As previously reported on this blog, I've been actively seeking ways to unwind and, in particular, improve my quality of sleep. I've made good progress via some of the usual suspects: blackout curtains, temperature control, limiting screen time before bed, etc. A recent very significant upgrade came when I discovered Stephen Dalton's sleep stories, which knocked me out better than any previous method I had tried. My primary method for listening to the stories was via my earbuds, but I quickly ran into problems which I described in my previous post:
They also just put me in a good mood for sleep, even if I don't use them all the way through. More often than not these days, I don't quite fall asleep, but I get sleepy enough, pop my earbuds back in their case (they're a little uncomfortable to sleep with but not disruptively so) and I'll fall straight asleep on my own. Sometimes, they slip out on their own, and I wake up with them underneath me. I hope that won't damage them.
I was willing to put up with the discomfort of sleeping with earbuds in because the effect of the stories was so profound. But I did wonder if maybe there was a better way. In doing some research for more comfortable (but also extremely expensive) sleep earbuds, I stumbled across this sleep mask from LC-Dolida (this post is not sponsored):
This mask is hypoallergenic, ultra-soft, and gentle on even the most delicate skin. Sunglasses-shaped eye mask is suitable for all face shapes, effectively blocks light, prevents light leakage, and makes your sleep better.
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| Product image of the LC-Dolida sleep mask with built in bluetooth headphones. |
I've previously not had great success with sleep masks, but decided to take a shot on this one, especially since the price ($32 when I purchased) was fairly non-daunting. It was well-worth the money and has been a complete game-changer.
The mask comes assembled and with a nice drawstring bag for storage, which I do use during the day. The mask is composed of two bits: a soft exoskeleton through which the wires, speakers, and control modules are arranged. The electronics can be removed, so the mask can be machine-washed, and then replaced afterwards.
The material of the mask is exceptionally light and comfortable--very plush, especially around the eyes. The raised eye cushions deform well for me as when I sleep on my side, though based on the Amazon reviews, your mileage may vary. However, I didn't have any problems using the mask while sleeping in that configuration. The hook-and-loop strap is very adjustable, but I like it somewhat tight and as a result the strap can overhang quite a bit and bunch up, which is mildly annoying at worst but not any sort of dealbreaker or anything I even notice after a few seconds.
Moving on to the electronics, I was really blown away. I was expecting the speakers to be low quality at best but they really are not. The sound is rich and well-separated with decent highs, mids, and lows. You could actively listen to music on these if you wanted. There are several buttons on the control module, accessible on the front of the mask, that control volume and play/pause/power. This is very ideal for me; one of the only downsides to listening to the sleep stories on a playlist is that they may have different volumes, and I need to handle my phone in the middle of the night, half-asleep, to correct a too-loud or too-quiet video. With the buttons built into the mask, there's no need.
The speakers are well-positioned for my ears but if they are slightly offset, you can compensate by raising the volume--they get very loud if you want them too. I usually have iOS background sounds on ("Rain" is my current go-to sound) in combination with a video from my Stephen Dalton playlist, and the mask beautifully handles both the white-noise style of the rain sounds underneath the gentle music, Stephen's voice, and whatever music and sound design he sees fit to add. It is a perfectly comfortable listening experience. The padding within the 'arms' of the mask and the small cushions on the speakers themselves make it so I cannot feel the speakers through the mask during normal use.
Maintenance is very straightforward, although it also leads me to really the only flaw of the mask. To wash the mask, simply pull the speakers and control module out of the arms and face of the mask (they are all connected) and machine-wash the mask, then replace the electronics. The speakers go in easy enough, but I cannot figure out for the life of me how to get the control module back into its place on the front of the mask. I can put it in the right spot, but it almost immediately comes out and falls to one side or the other. This makes using the buttons somewhat of a guessing game, but its not too hard. I just wish I could figure out what I did wrong--when I first got the mask, the control module was fixed in place, and I can't seem to recover that original configuration no matter how long I play around with it.
Overall, I am extremely pleased with this sleep mask. I foresee it being a permanent staple of my bedtime routine, as it solves practically all the remaining problems I was having getting to sleep. Now I get to sleep quickly and simply stay asleep, without needing to pop any earbuds out. I wake up in the morning these days finding several of Stephen's stories have been played all the way through, with absolutely no memory of any of them, which is an incredibly satisfying feeling for someone who has long struggled with sleeping deeply through the night.
Previously on this blog:
