Want to feel more rested each day? It's all about quality over quantity.

My name is Jess and I'm a sleep freak. If there were an Olympic event for sleep, I would win gold every single time. I love sleep, I value sleep, and I will cancel plans if I need to get more of it. And yes, I get the recommended seven to nine hours a night. No, I don't have kids so this is completely possible. However, I've realized a dramatic change in the way I feel in the morning and throughout the day since making one small change.

The sleep mask.

I know. It sounds too simple or even silly. To be honest, I used to scoff at people who wore those things. I thought they were overdramatic or super posh until I ordered some pajamas and received a free one in the box. I'll admit that it spent much of its infancy in the drawer of my bedside table. After reading about the benefits of sleeping in total darkness and realizing that total darkness is not an option in my apartment, I decided to give it a shot.

Now, it should be noted that I use a sleep app on my phone (I told you I was dedicated) to monitor my sleep habits and to gently wake me in the morning depending on what sleep cycle I'm currently in (again, gold medal sleeper). My sleep percentage was in the high 70's and low 80's, according to this app. I didn't like the idea of getting less than an A on my assignment each night so I enlisted the help of the sleep mask and my percentage for the last week and a half has easily been in the high 80's and low 90's.

Jackpot!

Not only is the quality better on my app, I can also feel it throughout the day. I used to start looking for excuses to not workout in the afternoon around 2:30. Now, I still sometimes look for excuses not to get to the gym, but it is never because I feel too tired. I've always considered myself a morning person, but I am feeling more energy throughout the day. To take it a step further, I feel that being energized is also helping me make better choices, like drinking more water and eating better. Maybe eventually I'll see these fine lines and wrinkles go away.

And to think, I almost missed out on something so simple, yet so life-changing, all because I thought I would look silly... while sleeping.

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