20 Breakthrough Gifts For Insomniacs – Help Them To Sleep

These gift ideas can help an insomniac get more sleep, which is a game changer for both their physical and mental well-being.

There's nothing more frustrating than being unable to get to sleep every night, or to constantly wake up and not be able to drift off again.

As this can feel like a form of torture, leaving you feeling knackered each morning, and over time affect both your physical and mental health.

So, if you asked anyone who struggles with insomnia what they'd most want as a gift, they'd most likely say the gift of more sleep.

And while none of us can magically grant them that wish, you can buy them things that will help them get to sleep more easily, and to maintain it once there.

So to give you an idea of what you can get them, I've put together the following list of gift ideas for insomniacs, which will all improve their sleep chances in one way or another.

1. Herbal Teas To Calm Them Down Before Bedtime

One of the first things that someone who struggles to sleep can do to improve their situation is to get into some good habits in the lead up to bedtime.

This includes not drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, staying away from stimulation in the form of smartphones, TVs, and computers, and learning to relax both the body and the mind.

So the first gift idea for insomniacs on this list is to get them some herbal teas to help calm their nervous system in preparation for sleep.

As these teas are caffeine-free and contain ingredients such as valerian root and chamomile that are ideal for putting you into a relaxed state.

And for tea that is especially good for helping people sleep, check out the Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime herbal teas range.

2. Epsom Bath Salts For A Relaxing Pre-Sleep Soak

Another great way to relax and put yourself into the ideal calm state needed to be able to go to sleep is to take a nice evening soak in the tub.

As the heat from the water absorbs into your tired body, relaxing your muscles and clearing your mind of the days stresses.

And one way you can amplify this effect is by adding epsom bath salts to the water.

As these are made of magnesium sulfate, which absorbs into your skin and helps to produce seratonin, which will calm and soothe you even more.

So a pack of epsom salts can be a nice little stocking filler to give them the best chance of getting to sleep after taking a bath.

And why not go the extra mile by getting them the Dr Teal's Soothe & Sleep bath gift set, which also has soothing lavender body wash, bath bombs and body lotion included.

3. A Scented Candle To Soothe And Relax Them

Having certain scents and aromas in your bedroom can also help someone to unwind and fall asleep, as they can act as a relaxant for the nervous system.

And one of the best scents you can have for this is lavender, which is well renowned for being relaxing and for helping people to sleep.

So treating a loved one to a scented candle containing lavender can be a really nice gift idea.

As they can light it in the bedroom in the evenings and get the benefits of the soothing aromas.

And a great lavender candle for this purpose is the Chesapeake Bay Serenity & Calm scented candle.

4. An Essential Oils Diffuser And Humidifier

Another gift idea that can fill a bedroom with soothing aromas to help a person sleep is to get them a diffuser of essential oils.

As once filled with a mixture of water and the essential oils of your choice, it will spray out a mist of goodness at regular intervals to keep the bedroom smelling lovely.

And this has been found to help improve sleep quality and limit the amount of disrupted sleep that people experience.

So why not get them one of these for their bedroom, such as the Everlasting Comfort cool mist humidifier.

As this one does a top job of circulating the aromas, and has a sleep friendly silent operation at night, so it won't disturb or wake them. 

And as for which essential oils to put in it, the Sleep & Relaxation blend by Prime Naturals is a good starting point.

As this contains lavender, chamomile, sage, marjoram, and balsam aromas, which all work to promote relaxation and ease tension.

5. Lavender Mist Spray To Encourage Sleep

The quickest and easiest way to get the calming scent of lavender and chamomile into the bedroom to help you sleep is by using a mist spray.

These contain a mixture of essential oils mixed with distilled water that you can spray into the air and onto your pillow and bed linen.

So you'll be breathing in the soothing scents throughout the night, making it much easier to sleep.

Which makes them a nice gift idea for people with insomnia, and for one that is safe to use and has both lavender and chamomile in, check out the Asutra aromatherapy mist spray.

6. A Book To Get Them Into Meditation For Better Sleep

Meditating in the evenings before going to bed is a great thing for anyone who is struggling to sleep to do.

As this helps to calm and steady the mind, while the focus on controlled breathing also helps the body to relax too.

Meaning it'll put them in the ideal relaxed state to have the best chance of being able to drift off when your head hits the pillow.

So a gift idea that can encourage them to give meditation a try and see if it helps, is to buy them the Buddha's Book Of Sleep by Joseph Emet.

As this book will guides them through various mindfulness meditation exercises which can have them sleeping better in as little as seven weeks.

7. A Comfortable Pillow To Rest Their Head On

Having a comfortable pillow to rest your head on at night can make a massive difference to your ability to get a deep and satisfying sleep.

And it needs to be a pillow which suits your preferred sleeping position too, as this will keep your head, neck, and spine in alignment, keeping you relaxed in a healthy sleeping posture throughout the night.

So getting an insomniac a new head pillow can make for a lovely gift for them, and a great all rounder is the Coop Home Goods shredded foam pillow.

As this one contains pieces of shredded foam that can be added or removed, meaning you can change the height, loft, and feel of it, to suit different sleep positions.

However, if they need a flatter pillow, then you could also check out the Coop Home Goods Eden pillow, which is softer and allows their head to sink in more.

8. A Comfortable And Supportive Mattress Topper

Another thing that might be contributing to someone's sleep problems is if their mattress has become tired and out of shape.

Because it can be so much harder to sleep on a mattress that is too soft, too hard, or sags in all the wrong places,

As this adds pressure and strain onto the body, which puts you in a tense state that is the opposite of the calm and relaxed state you need for optimal sleep.

So a really helpful gift idea for anyone with an old and busted mattress is to get them a mattress topper.

As these can breathe new life into an old mattress, adding comfort and support exactly where it's needed.

So check out the Viscosoft gel memory foam mattress topper for one that can add softer cushioning to a hard mattress, which will relieve pressure and make them more comfortable.

Or if their mattress is too soft, then go for the Viscosoft Serene latex mattress topper instead, as this will add more support and stability.

9. A Weighted Blanket To Calm Any Sleep Anxiety

Stress, anxiety, and an overly active mind are all factors that can contribute to a person's struggle to sleep.

So a gift that can really help them to settle down and overcome these issues is a weighted blanket.

As the extra weight of these blankets produces something called deep touch pressure, which mimics the comforting sensation of a hug or massage.

This helps them to relax as it releases seratonin in the body, which quietens the nervous system and calms them down.

While the heaviness of the blanket will also stop them from tossing and turning so much during the night, encouraging a deeper and more restorative sleep.

So if this sounds like a gift a loved one would get good use from, check out the Baloo weighted blanket.

10. A Pair Of Blackout Curtains For Total Darkness

Being able to get total darkness in the bedroom can be a big help when you are trying to get to sleep.

As this acts as a signal to the brain that it's time to slow down, switch off, and rest.

And a great way of achieving this is with a pair or blackout curtains or blinds, as these will stop any light from getting through and disturbing your sleep.

So why not treat an insomniac to a pair of the Nicetown blackout curtains for their bedroom.

As these do a great job of blocking out all light, and are thick and insulated so also muffle outside sounds too.

And they make for an especially good gift for shift workers that may have to sleep during daylight hours too.

11. A Comfortable Blackout Sleeping Mask

While blackout curtains are great for blocking out light from outside, they can't do anything about light distractions coming from inside your bedroom.

Which means things like digital alarm clocks, flashing smartphone notifications, electronics on standby mode, and light coming in from under the door can still be a problem.

So a gift that can help someone to make their bedroom pitch black from the inside too is to get them a blackout sleeping mask.

As this will ensure they don't get disturbed or woken by any flashes of light during the night.

And a really comfortable and effective choice for this is the Manta Sleep Mask Pro, with its deep, contoured eye sockets and a strap that sits above the ears, not over them.

12. Foam Ear Plugs To Block Out Any Distracting Noises

Another thing that can make it really hard to get to sleep is having to deal with noise disturbances, both from inside the house and out on the street.

And this is especially a problem for people that live in built up, urban areas with lots of traffic and footfall.

Or those that sleep with partners who snore!

So getting them some foam ear plugs can really help them to drown out this background noise and drift off into a peaceful sleep.

With the Mack's ultra soft foam ear plugs being a good choice, as they fit comfortably and unobtrusively inside your ears as you sleep.

13. A White Noise Machine To Muffle Out External Noise

While foam ear plugs can be effective for drowning out noise, wearing them every night may not be comfortable in the long run.

So an alternative option to avoid noise distractions is to use a white noise machine instead.

As these machines deliver a random, constant white noise of non-repetitive sounds that block out any one-off sounds that may disturb you otherwise.

With the consistent low-level noise they produce encouraging you to fall into a really deep and peaceful sleep.

So one of these can make a great gift, and a welcome addition for any insomniacs bedroom, with my choice being the LectroFan white noise machine.

As this one comes with 10 different white noise options, and 30 volume settings, so they can get it sounding exactly as they want.

14. An Analog Alarm Clock To Replace Their Smartphone's Alarm

It's really important that anyone who struggles to sleep makes their bedroom as sleep friendly as possible.

This means having things like blackout curtains, dimmable lights, and removing any electronic equipment that can over stimulate them, such as TVs and laptops.

And one of the biggest mistakes that people make in this area is having their smartphones in the bedroom overnight and using them as an alarm clock.

Because having your phone to hand keeps your mind active, as the world of emails, social media, and WhatsApp is always at reach.

And by using these devices late at night, you expose yourself to blue light which puts the brain into a state of arousal, making it really hard to sleep.

So, why not help someone to leave their phones in another room by getting them an analog alarm clock, such as the one above.

As these do just as good a job of waking them up as their phone does, and they don't have any flashing lights or noisy beeps that are going to wake them up during the night either.

15. A Himalayan Salt Lamp With A Soothing Glow

Reading a book just before bedtime is a great way to relax and prepare your mind for sleep.

However many bedrooms are equipped with bright downlights, and this brightness can hinder the release of melatonin in your body, and keep your brain in a much too alert and aroused state.

So getting someone some softer lighting for their bedroom is another good gift idea, and one option you could go for is a Himalayan salt lamp.

As these lamps not only look great and give out a warm and soothing glow, it's also said that the salts can improve the air quality of your bedroom and improve your mood.

So for a good one that also comes with a dimmer switch, check out the Himalayan salt lamp above.

16. A Bedroom Fan To Keep Them Cool

It can be really hard trying to get to sleep in a bedroom that is too hot.

So if you know someone with insomnia that lives in a warm climate, or a hot house, then getting them a bedroom fan can be really helpful.

As this will cool things down, circulate the air around the room, and keep their body temperature down to a level where sleep comes more easily.

With the Vornado whole room air circulator fan being an ideal choice, as this comes in a variety of sizes, depending on how big their bedroom is.

And the 3 speed settings mean they can select the one that they find the most comfortable. 

17. A Sleep Journal To Highlight Any Issues That May Be Causing Their Insomnia

Keeping a sleep journal is a really good way of identifying and highlighting any habits, reasons, or behaviours which may be contributing to your insomnia.

This can include things such as keeping track of what you eat or drink, which activities you do in the evenings, what time you go to bed, how many hours of sleep you get, and even the thoughts you're having at the time.

And by doing this you can make any necessary changes to improve your sleep hygiene, and give yourself the best chance of overcoming the problem.

So getting a loved one a sleep journal like the one above, so they can track their sleeping habits, can be a really helpful gift idea, if they are on board with it.

18. A More Proactive Sleep Journal

If you want a more proactive gift to give to someone who struggles to sleep, then how about a sleep journal with helpful prompts to calm their racing mind.

Because this is exactly what the F*ck, I Can't Sleep: An Insomniac's Journal does, giving the user a chance to note down their worries and anxieties and let them go.

And it's all done in an entertaining adult way that empathizes with an insomniacs frustration!

19. A Workbook To Help Them Beat Insomnia

How people think about sleep and their ability to get to sleep can be a massive factor in if they are successful or not.

Because if their head is full of stressful and negative thoughts, it will be impossible to relax, and their mind and body will remain in a state of anxious arousal.

Which is not ideal for getting a good night's sleep, to say the least.

So people with insomnia need to challenge this negative thinking about sleep, and learn to think in a more positive and realistic way instead.

And an effective way to achieve this is with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.

Because this teaches people how to recognise any negative thoughts, challenge them, and reframe them into more positive and truthful versions.

Which can lead to a complete mind shift that will allow them to relax and think positively about sleep instead, and finally be able to drift off without any trouble.

So getting a loved one a book on CBT for insomnia that allows them to work through their thoughts on their own can be another really helpful gift.

And a good one to give them is The Insomnia Workbook by Stephanie Silberman, as this guides them through the whole process of challenging and reframing their thinking.

20. An Interesting Book On The Importance Of Sleep

Another book that comes highly recommended as a gift for anyone that has problems sleeping is Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker.

As this one goes into great detail about the importance of sleep and dreams for our overall health.

Plus has plenty of information on the whole mechanics of sleep and why we need it.

And by understanding the ins and outs of sleep in more detail, this will hopefully make it easier for them to come by.

Rounding Up

Getting a good night's sleep is one of the most important things for our physical and mental health and well-being.

And when we are deprived of it during periods of insomnia, it can be a nightmare.

So if you know someone who struggles with their sleep, treat them to a gift that can help them reach the land of slumber.

As each of the gift ideas for insomniacs that I've given you here will help them do just that.