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EARPLUGS AND A sleep mask were not suggested as aids to assist with some sleeping problems. Being a light sleeper, I experienced difficulty falling asleep and remaining asleep when night shift work dictated sleeping during daylight hours. (My apartment happened to be near a children’s playground.) One of my colleagues suggested a set of wax earplugs to block out the noise. I gave them a try and slept undisturbed all day. I have used them ever since and have tried many types as well (wax, foam, silicone). —Robert Ketcheson, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Our February article “How to Get the Sleep You Really Need” offered expert advice for getting your nightly rest. And CR readers chimed in with some smart sleep tips of their own. To join the conversation, go to CR.org/bettersleep. MY TRICK FOR falling asleep is listening to podcasts about sports, as well as audiobooks on history and other nonfiction [topics]. I use comfortable in-ear headphones at a low volume, with an off timer set for about 30 minutes. For me, Apple’s wired EarPods block just enough sound and don’t become irritating. —Aaron Isgar, Honolulu DON’T COUNT SHEEP, instead count backward by 3 from 300. It can require some persistence, but I’ve had nearly
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100 percent success getting to sleep or back to sleep. It’s really amazing how effective this is in turning off an overactive mind. —David Dornbusch, Ithaca, NY YOUR ARTICLE ON sleep was very helpful but missed one important option: using meditation apps. I use a free one called InsightTimer, and I know there are others. If you go to Sleep on the home page, they offer a list of categories such as Sleep Music and Bedtime Stories. I use sleep meditations, which includes a wide variety of guided meditations that help slow my busy mind. I also use them if I have trouble going back to sleep in the middle of the night. —E. Patrick Fuerst, Moscow, ID
IN YOUR RECENT article you had several suggestions. I tried and/or use them all. I have an additional one I want to share that has been the most important for me: flipping my alarm clock down. When having trouble sleeping, I would often look over at my clock, which always made it worse, no matter what time it was. 2 a.m.? Man, I am only going to get 4 hours, best-case scenario. 4 a.m.? Ah, shucks; what’s the point of even trying to sleep now? With my alarm facing down, if I wake up, I just tell myself that it doesn’t make a difference what time it is. It’s still dark out, and my alarm will tell me when to get up. It’s such a small thing that has helped me get out of my head. —Kevin Lang, Denver
DARK CHOCOL ATE
THANK YOU FOR “Is Dark Chocolate Really Good for You?” (February 2022) highlighting the problem of exploitation in the cocoa industry. I refuse to buy major-label chocolate [brands that] won’t guarantee their cocoa beans are not harvested using child slave labor. I try my best to be a conscientious consumer. I try to be cognizant of what the end result of my purchases might be. Keep up the good work. —Paula Evensen, St. Louis Park, MN I’VE HEARD DARK chocolate contains caffeine, sometimes in significant amounts. I’m surprised this article does not mention that. I would like to see a comparison study of different brands. —Joel Metzger, via CR.org EDITOR’S NOTE Dark chocolate does contain caffeine but in relatively small amounts. An ounce of chocolate with 70 to 85
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