Ruth Jones

Ruth Jones

Senior Sleep Staff Writer

Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.

Latest articles by Ruth Jones

A woman stands next to a bed as she dresses the mattress in white bed sheets. In the top right corner is an ident showing a close up of bed bugs
These 3 bed sheet colors increase your risk of a bed bug infestation

By Ruth Jones Last updated

It's not just a style choice. Choosing the wrong color bedding can make your mattress more appealing to bed bugs but we have some simple hacks to make your bed a no-go area.

Mattress Care
The image shows a blonde haired woman sitting up in bed inside a dark bedroom. Her knees are bent and her hands are placed over her face.
3 warning signs you’re headed for insomnia — and why mood swings are a major red flag

By Ruth Jones Published

"You don’t measure sleep health by time in bed, you measure it by daytime function" — the signs to look for during the day that can help you recognize problems at night.

Sleep
Bed bugs scrambling about in a crease on a mattress with brown marks around them showing their excrement
Spraying this DIY bed bug repellent on your mattress could prevent an infestation — and it's only $6

By Ruth Jones Last updated

Get ahead of bed bug season with this simple spray you can use on your mattress and pillows. Bonus — it's good for your sleep as well.

Mattress Care
The main image shows a man sitting up in bed and stretching in the morning, looking well rested. In the bottom right is an ident showing a close up of a phone showing sleep tracking information
Slept for 7 or 8 hours but still exhausted? Work these 3 ‘sleep muscles’ for more energy, experts say

By Ruth Jones Published

Morning exhaustion is often caused by poor sleep quality, even if you clocked 7, 8 or 9 hours in bed, but working these key 'sleep muscles' will turn things around.

Sleep
Sleep writer Ruth Jones holds a moonbird stress and relaxation device in her bedroom
I tried this handheld 'breathing coach' to stop stress ruining my sleep, and it ended up solving my morning fatigue — here's why

By Ruth Jones Published

I’m falling asleep faster and waking up with more energy—and my Heart Rate Variability (HRV) data proves it's working.

Sleep Tech
This image shows a close up of a hand holding a spray bottle spraying water on the corner of a mattress. In the top left corner is an ident of a close up of a bed bug.
That's not how you get rid of bed bugs — new study discovers what they really hate, and the methods that will banish them

By Ruth Jones Published

Scientists have found bed bugs hate water but this has some unexpected implications for your DIY bed bug treatments — here's everything you need to know.

Mattress Care
A photo of the Linenspa Mattress Encasement on a mattress on a bed frame in our reviewer's bedroom. In the bottom left corner is an ident showing a close up of a bed bug
I'm using a $25 encasement to stop bed bugs and dust mites from infesting my mattress — but there's one thing I wish I could change

By Ruth Jones Published

The Linenspa Mattress Encasement offers 360-degree protection for your bed — but here's what it did to my sleep.

Pillows & Bedding
Making a bed
This is how luxury hotels get their bed sheets crisp, white and smelling fresh — and the secret is in your cabinets, expert says

By Ruth Jones Published

Citric acid is the affordable secret behind the clean and white bed sheets in your favorite hotel. An expert explains how to use it at home.

Pillows & Bedding
A man sleeping on his back with his mouth open snoring
A massive new study reveals how snoring is linked to accelerated heart aging — what we know and tips to stop

By Ruth Jones Published

Snoring is more than just a nuisance, as this massive study exploring the link between disordered breathing and vascular aging reveals.

Sleep
This image shows a woman lying on her back in bed and stretching as she wakes up with a smile. On the left are two inserted images: at the top is a woman outside in the sunlight, on the bottom is a woman eating a bowl of fruit
Waking up exhausted even after 8 hours sleep? Expert says follow this simple 2-step routine to start the day with energy

By Ruth Jones Last updated

Forget coffee — this easy 2-step routine is even "faster than "caffeine" at waking you up, according to the expert.

Sleep
An older woman lying on her back on a new mattress, smiling and stretching in the sun
Science says sleeping this amount extra per night cuts heart attack risk by 10% — doctors explain why

By Ruth Jones Last updated

Dr. John La Puma and Dr. Daniel Cham speak to us about why sleep is essential for heart health and the small changes to make today to protect your heart

Sleep
On the left, a woman lies on her back in bed stretching with a smile on her face, as if she's had a good night's sleep. On the right, a woman lies in bed with her face covered looking stressed.
I was sleeping 8 hours a night but waking up exhausted — until a doctor taught me 3 tricks for ‘switching off’ before bed

By Ruth Jones Published

I thought 8 hours of sleep was enough, but stress was ruining my rest and recovery each night. These 3 simple doctor-approved tips have finally restored my morning energy levels.

Sleep
A woman sits up in bed smiling with her arms spread, as if she's had a good night's sleep. In the bottom left corner is an insert of a woman taking a shower at night.
A warm shower or bath before bed helps you fall asleep fast — but timing is key, sleep expert reveals

By Ruth Jones Published

Showering or bathing before bed is a simple habit that tricks your body into going to sleep fast and waking up with energy, but timing it right is key.

Sleep
A woman inspects her sage-colored bed sheets. In the top right foreground, a circular frame shows an extreme close up of dust mites embedded in the fabric of a mattress cover.
‘More bacteria than a toilet seat’ — study reveals exactly when we need to wash pillowcases and bed sheets for healthier sleep

By Ruth Jones Published

'Dirtier than a toilet seat': I found out how quickly bacteria teems on pillowcases and bed sheets and, well, I’m stripping my bed immediately

Pillows & Bedding
A close up of a hand holding a bottle of 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol with a yellow label (Getty), in the top right corner is a close up of bed bugs in a mattress (Shutterstock)
This $4 household staple might help you prevent a bed bug infestation naturally — but there's a catch

By Ruth Jones Last updated

Rubbing alcohol can be used to kill bed bugs but we recommend using these affordable alternatives instead.

Mattress Care
Woman wakes smiling and stretching in a bed with light-coloured bedding.
I'm waking up full of energy after a doctor helped me fix this simple sleep hygiene mistake I didn't realize I was making

By Ruth Jones Published

Doctors explain how my pre-bed routine was harming my sleep and the easy changes that have me sleeping through the night and waking up before my alarm, full of energy.

Sleep
A woman sleeping on her side in a bed with all white bedding.
Vagus nerve stimulators promise to ease nighttime anxiety and prevent 3 a.m. wakeups — here's how to do it at home (without spending $900)

By Ruth Jones Last updated

An expert explains how to employ vagus nerve stimulation for free at home, to ease anxiety and improve sleep. All you need is some cold water...

Sleep
An older woman lies in bed asleep
Over 65? Doctors say spending less time in bed could increase how much deep sleep you get — here's how and why it's vital for ageing well

By Ruth Jones Published

Presented by Helix Sleep

Deep sleep declines with age, but experts explain how maximizing sleep efficiency can help seniors enjoy more deep sleep and avoid 3 a.m. wake ups.

Sleep
A woman with brown hair sits up in bed holding her lower back because she's in pain
5 signs your mattress is why you keep waking up during the night — plus, 3 quick fixes to boost your comfort

By Ruth Jones Published

Presented by Helix Sleep

Insights and hacks from a professional mattress tester

Mattresses
The main image shows a women lying on her front and snoring during her sleep. In the bottom right corner is an inset image of a close up of a sleep tracker showing the different sleep stages that have been tracked overnight
'80% of people with sleep apnea don't know they have it' — the signs and sleep tracker metrics to look for, according to a Samsung Health scientist

By Ruth Jones Published

Snoring is the 'hallmark of sleep apnea', a doctor says, but there are other signs and metrics to look for on your sleep tracker. Here's what you need to know...

Sleep
A woman sits up in bed in a sunny bedroom with with her arms raised above her head, looking ready to jump out of bed. In the top left corner is a Tom's Guide Sleep Week logo
3 doctors recommended this sleep hygiene tip and it's why I'm finally waking up with loads of energy — here's how it works

By Ruth Jones Published

Here's the simple, doctor-approved sleep hygiene tip that's finally helping me to wake up with energy

Sleep
A man sits on the side of his bed in a dark room with his head in his hands because he's experiencing distress from being unable to sleep
Research shows 53% of us only sleep well 4 nights a week and anxiety is a leading cause — an expert explains how to sleep better every night and skip the 3 a.m. wake ups

By Ruth Jones Last updated

Resmed has found only one-third of adults claim to sleep well every night — Dr. Carlos Nunez explains expert rules for beating the odds and getting good sleep, night after night.

Sleep
The image shows a woman with dark curly hair sleeping on her back on a sofa, with her arms tucked behind her head. A book lies open on her stomach. A blue Tom's Guide Sleep Awareness Week 2026 logo sits in the top left hand corner.
Naps are a great way to stave off sleep deprivation and cope with burnout and fatigue but timing is key to prevent 3am wake ups

By Ruth Jones Published

Presented by Helix Sleep

An expert explains how to nap without ruining your sleep and why siestas are so loved by people in 'Blue Zones.'

Sleep
A woman sleeps peacefully in her bed under a white duvet, while a small stack of books can be seen on her bedside table
'You're not winding down, you're stimulating your nervous system' — expert pinpoints the nighttime routine mistake that kept waking me up at 3 a.m. and the $10 gadget that stopped it

By Ruth Jones Last updated

Can't keep your hands off your phone at bedtime? This analog alarm clock switch minimizes distractions so you can fall asleep faster and stay asleep

Sleep
In the left corner, a closeup of a hand adjusting the temperature on a thermostat (Shutterstock.) In the main image, a man holds his pack and shoulder while sitting on the edge of his mattress, looking in pain (Getty)
Experts reveal why over 65s with back and hip pain need a warmer bedroom for sleeping — here’s the temperature they recommend

By Ruth Jones Published

Pain experts explain how adjusting the thermostat can stop you waking up with tight, sore muscles, plus the bedding essentials to stay warm without overheating.

Sleep
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