Sleep Awareness Week 2026 is here — our guide to the best tips, tech and advice to help you sleep better
From tech to stop 3 a.m. wake-ups, to how use the 7:1 Rule that science says can add four years to life expectancy, here's the best products and advice from this year's Sleep Awareness Week
Sleep Awareness Week is still running this weekend, and we have some excellent tips and tech to help you manage a whole host of sleep issues to finally get the rest you need.
World Sleep Day is the pinnacle of Sleep Week every year, and the theme for 2026 is 'Sleep Better, Live Well'. It couldn't be more appropriate in light of hug new research linking sleep regularity to increased life expectancy.
But it isn't just sleep consistency we're focusing on this Sleep Awareness Week – you still need to ensure you're getting enough sleep (seven to nine hours a night is enough for most adults). Put those two factors together, and you have a recipe for good health. (We cover this in detail in our guide to the 7:1 Sleep Rule).
Scroll down now for the latest articles from Sleep Awareness Week…
Key take-aways for 2026: At a glance
- Sleep Awareness Week runs from March 8 – March 15, 2026
- World Sleep Day was on Friday, March 13, 2026
- This year’s theme is ‘Sleep Well, Live Better’
- Our 2026 focus: The link between sleep regularity and longevity
Helix Sleep: Save 27% sitewide
Helix is one of our top-rated sleep brands and we’ve paired up with them to bring you an exclusive deal. For Sleep Week you can save 27% on everything at Helix with code TOMS27. All mattresses come with a limited lifetime warranty and 120-night trial.
Sleep Awareness Week 2026: All the best tips, tech and advice
This is where you'll find our latest Sleep Awareness Week articles, covering everything from sleep health to sleep tech. We'll be adding to this list throughout the week.
Spring cleaning your mattress increases your chances of sleeping through the night — here’s why and how to do it
From reducing allergens like pollen and dust mites to improving respiratory health, spring cleaning your mattress can help you sleep better and for longer. Here's how to give your bed a refresh after winter.
I tried eating these 3 fruits for better gut health — a registered dietician explains why they improved my sleep too
Fruits provide fiber and polyphenols that feed beneficial gut bacteria. And, as sleep writer Becky discovered, a healthy gut can support steadier mood and make falling asleep easier.
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
In seniors, deep sleep is important for memory consolidation, muscle restoration and immune system support — but spending too long in bed could be impacting the time you spend in this all-important sleep stage.
I feel great on 7 hours of sleep but like a zombie after 8 — two doctors explain why, and how much sleep is enough
Lauren speaks to two sleep experts to find out why dropping from 8 hours of sleep per night to 7 has left her feeling refreshed and energized, plus how to tell if you're sleeping too much.
The 7:1 sleep rule is now linked to a longer life — experts share 6 habits to help you master it by resetting your body clock this weekend
We delve into the 6 daily habits that can help you stick to a regular sleep schedule, plus shares expert advice on how to reset your body clock in three days.
My husband and I were ruining each other's sleep — 3 products that are helping us both sleep through the night while sharing a bed
From managing conflicting sleep schedules to drowning out the sound of snoring, sleep writer Lauren outlines the three products she and her husband swear by for sleeping well while sharing a bed.
Forget pink or white noise — these are the 3 sounds I use to beat insomnia and sleep through the night
Pink and white noise might be a popular sleep aid, but Frances explores how these sounds could be interrupting your rest, and the sounds she credits with helping her overcome insomnia.
My 75-year-old grandad is finally sleeping through the night and it’s all down to swimming — I ask a doctor why it works and how to do it
Alongside a neurologist, Eve unpacks why swimming 40 lengths three times a week is helping her 75 year old grandad finally sleep through the night — and it's all about reducing joint stiffness and increasing your sleep drive.
Waking up at 3 a.m.? Insomnia experts share 7 sleep mistakes that ruin your rest — and how to fix them
I used to check the time constantly when I was awake in the night, mentally calculating how much sleep I could get if I fell asleep soon. All it does is create stress. I love these mistakes and fixes.
5 simple 'body clock hacks' that help you fall asleep fast and wake up with more energy
From getting outside 30 minutes after waking, to taking a warm bath or shower an hour before the time you want to sleep, a psychologist and a sleep clinician share their top habits for falling asleep in minutes and shaking off morning fatigue fast.
What is a 'brain bedroom' and how do they help you sleep better compared to a normal bedroom?
Experts explain the concept and the science behind it. Plus, Feng Shui tips for calmer, deeper sleep.
3 doctors recommended this sleep hygiene tip and it's why I'm wake up with loads of energy — how it works
I love these kinds of tips. Simple, free, and easy to use. I've been following the same bedtime routine for over seven years and mine has become so effective now, that even on small whiff of pillow spray and my brain starts screaming 'It's time to sleep!'
Expert warns against this 2-minute bedtime routine habit — and the $7 fix to help you fall asleep fast
Bright white lights interfere with melatonin production, which can make it harder to fall asleep and sleep through th night. This simple fix is gold-standard advice.
Waking up at 3 a.m.? Allergist reveals 3 hidden dust traps that could be behind your frequent night wakings
Oof, ok so I'm guilty of this one. I'll be doing some major dust-busting under my bed this evening, and giving my toddler's bedtime teddies a freshen up.
My Oura Ring sleep score dipped this winter — here’s why I’m not worried now spring is approaching
Winter can often negatively impact sleep, as dark mornings and evenings disrupt our circadian rhythms, but the brighter mornings of spring makes it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up with more energy.
Most of us only have a shot at good sleep 4 nights a week — an expert explains why and how to sleep better every night and skip the 3 a.m. wake ups
A recent survey found that for over half of us, good sleep only happens four nights a week at most. Sounds relatable? Sleep expert Dr. Carlos Nunez gives his top tips to beat the bad sleep odds and actually get some shut-eye.
'This 60-minute sleep rule ended my nighttime anxiety' — a doctor explains how it can help you fall asleep in under 5 minutes too
Like many of us, Lauren's sleep has been blighted by nighttime anxiety. However, she shares how adhering to the '60 minute sleep rule' is helping her fall asleep fast and skip the 3 a.m. wake ups — sign me up.
Doctors warn the Gen Z ‘bedtime stacking’ trend is an insomnia trap and one-way ticket to morning burnout — here’s what they recommend focusing on instead
Sleep writer Becky digs into the hugely popular bedtime stacking trend, sharing experts' warning that this 'cozy' habit is not your friend. Also packed with useful info on how to take part in the trend without destroying your sleep.
I test mattresses for a living — this is what side sleepers need from their bed to boost their chances of falling asleep fast and avoid nighttime wake-ups
Seasoned mattress tester and sleep writer Lauren shares the number one feature side sleepers need from their mattress to avoid waking up at night with dead hips and painful shoulders
For months I’ve been waking up at 3 a.m. with anxiety — a doctor shared this trick to falling asleep in seconds and it's a game changer for my sleep
My colleague Nicola has been dealing with a lot of 3 a.m. wake-ups, and she's finally found a relaxation technique that helps her fall asleep in seconds again whenever the dreaded 3 a.m. cortisol spikes kick in.
I slept for 8 hours a night and still felt exhausted — until an expert changed one thing about my sleep schedule
I found Lauren's story so relatable, as this was me years ago before I knew anything about sleep cycles and why waking up in the middle of one can feel as though you're hungover and desperate for more sleep. Some great tips here to fix your schedule starting tonight.
Naps are a great way to stave off sleep deprivation and cope with burnout and fatigue but timing is key
Yes you can have your 'sleep cake and eat it', but like all good things in life, moderation is key. Here's how to nap th right way when you're dealing with sleep deprivation or rolling a huge sleep debt.
Anxiety has been waking me up at 3am for months, but I'm sleeping through again after just one week of trying this viral wellness hack — here's how it works
If you're caught in a cycle of waking up at 3 a.m. too, Lauren's story might resonate with you. And don't worry, the 'bed of spikes' she talks about isn't as bad as it sounds.
Board-certified doctor reveals common daytime habit behind 3 a.m. wake-ups in seniors
Are suddenly waking up at 3 a.m. now that you've hit your mid 60s and beyond? You're not alone. We asked a board-certified sleep doctor why frequent night wakings are common in your aged group and he said your daytime nap is the likely habit. Here's why and how to manage it so that you can nap in the day and still sleep through at night.
Experts reveal hidden metric in your sleep score that indicates how well you’re ageing
Did you know that there's a metric hidden within your sleep tracker's Sleep Score that can help you figure out how well you're aging? It's called Sleep Regularity (Consistency), and here we take a close look at why it's important, how sleep regularity can help extend lifespan, and what experts recommend to improve your sleep-wake schedule.
Experts share 3 reasons why your Apple Watch sleep score is ‘Low’ even when you get 7+ hours sleep
Think you're sleeping well but your Apple Watch says different? Experts explain what's likely going on, and how you can turn things around starting tonight to sleep better and feel healthier.
Sleep Awareness Week 2026: All the best products and deals
We retested our Top 5 mattresses — here’s how the most expensive bed in our rankings compares to the cheapest in 3 key areas
How much more sleep comfort and support do you get for your money when buying a luxury mattress compared to a budget bed? Here's what we've learned, based on our in-house testing.
The 12 products our editors swear by to fall asleep fast, sleep through the night, and banish overheating
Between us, we've tested just about every sleep product you can think of. These are the ones we love and use on the regular.
Can the right mattress relieve your back and joint pain?
We spoke to a doctor and a physical therapist. In a nutshell, a well-suited mattress supports your body type and sleep needs to help you enjoy better, more restorative, high quality sleep — a must for pain management.
Saatva launches World Sleep Day luxury mattress sale — save $400 on the hotel bed our sleep coach can't live without
I got the best sleep of my life while testing the Saatva Classic mattress and this hotel-style hybrid bed has dropped back to its lowest price of the year in time for Sleep Week.
The Helix World Sleep Day sale is live — the 5 products I'd buy to sleep cooler and comfier, all night long
I spent last summer trying all the strangest cooling hacks the internet could offer to try and drop off in the heatwaves. This year, I'm going to take the easier (and more effective) route and just invest in a comfy, cooling bed.
I'm a side sleeper with back pain — these are the 3 products I've tested and recommend this Sleep Week to help you sleep comfortably
I feel for my colleague Alison, as I have had hip and back pain issues while sleeping. Trying to get comfortable when lying down seems impossible, but there are positions and products that can help. Here Alison recommends her three fave items to help you sleep better with back pain.
After seven months with the Bear Elite Hybrid, my sleep score is better than ever — here's why it's the best cooling mattress you can buy
Sleep tech writer Eve looks after all of our cooling mattress content, and here she revisits her fave ice-cool bed, the Bear Elite Hybrid, and why it's her top tech pick for the summer ahead.
Best Sleep Week mattress and bedding deals 2026: Supercharge your sleep from $17
Our expert deals hunters have found all the best savings on mattresses, bedding, pillows and sleep tech in the Sleep Awareness Week sales — everything you need to turn your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary.
Feng Shui 'helps the mind feel safe in sleep' — here's how to create a balanced bedroom for ultimate rest
Sleep writer Frances rounds-up her favorite pieces for creating a Feng Shui-inspired bedroom for calmer, peaceful and deeper sleep.
The flippable Plank Firm is ultra-supportive yet so comfy. Here’s why it’s still the best firm mattress online
My colleague Ruth is a stomach sleeper (naughty girl) and she's super-picky when it comes to firm mattresses. This is the one she recommends for high levels of support.
‘I woke up refreshed and pain-free every morning’ — this is the mattress I recommend to people with lower back like me
Pro mattress tester Alison has ongoing lower back pain and mild scoliosis, so finding a bed that eases her discomfort is super important to help her sleep well. Here she talks through one of her faves.
Helix has launched its official Sleep Week sale, and here's what we recommend for every type of sleeper
Our mattress writer Frances walks you through the new Helix sale for Sleep Awareness Week, sharing her top recommendations based on our in-house testing. You can also save 27% sitewide at Helix when using the code TOMS27 at checkout.
Preferred partner (what does this mean?)
I revisited the Helix Midnight Luxe two years after first testing it – why it's still the best side sleeper mattress
Tom's Guide Sleep Editor Nicola Appleton first reviewed the Helix Midnight Luxe over two years ago. Here she talks about why it's still the best side sleeper mattress she's tested, and why she recommends it to any side sleeper looking for a comfy new bed.
From 3 a.m. wake-ups to cortisol-beating fall asleep fast hacks
While sleep regularity is the talk of the longevity town this year, there’s lots of other good stuff to dig into.
Throughout this Sleep Awareness Week 2026, we’ll also be covering the dreaded 3 a.m. wake-ups and how to stop them. My team and I have had quite a few of these between us, so we know how to tackle this beast.
We’ll be sharing all our hard-earned tips, and interviewing certified experts on how to help you figure out what’s causing your 3 a.m. wake-ups and how to stop them.
We’ll also be sharing the best ways to fall asleep fast if you do wake up in the night (or have trouble dropping off in the first place), and why cortisol (the stress hormone) is the main culprit the majority of the time.
Sleep needs change with age, and the truth is, nighttime wakings happen more often the older you get. That’s why we’ll also be looking at good sleep hygiene tips and tech for seniors this week, so that you can make the most of your nightly rest in your 60s, 70s and beyond.
And it isn't just about tips, techniques and sleep science – we'll also be covering how to choose the best mattress for your sleep needs and budget, as well as a good pillow, and plenty of other tech to turn your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary.
Here are some of the other areas of sleep we’ll be looking at this week:
- How to work out your ideal sleep and wake time
- How to maintain a regular sleep schedule
- How anxiety and stress drive 3 a.m. wake-ups and how to stop them
- Why napping is better than an energy drink – but the timing is key
- How to create a bedroom designed to help you fall asleep in minutes
- Sleep tech that actually works – all tried and tested by our experts
- Why mouthtaping is one of the worst sleep hacks we’ve ever tried
- The 5 hidden dust traps in your bedroom that are waking you up
Why the 7:1 rule is our North Star for Sleep Week 2026
- The 7: Get at least seven hours of sleep per night.
- The 1: Keep a one-hour consistency window (don’t go any longer than 30 minutes from your chosen bedtime or wake time).
In January 2026, a huge new study was released by Vitality and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
The study, which analyzed over 47 million nights’ of sleep tracker data, found that following a specific sleep hygiene rule can potentially increase your lifespan by up to four years.
The sleep hygiene rule, dubbed the 7:1 rule, is this: get at least seven hours sleep every night, and go to sleep and wake up within the same one-hour timeframe every day, seven days a week.
Setting a consistent bedtime helps regulate your body clock (circadian rhythm) and makes it easier for you to fall asleep fast.
It also improves your sleep quality over time, and helps your brain to know when to run all that recovery and repair work in your body to help you live and age better.
Dr. Katie Tryon, Deputy CEO of Vitality Health, explains that sleep should be viewed as a daily habit, much like exercise: “Sleep has long been known to be of clinical relevance but it has not been considered to be a daily habit, like physical activity, that can be tracked and improved.
“For most people, the problem is not pathology, but routine. Reframing sleep in this way shifts the agenda - it makes sleep a behaviour that can be tracked, nudged, and reinforced.”
Other key findings from the study include:
- 90% of people don’t meet optimal sleep patterns.
- Improving sleep habits can reduce spending on medical bills and associated costs.
- Obtaining seven hours of sleep per night, and maintaining a consistent bedtime within a one-hour window, can reduce mortality risk by 24% and lower hospital admissions by up to 7%.
What is Sleep Awareness Week?
- Sleep Awareness Week 2026 runs from Sunday March 8th to Saturday March 14th.
Sleep Awareness Week was established by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) in 1998 to raise awareness of the importance of good quality sleep and how it impacts our wider health.
Sleep Awareness Week kicks-off on the same day as the start of Daylight Saving Time in the US.
This year, the clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8th. While the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) uses this moment to highlight how even one hour of lost sleep can impact your heart health and mood, there is a silver lining…
The arrival of spring brings more natural morning light—the primary tool our bodies use to 'anchor' a regular sleep-wake schedule and reset our internal clocks.
What is World Sleep Day?
- World Sleep Day 2026 is on Friday, March 13th
While Sleep Awareness Week is a US-led initiative, World Sleep Day is a global event.
Launched in 2008 by the World Sleep Society, World Sleep Day aims to celebrate the benefits of good sleep and draw attention to the burden of sleep disorders.
It always falls on the Friday before the Spring Vernal Equinox—this year it’s Friday, March 13, 2026. The theme for 2026 is, ‘Sleep Well, Live Better’, and it’s also the inspiration behind our focus on longevity and the 7:1 Sleep Rule.
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Claire is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and the Managing Editor of Sleep at Tom's Guide. She oversees our rigorous mattress testing procedures, and our buying guides and mattress rankings. Claire has over 16 years' product review experience and is connected to a wealth of globally renowned sleep experts including mattress designers, neuroscientists, and board-certified sleep doctors. She is also our in-house expert on Saatva, DreamCloud, and Nectar Sleep. Claire is certified to advise people on how to choose a mattress that suits their needs and budget, as well as helping them to create a nighttime routine and bedroom environment that helps them sleep better. Previously, Claire reported on sleep and wellness tech for T3 and TechRadar.









































