Sleep Mask

Nurses Stress 101

Published

Specializes in Emergency.

Hello,

I am looking for reviews on specific sleeping masks. I am going to start working the night shift at the end of January and I need complete darkness or I don't really sleep. My living situation now does not allow for me to put up curtains, or foil in the windows as others have suggested before, so in the mean time for the few months that I will be renting a furnished room in someone's home, I am looking to find a comfortable sleep mask so I can sleep well in the day light without having to alter someone else's home by hanging curtain rods or violating their HOA policy by putting up foil.

One that was particularly interesting to me was the tempur pedic one. I know it's a little pricey for a face mask at about $30 but, if it's worth it, I don't mind making the purchase.

I'm also looking for some comfortable ear plugs. Any special brands? The wife where I am living now doesn't work and has the TV on all day which happens to hang on the wall that the head of my bed is on in my room. Since it's a furnished room, I cannot do any rearranging and even if the TV is on low, I can still hear it. Requesting she not watch TV in her own home is going to be rude on my part, especially since my rent is VERY low. They are actually doing me a huge favor with the low rent.

Specializes in Pediatrics.

What about using tension rods to put up light blocking lined curtains? It doesn't damage anything as thrift inside the window that's what I did when living in a furnished appt because the sleep masks don't stay on for me. Best of Luck!

Specializes in Emergency.
What about using tension rods to put up light blocking lined curtains? It doesn't damage anything as thrift inside the window that's what I did when living in a furnished appt because the sleep masks don't stay on for me. Best of Luck!

I had thought of that, but there's no space the way the blinds are set up to do that, even with the tiny ones. :/ this situation I am in is not ideal, so thank heavens it's only temporary.

Ok I know this sounds ghetto, but it totally worked for me. I can't take credit for this idea, but I'm so glad I took the advice.

For light blocking: Affix black poster board to your window behind your mini blinds. From the outside it just looks like your lights are off. You really can't tell there's poster board up. And if the blinds stay closed, you can't tell from the inside either.

For sound: Nothing works better than a box fan. Look online for a good, loud white noise machine. My 2 and 4 yr old are home with my mom all day and I can't hear a thing if my fan is on.

Good luck!

Specializes in Oncology, Palliative Care.

I use a cheap sleep mask from Ulta... $7 I think. & any ole foam ear plugs from the drug store will block out tons of sound... I use cheap blue foam ones from Walmart. I think they were less than $4 for a box of 50.

I got a sleep mask from Walmart for about 2 bucks. It worked fine.

A fan will block out the noise, a cheap one from Walmart will work fine. You can always exchange or return it with no problem.

Sleep with your head at the foot of the bed.

Specializes in Oncology, Palliative Care.

Sleep with your head at the foot of the bed.

That's really good advice!!

Specializes in Emergency.
Ok I know this sounds ghetto, but it totally worked for me. I can't take credit for this idea, but I'm so glad I took the advice.

For light blocking: Affix black poster board to your window behind your mini blinds. From the outside it just looks like your lights are off. You really can't tell there's poster board up. And if the blinds stay closed, you can't tell from the inside either.

For sound: Nothing works better than a box fan. Look online for a good, loud white noise machine. My 2 and 4 yr old are home with my mom all day and I can't hear a thing if my fan is on.

Good luck!

I don't want to get her dinged by her HOA is the problem. The room I rent is right up front at street view. If she gets a citation because of me, I'd feel terrible.

My boyfriends snoring has been keeping me awake lately, so I have been experimenting with earplugs. The foam ones really hurt my ears and seem to fall out after a couple of hours. I tried Mack's silicone earplugs and they work so good for me. I can't hear the snoring at all when I'm wearing them. They don't go in your ear canal, they just squish on the outside of your ear to block the opening.

Specializes in Emergency.
My boyfriends snoring has been keeping me awake lately so I have been experimenting with earplugs. The foam ones really hurt my ears and seem to fall out after a couple of hours. I tried Mack's silicone earplugs and they work so good for me. I can't hear the snoring at all when I'm wearing them. They don't go in your ear canal, they just squish on the outside of your ear to block the opening.[/quote']

Do they affect you hearing the alarm in the AM? I'll have to try them on a day I don't need to be anywhere. That's my one fear; not hearing the alarm. Yikes!

Have you looked into white noise machines? Or download a white noise/sleep sounds app on your phone

Have been using sleep masks (and ear plugs) for ages now even for normal sleeping.

Started when one moved from the realtive peace and quiet of Staten Island to the Big City (Manhattan) with it's never ending noise both day and night. Thing is now really have a hard time falling asleep without my "gear" so to speak.

I don't spend money on anything fancy, just whatever can be found at Duane Read or maybe other shops that is inexpensive but does the job. Will admit kind of like my newest mask that is filled with some type of beads. Supposedly the pressure does wonders for dark circles/bags under one's eyes. So far though haven't noticed that much of difference, but then again am at the age when one does not look into mirrors first thing in the morning! *LOL*

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