From magnesium to 'moon mylk': 18 women share the hacks they swear help them sleep better.

Sleep is the most competitive sport none of us signed up for. And yet, every morning, the scoreboard (read: our faces) tells it all.

Here at Mamamia, we are kinda obsessed with sleep.

Sleep hacks and sleep hygiene. How to function on broken sleep. GP-approved sleep advice. We want it all.

So, in the spirit of sharing what actually works, I asked the Mamamia team to spill their best sleep hacks — the simple rituals, go-to products and nightly non-negotiables that turn wired-and-tired into out-like-a-light.

From magnesium to something called 'moon mylk', meditation apps and viral TikTok lamps, here's exactly what our team swears by to drift off faster.

It goes without saying, these are our personal recommendations; what works for one person might not for another, but it's worth a try!

Listen: A GP explains why you're not sleeping and how to get a better night's sleep below.

Best sleep supplements and bodycare.

For many on the team, topical magnesium sprays and other sleep aids are a game changer, taken thoughtfully and paired with a calm routine.

Maddy says magnesium-infused body care "changes lives", while Jemma adds, "I may or may not spray magnesium on my feet…"

TBH, I'm in the same boat and find Salt Lab's magnesium spray and cream helpful when it's time to wind down.

Aside from topicals, chocolate-flavoured sleep drinks that "taste like Nesquick" are a favourite amongst the team.

Sharn finds Adrenal Magnesium Sleep Drink helps create a sense of relaxation as part of her evening routine.

Amy tried Moon Mylk from Nu Harvest after being targeted with an Instagram ad and says she'll brew a cup on nights she's struggling to switch her brain off.

Image: Instagram/Salt Lab + NuHarvest.

But if chocolate before bed isn't your thing, there are plenty of other refreshing choices, like Lucy's lemon-flavoured option, Bioceuticals Ultra Muscleze Night Powder*.

"I also have a diffuser with Dream Drops essential oils in it, and use a magnesium and lavender moisturiser," she says.

Then, there are those viral sleep gummies you've seen all over TikTok, and other herbal magnesium-based chewable supplements available from various retailers in Australia.

If you're trying supplements for the first time, have a chat with your GP or medical professional to make sure it's right for you. Plus, always read the label and follow directions for use.

And sometimes, a warm mug can be as helpful as any supplements out there, according to Kelsey, who loves chamomile tea to mark the end of the day.

"I think it's just a placebo but I'll take anything I can get."

Best sleep masks, earplugs and light/noise blockers.

Sometimes the simplest tools make the biggest difference.

Several of us can't sleep without physically blocking light and sound. Sunny and Ailish admitted they're "religious eye mask wearers".

Morgan even added that she "can't sleep anymore without an eye mask."

"I used to have a few bad nights' sleep every month, now I always sleep through until my alarm," she explained.

And Gemma goes for a multi-layered approach: "I actually wear earbuds every single night. I also have rain sounds on and sometimes a sleep mask."

In short: when you cut out the light and soften the noise, your brain gets the memo it's bedtime.

WATCH: The Mamamia team share their best sleep hacks. Post continues below.

Best sleep meditations, apps and podcasts.

If silence makes your brain too anxious (hello, @me), you're not alone. These are the audio helpers we actually use.

For Kelsey, it's as simple as a familiar favourite: "The Sleep Zone Podcast."

Monisha needs a gentle guide to drift off, sharing, "I can't sleep in silence, so I have to sleep with a little sleep meditation on to fall asleep!"

Catherine is loyal to a calming classic on YouTube, recommending "The Honest Guys sleep meditation," while Bree swears by a story to lull her out of the day with the "Calm app sleep stories."

If variety helps you nod off, Tessa has got you covered: "The Balance app has a tonne of like white noise, sleep meditations, and I'm slightly co-dependent now."

And for those who want steady sound without narration, Raffaella has found her sweet spot: "Lately, to help focus when reading, I've been using A Soft Murmer (a white noise app). Stops me picking up the phone and doom scrolling."

Gadgets and wake-up hacks.

Getting to sleep is half the battle; waking up gently can be just as transformative, which is where one particular TikTok viral product helps one of our team members.

Lucy swears by a sunrise alarm clock: "I've recently bought one of those sunrise lamps that everyone's been talking about on TikTok, and I can confirm they are worth the hype. I just wake up feeling so refreshed, no more jolting awake. It also has one of those sound settings, so I can listen to meditation music to fall asleep."

Check retailers like Amazon, The Good Guys and Kmart for sunrise alarm clock options.

@ylilnoon

Replying to @Soph Shorland this has changed the wake up game for me as I always wake up to the light before the alarm goes off! Srsly recommend #sunrisealarmclock #sunriselamp #temuhaul #temureview

♬ original sound - lily 🤍

Wind down rituals and routines.

Screens off. Lamps low. Books out. That's the vibe for a lot of us.

Olivia ensures she sets the scene first: "A lavender mist spray is so good, more so for setting the space and just a change in the environment, and also a good book. That just makes your eyes tired, and it's way better than being distracted on your phone."

Sharn is convinced the process of achieving good quality sleep doesn't just start when the sun goes down — it's a 24/7 job.

"I think a good sleep is all about what you do during the day, so eat well and exercise regularly," she explained.

"And then in the evenings, I like to have a good 'boom, out like a light' routine. So, an hour before, all electronics go off and make sure my room's nice and quiet, read a book and just help myself get into a good rhythm every night, seven days a week."

The common thread? Creating a consistent pre-bed routine signals to your body it's safe to wind down.

A sleep divorce.

And sometimes the best sleep hack has nothing to do with you, but instead, the person next to you….

"Not sleeping with your partner," Sally admitted.

"My partner drives me insane. He will snore, he will twitch, he will randomly jolt awake. Just don't sleep next to them. Send them downstairs onto the couch and you're all good."

Yep, rest comes first, and we'll do anything to make it happen.

*Always read the label and follow directions for use.

At Mamamia, we independently curate and write about products we rave about in our group chats and think you should know about too. If you purchase a product we have recommended, we may earn a small commission.

Feature image: TikTok/@atashleythomas, Instagram/@nuharvest.

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