Sign up to my mailing list in the footer of the site!

Sleep Hacks

Getting quality sleep is crucial for managing a disability or chronic illness. Over the years, I’ve discovered some helpful tools and techniques to improve my rest. Here are my top sleep hacks:

Jenni, laid on her side in bed wearing dark coloured pajamas. She has a long body pillow between her legs and arms.

Long body pillow

A body pillow supports your entire body, helping to align and relieve pressure on your hips, knees, ankles, and shoulders. For travel, I rely on a knee cushion with an elasticated strap that provides similar comfort in a localised areas and stays in place throughout the night.

A close-up of Jennis ear, with her Loop earbud in

Loop earplugs

Loop earplugs have been a gamechanger for me, mainly because they block out my partners snoring so can get some solid rest! They are also super comfortable and easy to use. Just be aware you might need to turn up your audiobook if you like to listen to one while falling asleep.

A screenshot of a meditation app

Meditation Apps

The Balance app has transformed my bedtime routine. Its guided meditations and sleep-specific programs help me relax and drift off more easily.

A close-up of an Amazon Echo Show with an audiobook playing

Assistive Tech for Audiobooks and Lights

Listening to audiobooks from Audible, Spotify, or BorrowBox helps me fall asleep and using the built in features like sleep timers ensure I don’t lose my place. Voice-activated smart lights and plugs also let me turn off the lights or my heated blanket without moving once I’m comfortable.

Coco, Jenni's brown doodle dog lying down on top of a Frozen kids weighted blanket

Weighted Blankets

While I found standard weighted blankets too heavy as someone with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome, I would fight it during the night and end up with a dislocated shoulder. But switching to a kid-sized version provided the calming effect I needed without causing pain.

Scroll to Top
Skip to content