though its more like the sound of being inside an airplane but you adjust.

I use this one. It's a little pricy, but totally worth it. I've used a fan, white noise apps, etc. and nothing compares to these "analog" sounds machines. I don't know what it is about them, maybe conditioning is a part of it. Read the reviews. The only "side effect" I can think of is that if I forget it when traveling or sleep over at a dude's house I can't sleep for the life of me and I just lay there in existential dread. Like I said, it's my best friend.

So, I just heard this white noise machine in an office waiting room and honestly it was amazing.

If you want one that helps for sleep, you actually probably want Brown Noise. It has lower frequencies than white noise, and I think there are studies that those lower frequencies genuinely help with sleep.

The link I posted has a great, deep, brown noise setting that makes you feel like you're on a private jet over a tropical ocean and have just taken your first Valium.

Important: do no confuse with the brown note.

I know quite a few people use a buff for all of those things, very versitle.

I use the this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Bucky-Ultralight-Comfortable-Contoured-Extensions/dp/B000WNX21Y

This particular one falls apart after 1-6 months but love how comfortable it is so I deal with it.. often just getting a new one sent to me from Amazon if I'm in the USA.

Use mouth tape, prevents mouth breathing and snoring.

Sleep Strips by SomniFix - Advanced Gentle Mouth Tape for Better Nose Breathing, Improved Nighttime Sleeping, Less Mouth Breathing, and Instant Snoring Relief - Pack of 28 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076CQ1NR8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_B4o1Db6ZVGXY3

I like to listen to white noise or soothing sounds when I relax, which is why I have a white noise machine on my wishlist. It has ocean noises! Without the sea gulls! So niiiicceeee.

P.S. I like talking. =)

This blindfold from Mr S is pricey, but I've tried on similar ones and they work. Also, mr s sells really quality stuff. An effective alternative that we've been meaning to try is spray painting some goggles black and using those. Here's another if you like the sound of something more comfortable.

This is the right advice: what you need is good ear plugs and a white noise machine. Not all ear plugs are created equal, I highly recommend these:

https://smile.amazon.com/Flents-Quiet-Please-Plugs-Pair/dp/B001J4HB1C/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1523900711&sr=1-7&keywords=earplugs

I have this noise machine, and it works great at drowning out traffic/ambient noise. I find it works well in conjunction with the earplugs:

https://smile.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_6_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1523900773&sr=1-6&keywords=noise+machine

I like this one because you twist the top and the sides to adjust the frequency. It also has a louder vs quieter option. It fills the room really nicely, whereas an app is very concentrated noise. I'm with you on the nature sounds. This one is just straight noise, no options for nature or rain or anything. Idk about dryer noises, but I wonder if there is a way you can record that and play it as an ambient noise. Sometimes I just turn on my window unit air conditioning for the noise. I wonder if there is something that naturally makes a noise that would help you.

I know the one I linked is a lil expensive, but imho worth it. You could always try it out and return it if you don't like it. Best of luck!

I suffer from migraines and lately they have been horrible. Due to some health issues I have been having to take medications that side effects are migraines. I just spent the whole day in bed due to one bad one. I have two items that I badly need but any item would be greatly appreciated.

My currently eye mask is falling apart and can't even wear it this eyemask would be wonderful. It keeps out the dark, which is very important since when I has a migraine I get light sensitive.

The other item is an icepack. Cold really seems to help with the pain. I have only one icepack that slightly works. It only stays cold for a few minutes than takes like 6 hours to freeze. This icepack has lots of good reviews.

Marpac DOHM white noise machine

Red Gummy Bear Nighlight

• Use a real white noise machine. We used a battery operated one in a stuffed animal. Yeah, sure it's cute, but it didn't do crap. The Marpac got our daughter sleeping through the night.
  
  
• Use a red light when tending to your child in the night. It doesn't disturb their sleep cycle. We were using a dimmed lamp, but our daughter would wake and stay awake and want to play. We started using this, and she would go back down A LOT easier.

I use this stuff: 3M Micropore Paper Tape - White, 1" x 10yds (Box of 12) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TXPZ64/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3O-hDbEAYYGSD

It’s cheap, easy to apply/remove, and hasn’t given me any issues around my mouth.

There are products available like this: Sleep Strips by SomniFix - Advanced Gentle Mouth Tape for Better Nose Breathing, Improved Nighttime Sleeping, Less Mouth Breathing, and Instant Snoring Relief - Pack of 28 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076CQ1NR8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_IQ-hDbKWBTYPT

Not worth the money IMO but I have read good things.

I need that even buffer of noise to sleep. In the summer, the AC in the window does the trick, but in the winter, all I can hear are my upstairs neighbor's footsteps and the delivery trucks at the convenience store next door. I got me an Electro-Mechanical Sound Conditioner. It's the best thing ever. It's like a fan, without the moving air.

You definitely want a dedicated sound machine if you plan on using it all night. I would go separate, because where you want the nightlight is not necessarily where you want the sound machine. Our daughter does not use a nightlight yet, but we use the LectroFan white noise machine, although right now they are running a buy one, get one free special on their combined white noise/nightlight that you control with your smartphone on their website, so you could decide if you want light, white noise, or both from each of them.

I would definitely ignore the hate... I took my 3 year old and 6 month old with us in November and everything was fine. Just prepare for a different Disney trip. You'll have more fun if you go in with a more relaxed attitude about your experience. If you go in planning on a non stop day sprinting from place to place, you're going to be miserable. We would go in when it opened, hop in a line, go to a fastpass, took turns with the 6 month old when there wasn't a ride for her, and found quiet / cool places for an after lunch stroller nap. We would leave the park each day around dinner time so we didn't push our luck.

​

We bring this with us everywhere we go which definitely helps when the youngest is tired and needs a break. Good luck!

​

I have the dab on nick relief myself and I too am amazed how it stops the blood from flowing. Pretty amazing stuff. This is the version I'm referring to: Clubman - Dab on Relief

I have had this for a few years. Comfortable. Pretty durable, once in a while i will wash in sink and hang dry. In retrospec, it would be easier to just get dark or blackout curtains. But it is nice to take a nap in the middle of day and not worry about light.

$25.9 https://www.amazon.com/Revolutionary-Patented-SLEEP-MASTER-Sleep/dp/B0015NZ6FK/ref=lp_5737089011_1_1_a_it?srs=5737089011&ie=UTF8&qid=1503926183&sr=8-1

We've gone through a number of white noise machines, and didn't really like the cheap electronic ones. The speakers sound scratchy, and proper white noise is kind of hissy to begin with. There's a mechanical kind that sounds great, but that particular one we chose started to get weird on the high setting (clicking, frictiony noise). By far our favorite is a $5 ipod docking station from goodwill, with an ancient ipod nano that we loaded with an 8 hour, custom white noise mp3 (chopped all the high end out). An old smart phone would be way easier, maybe with an external speaker, we just didn't have one laying around.

Gets mixed reviews. Again willing to try any of them. I have the dream master from this list (so comfy but slides off), Bucky mask (cheap and good). My favorite right now is a bear silk a+ one (let me see if I can find it.)



https://www.google.com/amp/s/thepointsguy.com/guide/best-sleep-masks-review/amp/

Edit: this black silk one is good and big and $10 for anyone looking. Alaska bear natural sleep mask

This one doesn’t have a remote but it’s worked great for us it’s cheap too!

ETA they advertise it to look like it’s timer-based but you can leave it on all the time as well.

I know it doesn't do all that crazy stuff haha but a lot of people here suggested I get this one and I love it! It uses an actual fan instead of digital sound and it's been working great for us.

I actually have used melatonin in many forms and doses. There was some sort of research about the effective dose of melatonin being far lass than what is normally sold..

I take this Sundown Melatonin 300 mcg, 120 Tablets (Packaging May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GG2I9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_k1i3DbF5Q60V9

Not sure other people’s experiences but this has worked just as good if not more than any quick dissolve, gummy, liquid melatonin fat higher doses


I also have used unisom that works awesome as wlel

Same, I discovered it last year when my roommate would want to work late at night.

I since discovered I could turn sleep paralysis into lucid dreaming, so I no longer use a sleep mask, but it definitely did help.

I used this mask for the most help: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GSO1D9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_IKXWzb390XENR

Ok well I can possibly be of some help here. All of my bedrooms are in a very small hallway and sounds go through. But I got this (fairly) magic sound machine and it was great - it blocks most noise and definitely softens the rest of it. I actually have three now: one for baby's room, one for toddlers room and one for my room because the toddler alternates between his own room and my room. I've included the link.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HD0ELFK/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1478296778&sr=8-2&keywords=sound+machine&pi=SY200_QL40

Yeah I second this. We have a Dohm white noise machine that has saved our sleep for months -- turn it on in the baby's room and she starts getting drowsy like clockwork. It's great for sleep associations! I'm thinking about getting one for our room!

HAPPY CAKE DAY WHITNEY YOU ARE THE BEST.

Okay, how do I sleep?

1. Extra pillow to snuggle
   
   
2. Really fancy sleep mask
   
   
3. White noise machine
   
   
4. Cat sleeping on my feet.
   
   I sleep best on my back but sometimes I curl up into a fetal position. I need to have at least one foot outside the blanket.
   
   I have no new neopets happenings, because blechhhh the site is so slow. My animal crossing flowers are creating hybrids like whoa, though. It's been sort of nice, I listen to audiobooks (finished The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith, just started Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay) and fish, water plants, harvest fruits and talk to the animals.
   
   I spent the entire weekend going through my closets, donating stuff, and taking my kitty to the vet (he still hasn't forgiven me). I've been trying to get more moving boxes, so I'll stop by the liquor store tonight to see if they have any extras. I don't think I've even packed 1/5 of my books yet. Blech, moving!
   
   Hope everyone's week is going well. Fall doesn't feel like its hit yet.
   
   Edit: link to fancy sleep mask

You might consider getting a white noise machine, like this one...

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-DOHM-DS-Natural-actual-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453065874&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=white+noise+machine&psc=1

We have neighbors who live only a few feet away. They aren't there most of the year, but when they are, their parties go well into the night. The white noise machine works wonders.

I wonder also if your neighbor has some sort of new surround sound that is touching the wall, thus causing the reverberations?

Hope you get it sorted.

If you need to block out noise, I recommend using good ear muffs such as the 3M Peltor X-Series. If that is insufficient, use earplugs underneath. I've also combined those with a good white noise generator like the Marpac Dohm. Noise-defense, in-depth.

Alternatively, if you have a lot of money to spend, you could get the Bose QC 35 II noise-cancelling headphones; however, they probably won't prove more effective than ear muffs over earplugs, just more comfortable.

If you can acclimatize yourself to ambient sound through meditation, even better. However, if noise countermeasures make the difference between meditating and not meditating, better to use them. This is just a more modern version of traditional Buddhist advice to find a quiet, secluded place to meditate - at least at the start.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A2JBMRE/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?qid=1420563417&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

This is the one I use. Comes with the original white noise, but also has others such as ocean, rain, thunderstorm, brook, and night time (crickets and such sounds).

It works really well if you live with roomates/family for sleep too. My mom got me hooked. Not only do i seem to sleep better, it blocks out noises from other parts of the house such as roomates cooking/listening to music/talking. Definitely worth the 20 bucks

I use this to condition instant relaxation and slowed thoughts followed by sleep 5 minutes later. Concentrate on slow relaxed breathing as well helps. I'm a pretty bad insomniac so spending the couple bucks on the noise conditioner was worth it.

Ear plugs - the little foamy disposable ones - from Amazon

Also a good eye mask, I found one at Bed, Bath, and Beyond years ago. Something like this should do the trick.


Good luck!

In 2004, I set a goal to move to Los Angeles by the end of 2009. And I am happy to report that Los Angeles is where I currently live!

^been ^here ^since ^2012. ^:P

205

My WL item... because I can't afford curtains! LOL

Also, I really like your goal!!!

♪ ♫ Oh when you're smilin'

♫ ♪ keep on smilin'

♪ ♫ The whole world smiles with you

I second the white noise maker suggestion. You can find these at Bed Bath and Beyond (or perhaps cheaper on Amazon). They're not much more than a little fan that you can plug in and you can control the frequency/loudness. They sound loud at first but both my wife and I love it. I recommend them highly.

This is what I use.

This is your best friend, trust me: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFA/ref=twister_B00I0BRAOK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

L-Theanine

L-Theanine is a green tea extract that helps to promote a sense of wakeful calm. For me, it's a game changer. It helps with my essential tremor and nerves/adrenaline.

It's cheap. Just try it, you will thank me later.

toomuchnoiseabove, I so feel your pain, very similar situation here. Noisy families are a socially sanctioned source of noise (a sanction which the childfree movement is only in its early stages of overturning) so there's probably little you can do directly about it other than moving.

What has worked for me is indirect measures: tech, a minor architectural change (closing the window out to the common area with soundproofing), and mental training. The tech has been some really kick ass headphones (a great investment anyway just for the awesome music quality), putting HD white noise videos like this fountain on my TV, this sound conditioner (it's an adjustable white noise like that of an electric fan that gives you something to focus on and ignore the rest), and finally good quality ear plugs as a last resort (I've only used them once or twice, but just knowing that I have them available eases me).

Anyway, you don't have to feel powerless, you can tweak your environment and gear up! Feeling yourself in control is half the battle. The other half is about making mental peace with noise you just can't control, letting yourself get naturally used to it, distracting yourself when it comes, letting go of anger, calming yourself with putting things in perspective... I know, it's difficult and you may not want to hear this when what you want to do is vent and act, but it has been the other half of the answer for me :) Good luck!

For many years, I have used a Marpac Sleepmate for white noise. They generate the white noise by using a fan inside the housing. You can adjust the housing on the top and sides to adjust volume and pitch. It's a little miracle machine. If you need white noise in the room, I highly recommend getting one. They travel well, too. I take it with me whenever I am away.

L-Tyrosine is a prescursor molecule to the neurotransmitter Dopamine which is used throughout the brain to modulate reward and motivation.

Caffeine will also improve your focus and give you the effects you mention. You could also look into l-Theanine, which is considered a nootropic when taken with caffeine. This means that it increases cognition, which sounds like the effect you are looking for.

https://www.amazon.com/L-Theanine-200mg-Natures-Trove-Vegetarian/dp/B01D1YQBOK/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1498791611&sr=1-4&keywords=L+theanine

Instead of blocking the noise, you may want to try covering it up. This is usually much easier. I know a guy who used a Brown Noise Generator in the dorms. You can buy a dedicated one, or just get something like this. A more low tech solution would be to put something noisy like a fan on for background noise. If that's not enough, you could also supplement it with a sound dampening sleep mask. This is a highly regarded one.

Edit: In case you are wondering, brown noise is a low pitched hum that is supposed to make good background noise. Here is an example

Thanks for the comment, I will have to check those out.
I am still fairly new to wet shaving with my DE safety razor and this styptic pencil was the first and only one I had available at the time without shopping online.
From what I read online about the Clubman - Dab on Relief that /u/ blunted1 uses and the Clubman - Pinaud Styptic Pencil that I am using, the only difference is the addition of witch hazel and Panthenol for moisturizers and some items for fragrance. It still uses aluminum sulfate to stop the bleeding.

Clubman - Dab on Relief
Active Ingredient: Aluminum Sulfate 46%
Inactive Ingredients Witch Hazel Distillate; Water (Aqua); Propylene Glycol; Panthenol; Horsetail (Equisetum Arvense) Extract; Passionflower (Passiflora Incarnata) Fruit Extract; Diazolidinyl Urea; Methylparaben; Propylparaben

Clubman - Pinaud Styptic Pencil
Active Ingredients: Aluminum Sulfate 56%. InActive Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide

The MNIS and Pacific Shaving's Nick Stick do have a noticeable difference in the ingredients from the Clubman brands. I would assume that the use of Aloe and Vitamin E would make them much more comfortable for use after shaving then what I am using now.

edit: ingredients for both items.

Get this
LectroFan - Fan Sound and White Noise Machine, 10 Fan Sounds and 10 White Noise Sounds, White (FFP) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JU8P8VY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_AatDxbJX42R8Y


Do not buy any other white noise machine. This is THE best. I've tried them all.

You will not hear her over this. I guarantee it. My wife can be next to be in bed and I can't understand her words. It is amazing for my sleep.

https://www.amazon.com/LectroFan-Fidelity-Machine-Unique-Non-Looping/dp/B00JU8P8VY

My roommate tosses and turns pretty much all night and the noise of her bed frame creaking would pull me out of even the deepest sleep. (Dont even get me started on when she would have her boyfriend over!!!)

Fortunately this thing has cured it all. Good luck to you!

If you're struggling to get 8 hours a night, you can focus on deepening the sleep you do get instead of sleeping longer.

• Black out your room at night. This is the biggest one for me. I have cheap blackout shades and I use electrical tape to cover internet routers, smoke alarms - anything that flashes. Get your room dark enough that you can't see your hand in front of your face. Even a little light will fuck with your melatonin production and compromise your sleep quality.
  
  
  
• If you use electronics at night, download f.lux. It's a free program that removes blue light from your monitor after the sun sets. Your phone should have night mode under settings; turn that on as well. Light in the blue spectrum is the biggest melatonin disruptor.
  
  
  
• Take 400 mg of magnesium citrate or magnesium glycinate before bed. It eases stress and causes a dramatic increase in sleep quality. Plus, a good percentage of the population is deficient in magnesium, so you could probably use a little extra anyway. If you go for magnesium citrate, start at 200 mg and move up to 400 mg over the course of a couple days. Too much at once will make you shit your pants. Glycinate doesn't have that issue, but isn't quite as bioavailable.
  
  
  
• Take 300 mcg of melatonin right before bed. Melatonin is a hormone your body uses to encourage deep sleep, and taking it in pill form will knock you right out. It's prescription in the UK, over-the-counter in the US. Most doses are far too high (2-10 mg), and can impair your natural melatonin production if you take them regularly without a break. Stick with 300mcg (linked above); it's the minimum effective dose and won't mess with your hormones long-term.
  
  
• I also drink kava tea on nights when I really can't sleep. It's more for stress relief/anxiety than for sleep, but if you find you have trouble winding down at night it can be a big help. Don't drink alcohol alongside kava; the active compounds, kavalactones, bind to the same brain receptors that alcohol does, meaning the effects of the two stack.
  
  
• Don't take sleeping pills if you can avoid them. I'm not a doctor, and I'm not saying you should ignore your doctor, but sleeping pills don't actually put you into stage 3 and stage 4 sleep (the deep, restorative sleep your brain needs). They can also cause a lot of neurological side effects.
  
  Source: neuroscientist who focused on psychopharmacology and sleep when I was getting my degree.

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-All-Natural-White-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM

I bought one of these when I lived in a prewar building (paper thin windows) facing a major street in Manhattan. It may not be something you use all day but it'll help you sleep. You may have to play around with optimal positioning, but next to you on your nightstand is typically not the right positioning.

OP, if you haven't bought an eye mask yet, I highly recco this one. I got one for travel and sleeping at music festivals / camping. My gf immediately wanted one. So much better than the $6 ones that sit on your eye lids. You'll love it

I recently bought this one and I am in freaking love with it. It came with earplugs too. I was really surprised how well the combination works. Super comfy indispensability for daytime slumber. http://amzn.com/B0015NZ6FK

This is the exact one I use Alaska Bear - Natural silk sleep mask & blindfold, super-smooth eye mask https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GSO1D9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-hRCxb38C2ZWA

I wrap a t shirt around my head in a pinch but feel like the mask works much better. It completely blocks the light for me and the tightness is adjustable. I've tried a lot of eye masks. For me it's big enough to block light and stay on. I like it better than others I've use because it's not padded, itchy or oddly contoured. It's simple and smooth on the face.

Don't over think this. If there is noise, get ear plugs. If there is light, get a sleeping mask. I love this one and it even comes with a set of great ear-plugs.

Anger, as an emotion, is not inherently "bad". Anger is a call to action. Anger gives you the energy to change your situation. Do not ignore your situation in an attempt to combat anger. You need sleep to live and function as a human being. Sleep is vital; the single most vital activity you need is probably sleep. Without sleep, everything else deteriorates, including the obvious like your capacity for thought and calm self-control, but also other biological capacities, like your digestion efficiency, memory, and learning capacity.

The best purchase my wife and I made was a dohm sound machine. It’s way better than any electronic white noise generator and helped my girls sleep through many nights of fireworks and lightning storms. Link for anyone interested: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KUHFGM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_wrShDbDXQK18Q

These work better than either. Sounds like a fan... doesn't have to waste power moving a lot of excess air like real fan.

I’m a sleep consultant and always have my clients use real white noise for their baby’s to help them stay asleep.

It’s also a positive sleep cue. This is the one I use.

HoMedics, White Noise Machine, Sleep Sound Machine with 6 Nature Sounds and Timer, Spa Relaxation, Sleep Therapy for Home, Office and Travel, SS-2000G/F-AMZ Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_PlD5Ab5TRDGVT

I would suggest a white noise machine like this instead. Better than sleeping with earplugs all the time. I live in a condo and it works perfectly.

You should look into one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-DOHM-DS-Natural-actual-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426608309&sr=8-2&keywords=white+noise+machine

The adjustments allow you to choose the exact type of fan noise/tone that you want and it's been pretty easy to travel with for me.

I actually really like this sleep mask on Amazon. It is contoured for your eyes and nose and it's lightweight and comfortable. The earplugs are a nice plus too. (I've been an insomniac for many years.)

High doses reccomendations were based on flawed research on people who weren't producing enough natural melatonin. That dosage will just blow out your natural production of the hormone.

An effective dose is measured in the Micrograms and is best taken about 5 hours before you want to go to sleep instead of right before bed. Scott even wrote a good summary of the state of research on it. Here's the dosage I use

Okay, this is expensive but it seriously SAVED MY LIFE when living in an apartment with roommates (also a college student). It seems loud at first but you don't notice it after a few minutes. I've actually accidently left mine running for days sometimes, it's just that good of white noise. If your main problem is studying, I highly recommend it. I know they sell a similar model at Walmart and Bed Bath and Beyond too, and if it doesn't work, return it!

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Speed-Sound-Conditioner/dp/B000KUHFGM/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398463037&sr=8-1&keywords=white+noise+machine

Not meat-head but I've had the same results. I take 100 mg of Magnesium chelated and 300 mcg (0.3 mg) of melatonin each night and it makes a big difference. This is what I use:

• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GG2I9O/
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD0RT0/
  
  I also add a scoop of powdered Mangesium Citrate to my breakfast shakes which also seems to make a big difference.
  
  Magensium is a very important enzyme cofactor in more than 300 biochemical processes. Most people don't get nearly enough. I supplement since magnesium rich foods don't seem to have nearly enough for me of an effect for me.
  
  You can read more about magnesium deficiency and human health here: http://openheart.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000668
  

I have this one HoMedics SS-2000G/F-AMZ Sound Spa Relaxation Machine with 6 Nature Sounds, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_32Y4wbGVCC9PY and really like it. Really hope it works out for you.

I have this one and we LOVE it. Rechargeable, has a built in light, volume control, several sounds. And it's tiny but can be super loud. I just ordered a second one for the car.

Marpac Hushh For Baby, Portable White Noise Sound Machine, Electronic, Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D50RYSC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dgZnzbQ42KR80

Edited to add: I use it all night and it'll last that plus two naps on a single charge.

Have you tried caffeine pills? They're a lot faster, easier, and cheaper than coffee, and they don't taste like anything. I take a 200mg caffeine pill (about 2 cups of coffee) every day as well as two 200mg L-Theanine pills to prevent jitteriness (this is allegedly the chemical that makes tea calming), and it works perfectly.

> http://mynoise.net

I'm a big supporter of that site. Really nice guy runs it.

Also, I just got this a few weeks ago. Great for sleeping and/or tinnitus.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E6D6LQY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

> Well, ever since I just forced myself to breathe thru my nose... I've actually had the clearest breathing I can ever imagine.

I had this exact same experience. I swear my brain fog even cleared before I was in full ketosis.

I get downvoted a lot for mentioning mouth taping but it is not a gimmick.

I use these https://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Strips-SomniFix-Breathing-Nighttime/dp/B076CQ1NR8/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1541210807&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=somnifix&psc=1

Thank you for letting me know it is working for you. Makes it worth the downvotes :)

Another benefit I got from this was absolutely NO LIGHT LEAK around my nose! I have a narrow nose, and it wasn't bad before, and I could only see it if the room was bright, so it's nice not to have to turn out the lights for full immersion.

Increased sweet spot and FOV are the main winners of course.

EDIT: I used this mask from Amazon, looks to be very similar to OP link: http://amzn.com/B00M9BC1M8

These are the best mechanical white Noise machines imo, I have had this model running nightly on a smart outlet for 6 years. It runs for at least 8 hours every day.

Marpac Dohm Classic (White) | The Original White Noise Machine
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sCy2Db9X3PD72

amazing ear plugs https://www.amazon.com/Macks-Pillow-Soft-Silicone-Earplugs/dp/B003LZQGN6. super comfy and block sound so well.

outstanding sleep mask https://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Master-smblu01-Mask/dp/B0015NZ6FK/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1445054483&sr=1-1&keywords=Sleep+Master+sleep+mask/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20. super comfy, doesnt rely on elastic to stay on your head so its comfy. also blocks sound decently if you dont have earplugs

Are you in to butt stuff? The Aneros is great.

Playing with a woman? Magic is the correct description. There are male attachments, which I just found while getting the link.

Fleshlight, man. Fleshlight.

Again, if you're playing with someone else, a wartenberg wheel is great fun. Especially with a blindfold. The earplugs aren't really necessary, but can be used elsewhise.

For white noise I was using the Marpac Dohm for a while and really liked it. I finally just received my Kickstater award for the SNOOZ and have been using it for the last couple of nights, and I like it even more. It's lighter and smaller and the sound is a bit fuller, not to mention the fact that it can be controlled with a phone app.

The pure enrichment wave uses a RECORDING of a fan.

I highly recommend trying the Marpac Dohm Classic that has an actual FAN inside driven by a MOTOR. It is not a recording of one. It has a much larger and lower full frequency sound than a cheap speaker playing a recording. Similar to the hum of a window or hotel air conditioner or fan but more soothing.

If that does not help, you can also try skipping the speakers and trying just a subwoofer. Connect your phone via 3.5mm to RCA cable or connect a Bluetooth or WiFi streaming audio receiver. Turn the crossover knob all the way up to 140Hz. Then it will play the lows up to 140Hz.

AUKEY Bluetooth Receiver $15.

Dayton Audio WBA31 $42 + shipping, has app based WiFi streaming, Apple Airplay, DNLA and NAS compatibility and also Bluetooth.

Echo Dot for voice control of WiFi streaming audio and it also has Bluetooth as a backup.

I’ve worked midnights for a decade. Charles Dickens is my last resort. When I put that on, I have Great Expectations that I’ll be asleep soon. It was free on audible a little while ago but you can get potato quality recordings on livrvox for free.

Here’s my sleep aide list I give to new employees on the shift.
Not that you asked.

Melatonin. Try different brands. I like strawberry chewy one. I found one brand that just doesn’t work for me and another brand that lead to chronic nightmares. Switch it up if the first kind doesn’t do it for you.

Get a sleep mask (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003CGJRNK/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1) I like this one. The large eye cavity and lip at the bottom are essential. The lip keeps out the light. The large space in the eye balls keeps the headaches away.

Get soft ear plugs (LaserLite, they’re pink and yellow). Don’t use the hard foam cheap bullshit. Fuck that noise. They don’t even stay in your ears. The pink and yellow are like, the soft caress of a spring breeze in a field with gentle rolling hills as you notice a fawn nibbling on grass at the edge of a mysterious wood.

Download the ambiance app. There’s a couple thousand sounds and you can customize your loop so you can do like, thunderstorm and waves crash plus a heart beat if that’s your sleepy time jam.

Experiment with sounds. For a 4 month period 3 years ago, i discovered a loop of a group of Spanish people conversing in a room that put me out. Some of the sounds on the app are fucking wild. Fire fight in Iraq? Check. Old man weeping? Check. Prison fight? Check. Ford assembly plant? Check. They have normal sounds too but I’m saying you’d be surprised what will help you sleep. If your an insomniac you’re at the edge of your rope anyway so just try something that may seem counterintuitive.

Take a bath. Really step up your bath game with lavender bath salts and candles. Am I a middle age lady treating myself or a manic depressive shift worker trying to catch some z’s? Why not both?

Google sleep aide tea. I like the chamomile but you do you.

Get a heating pad and place it on your stomach or neck. I don’t know, it’s soothing.

In terms of diet, I don’t drink caffeine or sugary soda 3-5 hours before bed. Alcohol tends to interrupt my sleep so it’ll initially put me out but I’ll wake up earlier and won’t feel as rested. So I don’t really drink much during the week anymore. So consider what you’re putting in your body that could be effecting your sleep.

The guy who narrates forensic files makes me super sleepy but my brother thinks that’s creepy. I don’t know why a murder show makes me tired. I don’t ask questions, I just appreciate the sleep.

Anyway, hope that helps.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000KUHFGM/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/176-4808523-4813465

I find this one to be the best. A little pricey, but its adjustible and super durable.

Serious answers (my CPAP nasal mask was blowing my mouth open while sleeping; you don't know cotton mouth until every inch of your mouth and throat is so dry you can't even close it).

3M Micropore surgical tape over the mouth (it's serious stuff and quite a challenge to remove in the morning). The trick is to roll your lips in, then apply it.

Also, Sleep Strips by SomniFix might work for you. In fact, if you want to try them, I have a mostly full box I can mail you (they're individually wrapped, like bandages). They didn't work as well for me as the surgical tape ... and I later re-trained myself to sleep with my mouth closed (most nights, at least).

Also, creating suction in your mouth and holding it seems to help somewhat, too.

Now I need to deal with biting my tongue while sleeping; hoping I can manage that without investing in a mouth guard.

A solid-core door makes a big difference. Sound travels through air. You need mass (less air) in-between. I bet sealing the crack under the door with something would help.

Also, as mentioned a white noise generator near those you don't want to disturb will really help. One like this is $50.

I really love stand alone white noise generators. I used to live in the middle of the bar district in downtown Austin, and picked this up. Also available as a cheaper single speed here - the single speed is the higher speed on the dual according to reviews.

It's some of the best money I've ever spent on sleep.

My husband and I have had this one for close to a year. It's surprisingly tiny, but gets really loud. We don't usually have the volume all the way up. It's nice because you can easily adjust the tone and type of sound. It also (unlike many sound machines) doesn't run on a loop, so I've never experienced the weird thing with some sound machines where you start repeating noises, which drives me bananas.

https://smile.amazon.com/LectroFan-Fidelity-Machine-Unique-Non-Looping/dp/B00JU8P8VY/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3MKW312VDVLE&keywords=lectrofan&qid=1568215534&s=gateway&sprefix=lectro%2Caps%2C254&sr=8-4&th=1

Ok so I used to live in an apartment with thin walls, and as a light sleeper it drove me nuts.

Years ago, I got one of these. It sounds like a constant fan noise, but it blends in so well that you stop hearing it pretty much immediately, but it keeps outside noise from bothering you too much. I would sometimes fall asleep without it on, only to wake up repeatedly throughout the night, until I realized what the issue was.

I live in a much quieter place now, but I still find it helpful and comforting to sleep to.

I take Trazodone. I sleep solidly and don't wake up groggy. I also sleep with a white noise machine called a Marpac Dohm sleep machine. I sleep like a baby. Good luck to you!

Lectrofan! Kind of pricey but I have never been more at peace.

Honest question here, have you looked into a white noise machine? or running a fan? https://www.amazon.com/HoMedics-SS-2000G-Relaxation-Machine-Nature/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1491827208&sr=8-4&keywords=white%2Bnoise%2Bmachine&th=1 is what I use, have it set to White Noise, roomie has theirs set to Ocean and it sounds like the beach.

LectroFan. It's got white noise settings and fan settings. The fan settings sound so real it's scary. There's like 10 different ones too, like box fan, extractor fan, industrial fan, it's crazy.

For some reason your 2nd comment isn't showing up

This is a good suggestion, thank you

I'm looking at this, it looks mostly good apart from some comments on discomfort when side sleeping:
Dream Essentials Escape Luxury Travel and Sleep Mask

What do you think?

I personally use the Lectrofan . I had a Dohm sound machine before, but since it's mechanical, it eventually became too quiet. The Lectrofan is smaller, has a better variety of noises, and can get much louder if necessary. It's easier to travel with too.

Yes!! I bought one a few years ago and now I use it every night. I have this one and I love it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_C7qyCb20G5J38

I highly recommend spending a little extra to get a really good sleeping mask like this one.

As others have said Marpac is the brand I use, specifically this one: https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-All-Natural-White-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFA

Before I got that I used to just play https://simplynoise.com/ through my laptop but it's definitely not as good as having a dedicated white noise machine.

I use this one, it works great and only $10. The back band is adjustable, which is important because the elastic won't wear out as much if it's the right size.

ALASKA BEAR® Natural silk sleep mask & blindfold, super-smooth eye mask (One Strap) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GSO1D9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_oDBiit8nbFY2U

White noise machines are a blessing for anyone with tinnitus. I have this one. It makes a sort of whooshing sound, but you can modify the tone and volume to your liking. It's not exactly cheap, but for me it was totally worth it.

So I just moved to a new apartment yesterday in the same apartment complex. The building is brand new and the apartment is enormous. I knew it was too good to be true! I can hear literally everything. I can tell you exactly what my neighbors are watching and listen along with them. I can hear every time someone goes up and down the stairs. I had to call the leasing office to complain about the noise coming from above. Turns out they were cheerleaders practicing tumbling!

I need noise maker and reduction recommendations to drown this all out. My dog and I stressed and tired!!. I found this noise maker on amazon and thinking of buying two. Then I read tapestries or cloth on the wall really helps. I’m also going to get fans to go with the noise makers

Any other ideas??? I’m regretting my huge brand new apartment now and want my 30 year old 600 sq ft closet back!!:( I guess they don’t make them like they used to.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E6D6LQY/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

i have noisy neighbors coming and going all the time between 10pm and 1am... my girlfriend and I improved our sleep quality with a white noise machine, this one: http://www.amazon.com/LectroFan-Sound-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B00JU8P8VY - it really helps drown out things like snoring too. you might try getting one of these, it would help both of you sleep better I bet

I'm a fan of: https://www.amazon.com/Sundown-Naturals-Melatonin-300-Tablets/dp/B000GG2I9O?th=1

You'd think people and especially doctors would want to go with the minimum effective dose as supported by the literature, but the mentality of "if a little is good, a lot must be great!" is so common.

That’s an awesome routine and you’re not nuts, it’s super helpful to start a routine early! I highly, highly recommend getting an actual white noise machine. This is the one we have and it’s not too pricey and works well: https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Hushh-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B01D50RYSC

That’s sucks about your options of doctors, I’m sorry. You don’t always have to agree with your doctor’s advice for things that aren’t putting your kids health at risk so I would understand if you wanted to stick it out, but I really love my pediatrician and treasure having that relationship. I don’t like everyone at the practice and have gotten weird advice from nurses or other doctors during sick visits and it makes me incredibly uncomfortable. Honestly, rather than speak up in the moment I usually just don’t do what I disagree with. That’s definitely an anxiety thing on my part. But my friend didn’t ever like or trust her pediatrician, has gone through some minor medical issues with her kid, and now feels like she’s stuck with this practice she dislikes just because her kid is a year old. She worries a lot about their advice and it makes me sad for her because she’s worried a lot if they’re doing the right thing. With our doctor I feel like I know if somethings a real problem or not because she tells me if she’s actually concerned or if it’s no big deal.

Sleep Mask

and

Surprise me. It's better that way! :)

I had the same problem. I used a fan on high for white noise and it worked great.

I've also read that these little devices are amazing:

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Speed-Sound-Conditioner/dp/B000KUHFGM

They are great! I have a sampler on the way. Amazon screwed my order so I had to re-order; only got the razor so far but should get the blades in today. I am also expecting this cream , this brush, and this nick relief. I am moving to another country so I wanted to have a complete set lasts me for a while.

I am looking forward to getting better at this whole thing!

We have a Hushh sound machine and I absolutely love it. It's portable,rechargeable, and the sound quality is good. I can securely hang it on the side of the crib/etc. and there are no cords to deal with. I used my phone for a few weeks but I liked looking at my phone while baby was sleeping. Can't recommend this one enough!

You have all ready gotten some excellent security suggestions in the thread. My tip is that instead of the big fan for your tinnitus you can try a white sound machine. If it works for you, then you might be able wake up if someone breaks a window.

If you search for “tinnitus” in the customer reviews you will get an idea of how it works for others. I don’t know if this is the best white noise machine but it had over 11,000 reviews so its a good start.

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Natural-Sound-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top