Frances Daniels

Frances Daniels

Senior Sleep Staff Writer

Frances Daniels is a PPA-accredited journalist and Sleep Staff Writer at Tom's Guide with an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University. Her role includes covering mattress and sleep news and writing sleep product reviews and buyer's guides, including our Best Hybrid Mattress 2025 guide. She is interested in the relationship between sleep and health, interviewing an array of experts to create in-depth articles about topics such as nutrition, sleep disorders, sleep hygiene, and mattress care. She is also our specialist on mattress toppers — producing bed topper reviews and taking care of our Best Mattress Toppers 2025 guide — and leads content relating to fiberglass-free beds for a non-toxic sleep. Outside of Tom's Guide, she has written for Ideal Home and Marie Claire.

Latest articles by Frances Daniels

A man with short brown hair wakes up in the middle of the night and makes the sleep hygiene mistake of looking at his alarm clock, which shows the time at 3.10am.
Waking up at 3 a.m.? Insomnia experts share 7 common sleep mistakes that ruin your rest — and how to fix them

By Lauren Jeffries Published

I speak to two doctors to find out the biggest sleep hygiene mistakes we're making and how they're causing 3.a.m. wakeups and insomnia

Sleep Problems
A serene bedroom setting, with neutral colors, matching nightstands, and warm golden-hour lighting.
Experts say creating a 'brain bedroom' could help you manage insomnia, stop 3 a.m. wake ups, and fall asleep fast — here's how

By Frances Daniels Published

Presented by Helix Sleep

Sleep and Feng Shui experts explain how to build a 'brain bedroom' for better sleep

Sleep
A split-screen comparison showing a woman brushing their teeth in a bathroom with harsh, bright white LED overhead lighting on the left, and a woman performing skincare in a warm, amber-toned dimly-lit bathroom on the right.
Almost 50% of US households use this item, but it can ruin your deep sleep — here's how to fix it to fall asleep fast and stop 3 a.m. wakeups

By Frances Daniels last updated

Trouble falling asleep at night? This common household item could be to blame — here's how to fix it

Sleep
A Feng Shui Bedroom with a cherry blossom wallpaper and matching nightstands and lamps for visual symmetry. A "Sleep Week 2026" badge is seen in the foreground.
Feng Shui "helps the mind feel safe in sleep," say experts — here's how to create a balanced bedroom for ultimate rest

By Frances Daniels Published

From earth-toned bedding to symmetrical nightstands, here's how to elevate your sleep with these Feng Shui finds

Sleep
A man in his late 60s, dressed in a striped red and blue sweatshirt, takes a nap on the couch after reading a book. He has no idea that his long daytime naps as the reason why he keeps waking up at 3 a.m. A blue Tom's Guide sleep week logo sits in the top left hand corner.
Over 65 and keep waking up at 3 a.m.? This common daytime habit is the likely culprit, says board-certified sleep doctor

By Frances Daniels Published

Presented by Helix Sleep

Board-certified sleep doctor shares simple rule to stop waking up at 3 a.m. if you're aged 65 and over

Sleep
A woman stretches as she wakes up to a hearty breakfast after sleeping through the night. Next to this picture, there is an image of a digital clock displaying the time of 3am.
The simple metabolism hack that helps avoid 3am wake-ups — and it's the Blue Zone secret to longevity, too

By Frances Daniels last updated

Can eating "breakfast like a king" help you fall asleep fast and stop you from waking up at 3am? We ask the experts about this Blue Zone diet

Sleep
A split screen of two images. The left image shows a grey-haired mature woman sleeping while wearing a sleep tracker on her wrist. The right image shows a woman's hand looking at sleep-tracking metrics on her smartphone.
The 3 biggest sleep issues over 65s face — and the 3 simple fixes to start using tonight, according to experts

By Frances Daniels Published

Over 65 and keep getting ‘poor’ sleep? Experts explain how to fix the 3 biggest sleep issues to fall asleep fast tonight

Sleep Tech
A mug with a brewed cup of resihi mushroom tea and a reishi mushroom tea box on a coffee table.
"Sleep-promoting" reishi mushroom tea is everywhere — this is what happened when I tried it

By Frances Daniels Published

Reishi mushroom tea is said to be a natural remedy for insomnia. Here's what happened when I tried it...

Sleep
A woman with insomnia checks her alarm clock, which displays the time of 2am. Beside her, there is a screenshot of a sleep-tracking apps's AI assistant asking her if she is having trouble sleeping.
My sleep-tracking earbuds discovered how this one thing in my nighttime routine ruined my sleep — here’s why I won't do it again

By Frances Daniels Published

My sleep tracker pinned the cause of my insomnia — an expert explains why this one activity made it harder to fall asleep

Sleep
A split screen showing an image of a young brunette woman walking in the daylight with her morning coffee, and another image of a woman with dark hair sleeping peacefully at night.
Experts explain why my simple morning habit is perfect for helping you sleep through the night — and may even improve life expectancy as a result

By Frances Daniels Published

Getting enough sleep can add years to your life, so here's my quick morning hack to stop those 3 a.m. wake ups — and it's recommended by experts.

Sleep
A young brunette woman relaxes against her bed while listening to a podcast through headphones.
Keep waking up at 3 a.m.? A board-certified sleep doctor explains how making this simple switch in your nighttime routine can help manage insomnia

By Frances Daniels Published

Who can resist scrolling and or binge-watching a new show before bed? Well, this simple swap can keep your evening entertaining without the disrupted sleep.

Sleep Problems
The image shows two mattress testers unboxing the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress and setting it up on a white bed frame in a blue bedroom
Thinking of buying your next mattress online? 4 reasons why you should — and the 2 teeny drawbacks to consider

By Frances Daniels Published

35% of all mattresses sold last year were bought online versus 23% the year before, so you won't be alone in your online bed browsing

Mattresses
The image shows a collage of different mattress toppers pictures on a white mattress. Overlaid on top is a Tom's Guide Presidents' Day deal badge
"A comfy solution for couples who can’t seem to agree" — before you buy an adjustable firmness mattress, try this much cheaper bed topper instead

By Frances Daniels Published

The Helix Dual Comfort Mattress Topper is up to $151 off in the new Presidents' Day deals

Mattress Toppers
A split screen featuring an image of the Leesa Legend Mattress in a modern bedroom, and a close-up image of a hand feeling the mattress's cover. In the top-left foreground, there is a Presidents' Day sale badge.
I tested this luxury hybrid mattress for side sleepers a year ago — it's still the closest I've ever got to sleeping on a five-star hotel bed

By Frances Daniels Published

I'm a side sleeper, and I loved the hotel-style comfort of the luxury Leesa Legend Hybrid Mattress. Right now, there's 30% off in the Presidents' Day mattress sales.

Mattresses
The Birch Elite Natural Mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom. A member of our testing team lies on the left side of the mattress on her back, while another mattress tester sits on the right hand side of the mattress. They're testing the motion isolation, to determine if one person getting into a bed disturbs the other
Always tired? Experts share 5 signs that your mattress is to blame and how to fix it

By Frances Daniels Published

The wrong mattress might be why you're exhausted every morning — experts share the most common signs you need a new bed.

Mattresses
A woman sleeping on her side peacefully with the curtains open slightly letting some light in
For years my sleep schedule was all over the place but I’ve been sticking to the ‘7:1’ rule with these expert-approved tips — and it could help me live 4 years longer

By Frances Daniels last updated

These are the 5 expert-approved strategies I rely on to stick a consistent sleep schedule for better health and a longer life

Sleep
A menopausal woman practices Tai Chi. A circular frame features a woman sleeping above her.
Experts reveal the ancient wellbeing practice proven to help fight insomnia during menopause — and how to do it

By Frances Daniels Published

Instead of asking women to sit still and 'empty their minds'... it gives the brain something gentle and rhythmic to focus on'

Sleep
A woman lies awake on her back in bed at night. She has her arms behind her head.
Stop waking up at 3am — 7 quick fixes you can do today, according to a sleep expert

By Frances Daniels last updated

From a quick stroll to two-second hacks, here's are the simple things that can help you sleep all night long and avoid 'middle insomnia.'

Sleep
A split screen of a foot reflexology diagram and a sleeping woman.
'I tried foot reflexology and my sleep quality improved after just one session' — here's how

By Frances Daniels Published

Reflexology promotes relaxation — here's what happened to my sleep after trying it

Sleep
A woman in blue pajamas wakes up at 3am from insomnia.
Sleep expert reveals why the height of your bed could be why you can't fall asleep and why you keep waking up through the night — and how to fix it

By Frances Daniels Published

A sleep doctor reveals why the height of your bed could be the reason you can't fall asleep. Plus, practical advice on how to overcome it.

Mattresses
A split screen shows an image of a woman fast asleep on the left, and an image of 1 cup of strawberries on the right.
Science says this easy diet change can boost sleep quality by 16% in just 24 hours — I tried it for a week and here are my results

By Frances Daniels Published

I also asked a Registered Dietician to talk me through the advice and to create a 'good sleep prescription' based off what researchers are recommending

Sleep
A woman with blonde hair sleeps surrounded by alarm clocks of different colours
I sleep less than 7 hours a night and didn't think it was an issue until a recent study said otherwise — an expert explains more

By Frances Daniels Published

I function well on around six hours a night, but now I'm wondering if I should try to sleep more and, if so, how?

Sleep Problems
A smiling blonde woman reads in bed at night. In the top left foreground, a circular frame features a close up of the woman's hands using ChatGPT for sleep advice.
I asked ChatGPT and a board-certified sleep doctor what the 'perfect' nighttime routine looks like — here's the clear winner and why

By Frances Daniels Published

I asked a (human) sleep doctor and AI to create me an ideal nighttime routine — this is the one who actually gave me good advice

Sleep Problems
A brunette woman with a ponytail sitting on the bed of her childhood bedroom.
'Your body has a physical ‘memory’' — doctors share the 5 reasons why I found it impossible to sleep over the holidays

By Frances Daniels Published

Doctors share the 5 reasons why I found it impossible to sleep over the holidays

Sleep
The image shows a close up shot of a dark haired woman sleeping with her head tested on a white pillow or the left, while Oprah Winfrey is seen wearing a purple suit while stood on stage on the right, in a side by side composition
"Don't lose three hours by endlessly scrolling through social media," 5 key sleep hygiene habits of highly successful people and how they help you sleep for longer after just one night

By Frances Daniels last updated

Some of the most successful people in the world, from CEOs to world leaders, share these five sleep habits

Sleep
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