My deep sleep quest: I tried 11 popular insomnia cures. Do any of them actually work?

For now, my most restful nights are the ones when I convince myself that it doesn’t really matter. The best medicine, I fear, may be acceptance.

  Can’t Sleep? Here Are Some Surprising Strategies That Actually Work

The pandemic has given us a year of lousy sleep and insomnia. Scientists say the usual fixes aren’t helping. Here’s what to do instead.

  To Get Better Sleep, Maybe Try Staying Awake

And yet the best treatment for chronic insomnia, according to the scientific literature, is one that most people haven’t tried, no doubt at least in part because it sounds insane: The secret to getting better sleep may be to purposefully get less of it, at least for a time.

  How to Get a Better Night's Sleep

Most people know they need to eat right and exercise to be healthy. But what about sleep? We spend about one-third of our lives asleep, and sleep is essential to better health. But many of us are struggling with sleep. Four out of five people say that they suffer from sleep problems at least once a week

 Can’t Sleep? Treat Yourself Like a Baby

Can the “five S’s” used to calm fussy babies — swaddle, side or stomach position, shush, swing and suck — also help grown-ups snooze? A reporter finds out.

 Do Weighted Blankets Work for Insomnia or Anxiety?

I prepared to fall into the deepest slumber I’d ever had. This is what happened instead.

 Finally, a cure for insomnia?

We are living through an epidemic of sleeplessness, but the medical establishment has largely ignored the problem. Can a radical new therapy help you get some sleep?

 Getting a Good Night’s Sleep Without Drugs

Alternatives to prescription drugs for insomnia offer better, safer and more long-lasting solutions, experts say.

 Having trouble sleeping? Here’s the science on 3 traditional bedtime remedies

While these sleep remedies are unlikely to be harmful, the overall evidence on improvement in quality of sleep is weak. You may like to try them, but you shouldn’t see any of them as a quick fix.

Better Than Ambien

A new book argues sleeping pills aren’t the answer to chronic insomnia. Instead, a simple, natural trick works better.

Break the Cycle of Insomnia

“One of the most important things about promoting good sleep and avoiding insomnia is not to use your bed for anything other than sleep and sex,” Dr. Foldvary-Schaefer said. The goal here is to separate your sleep space and habits as much as possible from your waking space and habits.

Can ASMR Be Used to Treat Anxiety or Insomnia?

Anyone who experiences the phenomenon knows how relaxing it can be. Now, researchers are starting to take the possibility of therapeutic uses seriously.

Chronic Insomnia? Hitting The Treadmill Could Help ... Eventually

Studies on exercise and sleep come up with the same conclusion time after time: If you want to hit the hay earlier and sleep better, get a good cardio workout. But if you're already sleep-deprived, don't expect a 30-minute run or stint on the elliptical to knock you out quicker tonight.

Help for Middle-of-the Night Insomnia

Doctors have some surprising suggestions for anyone who wakes up and can’t fall back asleep, the most common type of insomnia.

How listening to music could help you beat insomnia

Research has shown that listening to “self-selected” music – music of your choice – can actually shorten stage two sleep cycles. This means people reach restful REM sleep – the restorative part of our sleep – more quickly.

How to get a good night’s sleep

A science journalist spent months researching sleep. Here’s what he found.

How To Get Sleep In Uneasy Times

Having trouble getting to sleep these days? You're not alone. For people with a history of insomnia, sleep problems are magnified right now. And many who never struggled before are suddenly experiencing interruptions in their nightly rest or difficulty falling asleep.

The 2-minute guide to getting better sleep

Insufficient sleep is a public health problem. But while we hear plenty about how we should be getting more sleep, it turns out that quality of sleep can sometimes have greater benefits than the quantity. It might be worth trying to sleep better instead of just longer. Here are three simple tips to get you started:

The best foods to eat for a good night’s sleep

It stands to reason then that following overly restrictive diets or diets that put you at risk of nutrient deficiencies can really affect your sleep. But by increasing your intakes of foods rich in specific nutrients, it may well help to promote better sleep quality and duration.

Top tips to get a better night’s sleep and improve your health

It is becoming increasingly clear that getting enough sleep is vital for our physical and mental well-being. Now, sleep scientist Matthew Walker and others have shown how getting enough sleep is also one of the most important things you can do to protect your brain from Alzheimer’s disease. Here’s his advice on how to sleep better and reap the benefits.

What Really Works When You're Too Anxious To Fall Asleep

Why is it that just when our heads hit the pillow our thoughts take off in a sprint? Our brains have this annoying tendency to ruminate on worst-case scenarios and other negative reflections at night -- and all that worry is seriously disrupting our ability to fall asleep.

What should I eat for a good night's sleep?

One third of us suffer from insomnia at some stage in our lives, and most of us have mild trouble sleeping from time to time. Whether you're struggling to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both, many factors play a role. These include stress, distracting environments and the food you eat.

What Works for Insomnia

Some of the most popular treatments for Insomnia are not necessarily the most effective, according to a new study by CureTogether, a free resource owned by 23andMe that allows people to share information about their health and treatments.