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Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
4th of July sales start now — 41 deals I recommend as deals editor
As deals editor-in-chief at Tom's Guide, late June is one of the busiest times of the year for me. With Independence Day less than a week out, practically every retailer has launched its 4th of July sales. Meanwhile, there are multiple early Prime Day deals to choose from as well. All this translates to a bargain hunter's dream come true as there are sales everywhere you turn. One of my favorite 4th of July sales right now comes from Amazon. In the lead up to the holiday (and to Prime Day), Amazon is taking up to 85% off sitewide. Yes, there's some junky stuff in there, but I love that Apple's M4 Macs are on sale from $849. Likewise, Amazon Haul has back-to-school deals from $3. Naturally, I plan to do a lot of shopping myself in the next few days from replacing my existing iPhone/Apple Watch charger to picking up some new workout apparel. Below you'll find all of my favorite deals happening this weekend. If you're not familiar, Amazon Haul is a new storefront featuring inexpensive deals on fashion, home, lifestyle, and more. Right now they have a massive back to college sale with deep discounts on brands like Adidas, Under Armour, Timberland, and more. As part of their latest sale, you can get name-brand apparel from $3. Lego sale: deals from $8 @ AmazonThe best Lego deals can usually be found in November and December, but Amazon is slashing the price of select sets. You can get everything from Disney to Star Wars as well as generic sets. The Blink Outdoor is a fully wireless home security camera that records video in 1080p, lets you store video locally (or in the cloud) and has a two-year battery life. The Editor's Choice camera holds a spot in our list of the best home security cameras. If you're the kind of runner who always cuts that annoying liner out of your shorts, look no further. These linerless shorts from Lululemon are designed for running and training, in a lightweight fabric that moves with you. The 7-inch leg length and classic fit is comfortable on the move, and there's a cord waistband, allowing you to pull the shorts tight against your stomach to minimize movement. They're one of my favorite running shorts. Patio and garden event: up to 50% off @ WalmartWalmart has launched a major savings event to help you refresh your garden. If you're looking to upgrade your garden, deck or patio for less, consider Walmart's outdoor living section your one-stop shop. The retail giant is currently offering unbeatable discounts of up to 50% on stylish and functional outdoor items, including string lights, fire pits, lounge chairs, garden beds and more. Shark and Ninja appliances: up to 40% off @ WalmartWalmart is offering up to 40% off select Shark and Ninja appliances. The sale includes air fryers, robot vacs, blow dryers, blenders and more. Prices start as low as $49 for Shark devices or $29 for Ninja appliances. LG C4 4K OLED TV: deals from $699 @ AmazonThe C4 is LG's flagship OLED TV. It's powered by LG's A9 processor and features a 120Hz panel, Dolby Vision/ HDR10/HLG support, built-in Amazon Alexa, four HDMI 2.1 ports and Apple AirPlay 2 support. It's also one of the few OLED TVs that can natively accept a 144Hz input from a PC. In our LG C4 OLED TV review, we said the content looked colorful and dazzlingly bright on the new C4 series.42" for $69948" for $89955" for $1,296 65" for $1,29677" for $1,89683" for $2,996 Gymshark: up to 50% off everything @ GymsharkThis is the biggest Gymshark sale I've ever seen. The popular brand is taking up to 50% off everything. Shorts, gym bags, sports bras, hoodies, and more are all on sale with prices from $4. This is a sale we probably won't see again till Black Friday. Carhartt sale: deals from $9 @ AmazonIf you're looking to upgrade your wardrobe, Carhartt has tons of rugged and stylish pieces you'll want to rock all season long. With deals starting at just $9, this is a sale you don't want to miss. Lululemon "We Made Too Much": top picks from $9 @ LululemonLululemon has restocked its "We Made Too Much" section with new running shorts, leggings, tank tops, and more. Prices may vary depending on color selection, but they generally start from $9. Timberland sale: deals from $9 @ AmazonAmazon is hosting a huge Timberland sale with up to 60% off. Timberland has tons of rugged and fashionable footwear and apparel to boost your style. When it's too hot for leggings, opt for these Adidas Techfit Training Shorts. These compression short leggings fit snugly for extra support, while wicking sweat off your body to keep you comfortable and dry. This Adidas training tee is a must have. Its slim fit and simple style make it easy to pair with a variety of workout gear, and it's made with Climacool that wicks sweat off your body to keep you feeling fresh. The 3-stripes down the side are a nice touch, too. Havaianas: up to 60% off @ HavaianasHavaianas is a Brazilian brand known for its colorful and summer-infused flip-flops. Right now, the brand is taking up to 60% off select flip-flops and sunglasses for men and women. After discount, prices start from $7. I've been using my pair at the beach for the past five years and find they're durable and rugged. Hitting the trail? These Adidas shoes will help you do so in comfort and style. Their mesh upper means your feet will stay cool and they're comfortable underfoot thanks to their lightweight cushioning. Our Adidas Ultraboost 5 review called these "a standout option for those who want a good-looking shoe for general use as well as running." We loved their stylish design, grippy soles and smooth-feeling, comfortable foam stack. Another fantastic option is the Fuse 2.0. Although not the latest in the range, this shoe is super roomy and lightweight, and the shoe bends to your foot far more than, say, the R.A.D range, which is thick and plush. I feel like I'm free when I wear these, and they offer so much stability for lifts that I feel like I could be barefoot. At this price, what a steal, seriously. Price varies per model and size. The Metcon range is a top choice amongst CrossFitters, and for good reason. If you enjoy weightlifting and cross training in general, the Metcon range has you covered. In fact, Nike's Metcon sale currently has lots to offer. I personally love the stability of this shoe, which is perfect for barbell work and wall balls. Then, there's the extended rope guard for even more grip during climbs. Price varies per model and size. The Ghost 16 is a cushioned running shoe that's great for all levels of runner, but particularly good for beginners because of the high level of comfort it offers. The Ghost 17 recently launched but having tested both the Ghost 16 and 17, I'd say grabbing the older shoe for $40 less in the sales is the smart move, because the new shoe isn't a major update. Honestly, I am obsessed with these sneakers. Even though R.A.D One V2 is my all-time favorite gym shoe (sorry, currently not on sale), this shoe is creeping up the ranks to become my favorite. Way more versatile than its predecessor, the 4, this shoe handles light running, weightlifting and HIIT, and it has transformed my snatching ability with superb stability. You can also save more by grabbing the Reebok Nano X4 for just $74 at Amazon. Price varies per model and size. The 2025 iPad features a larger 11-inch (2360 x 1640) screen, A16 CPU, 12MP rear/front cameras, USB-C connectivity, and Magic Keyboard Folio ($249) support. The base model features 128GB of storage, which double the capacity of its predecessor. It's available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities. This HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop features a 15.6-inch 1080p touch display, Intel Core Ultra7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. Since it's a 2-in-1 device, you can use this device as a laptop or tablet. Right now it's $400 off, which is a great deal. For under $1,000, you can pick up this solid all-around gaming laptop from Gigabyte. Not only does Nvidia's entry level 40-series graphics card ensure this system supports ray tracing, the presence of an Intel Core i7- 13620H CPU with 16GB of DDR5 RAM should ensure the G6 will run many titles at a smooth 60 frames per second or above at the laptop's native screen resolution of 1920 x 1200. In this impressively thin, light and premium-feeling notebook, you'll find a drop dead gorgeous OLED display, Core Ultra 9-285H chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. We reviewed the smaller 15-inch model and in our Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ PC review, we said the Editor's Choice laptop is a great machine that puts Microsoft on a new path to truly take on the mighty MacBook. Save big on this Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptop, which packs improved battery efficiency and top-tier AI processing. In addition to its X1E-80-100 CPU, this XPS 13 configuration is also equipped with 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage and a 13.4-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) 120Hz display. In our Dell XPS 13 2024 review, we praised this laptop's amazing 19+ hours of battery life. The best Saatva mattress sale is back for the 4th of July with $400 off all orders over $1,000 when you follow our links. That means you can get a queen Saatva Classic for $1,699 (was $2,099), one of the cheapest prices we've seen this year (the cheapest was $1,695). Our team has been consistently impressed with Saatva mattresses and the flagship Classic has earned full marks. We spent over seven months testing it for our Saatva Classic Mattress review, awarding this luxury hybrid innerspring mattress five stars for support, temperature regulation and motion isolation. And with three firmness levels and two heights available, it's a good pick for almost any sleep style. Plus, Saatva offers the best benefits on the market, with a full year's trial, lifetime warranty and free white glove delivery. Use coupon code "TOMS27" to save 27% sitewide in the 4th of July Helix mattress sale. Our top pick is the Helix Midnight Luxe which we consider it a top mattress for side sleepers. Our Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review found it nailed the balance of cushioning and support, with plush comfort at the hips and shoulders. If you aren't a side sleeper, skip the Midnight Luxe and consider the responsive support of the Dusk Luxe instead (we described it as "dreamy" for back and stomach sleepers in our Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review.) Both are 27% off with code "TOMS27" with a queen priced $1,751.03 (was $2,398.66.) All Helix mattresses come with a 100-night trial and a limited lifetime warranty. Purple mattresses use the a malleable GelFlex Grid to create adaptive and unique pressure relief — in our Purple Original Mattress review we described it as delivering a "floating" sensation as you sleep. In the current Purple sale you can save up to $400 on the Purple Original, reducing a queen to just $999. Purple sales can be unpredictable so we recommend you take advantage of this discount while it's still live. All Purple mattresses come with a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty. The Nectar Premier Hybrid is a 13-inch tall mattress that uses cooling fibers and open coils to create a breathable feel. Like many hybrid mattresses, the Premier Hybrid has a supportive coil base while those plush Nectar foams provide superior pressure relief. We haven't tested this current model, but you can learn about the previous iteration with our Nectar Premier Hybrid mattress review. It's well priced for a hybrid, with a queen now $1,099 (was $2,396.) And, of course, you can currently claim your bedding bundle for free. There are plenty of Casper deals to catch your eye, but we're most interested in this Casper Cloud One deal. It uses foam "pillars" to create a responsive, plush feel. Only queen sizes are available, but it's selling at an all-time price low of just $999. The Roku Plus Series is an outstanding value. In our Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV review, we said it offers a great smart interface, HDR color, and excellent sound at an affordable price. It features a QLED screen along with full array local dimming. You also get Dolby Vision/HDR 10 Plus/HLG support, Apple HomeKit/Alexa/Google Assistant support, and four HDMI ports. Gamers take note that while it's reliable for casual play, you only get a 60Hz screen and no HDMI 2.1 support. Hisense is setting a new bar for value with its U6QF Mini-LED TV, which drops Google TV in favor of Fire TV. You still get an awesome suite of features built on a 144Hz refresh rate with HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos support. As one of the cheapest options to get for gaming, the U6QF is a powerful display for PC gamers leveraging tons of brightness. The B4 is LG's entry-level OLED TV. This TV supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and has improved picture quality thanks to LG's A8 processor. For gamers, it features four HDMI 2.1 ports, a 120Hz refresh rate, a brightness booster, and Game Optimizer Mode. In our LG B4 OLED review, we called the Editor's Choice TV the value OLED TV of the year. The 48-inch model is a Best Buy exclusive. You couldn't ask for a better discount on one of the hottest displays. In our Samsung S85D OLED TV review, we said the Editor's Choice TV is a serious value offering a 120Hz refresh rate on a WOLED panel. An ATSC 3.0 tuner also means you get access to NextGenTV and 4K broadcasts, plus Tizen OS is also home to a slew of game streaming apps, making the S85D a true all-arounder when it comes to features. And if its onboard access to content isn't enough, a total of four HDMI 2.1 ports is also ideal for your range of connected check: sold out @ Best Buy Panasonic TVs are making a comeback in the US Built around Panasonic's HCX Pro AI Processor MKII, its new OLED TV offers support for HDR10/HDR10+/Dolby Vision/HLG and Dolby Atmos audio. On the gaming front, you get a 120Hz panel with VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium, and NVIDIA G-Sync support. It comes in 55- and 65-inch size options. If you want to get your Prime Day TV-shopping done early, the TCL QM7K is a perfect candidate. Not only are you getting a fantastic and versatile 65-inch TV, you're securing it at its lowest price ever. (If 65 inches is too big for your living room, consider the 55-inch version of the QM7K for $748. That's also the lowest price yet for the 55-inch model.) Part of LG's 2025 TV lineup, the LG C5 OLED is here as the value pick of the year. Offering a slew of features, like a range of HDR certifications and gaming specs for the PS5 Pro crowd, the C5 proves a major improvement over its predecessor. We called it "nearly flawless" and gave it a 5-star rating in our LG C5 OLED TV review. If you like your coffee hot as much as you like it iced, but can't wait for grounds to steep overnight (or doesn't divulge in half a pot of caffeine every day), then this handy countertop appliance is perfect for you — even more so when it's $10 less than normal. Two-thousand-plus reviewers rave about the simple effectiveness (it even brews tea!) of this machine and its sleek, compact appearance. The Instant Vortex Plus features 6-in-1 functionality, allowing you to air fry, broil, bake, roast, dehydrate and reheat. Thanks to its 6 quart XL basket, it'll easily cook up large side dishes to help feed a family. At this price, it's a great time to pick up the Vortex Plus. The 511i Max suits up to 926 sq ft room and comes with 5 cleaning modes (3 fan speeds, auto and night mode). There's only two buttons to control everything, keeping things simple, but it also connects to the Blueair app so you can schedule its use and monitor the quality of your air remotely. The premium Shark Stratos Cordless brings strong suction and clever features like odor neutralization. The dual brushroll system handles both carpet and hard floors effectively, while the LED headlights help spot hidden dust. Save big right now.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Not a typo! The LG C4 OLED TV just crashed to $699 at Amazon — this is incredible
We're a couple weeks out from Prime Day, but Amazon just dropped one of the best OLED TV deals I've ever seen. One of our favorite OLED TVs on the market has just dropped to a new all time low price. Right now you can get the LG 42-inch C4 4K OLED TV on sale for $699 at Amazon. This is the lowest price I've ever seen for this model, and it's one of the cheapest OLED TVs you'll find on the market right now. While it's no longer LG's latest flagship TV, it's a total steal at this price. LG C4 4K OLED TV sale: deals from $699 @ AmazonThe C4 is LG's flagship OLED TV. It's powered by LG's A9 processor and features a 120Hz panel, Dolby Vision/ HDR10/HLG support, built-in Amazon Alexa, four HDMI 2.1 ports and Apple AirPlay 2 support. It's also one of the few OLED TVs that can natively accept a 144Hz input from a PC. In our LG C4 OLED TV review, we said the content looked colorful and dazzlingly bright on the new C4 series.42" for $69948" for $89955" for $1,296 65" for $1,29677" for $2,19683" for $3,296 In our LG C4 OLED TV review, we said this TV is 'a real winner in most categories thanks to stunning picture quality, game performance and features.' Considering that the 42-inch model cost $1,499 at launch, this price drop makes it even better and excellent value for money. Thanks to its amazing picture quality, colorful display and strong contrast, the LG C4 OLED is one of the best-looking TVs out there. We were extremely impressed with it in our tests, praising its rich image quality and high brightness for an OLED TV. It also has an α9 AI Processor 4K Gen7 on board that can upscale content to 4K. The LG C4 OLED is also an excellent gaming TV. With Boost mode turned on, we saw a very low lag time of 9.2ms, which made gameplay look and feel buttery smooth. It's also a good choice for PC gamers, as its refresh rate goes up to 144Hz when used as a PC gaming monitor. It's important to note that the newer LG C5 OLED TV is out now. We currently rank the LG C5 OLED as the best OLED TV on the market, especially thanks to its new anti-glare screen that reduces reflections. But if you don't mind shopping last year's model, you can save a ton of money and still get a top-notch OLED TV. Act fast while this deal is still in stock! If you're looking for more savings, check out our Amazon promo codes coverage, and see the deals I'd buy in Walmart's anti-Prime Day sale.
Tom's Guide
19-06-2025
- Health
- Tom's Guide
I'm a sleep tech tester and the product I swear by for falling asleep fast is $26.99 in Amazon sale
As a sleep tech writer, I've spent the last 10 months searching the market for, and testing, the latest snooze-improving innovations. This has included gadgets and gizmos from smart sleep masks and sleep headbands to sleep trackers, top-rated sunrise alarm clocks and this year's best smart beds. But there's only one gadget I absolutely can't sleep without: a red light clip that attaches to my book. Dutifully obeying our sleep editor's advice around following a nighttime routine for better sleep, reading a few pages in the evening has become non-negotiable for me, and this clip light completes my bedtime routine. In current sleep sales, you can save 10% on the Szokled reading light clip at Amazon. This nudges the price from $29.99 to $26.99 — a small price to pay for a device that can help you cut out tossing and turning and fall asleep fast. And even better, you may be offered a 15% off coupon that takes the price down even further. Szokled Red Light Clip: was $29.99 now $26.99 at AmazonThe Szokled clip light has two modes: red light and warm light. The red light is ideal for pre-bedtime reading, protecting the eyes and bolstering your ability to fall asleep fast. While the warm light can create a cosy atmosphere any time of day. It comes with a timer, meaning the light will automatically turn off after you fall asleep, helping you snooze peacefully while saving energy. Amazon promises this red light clip has a 10-hour battery life and it's equipped with a USB-C port for convenient charging. Watch out for a 15% off coupon when you order! Red light exposure positively influences sleep onset, sleep duration and overall sleep efficiency by stimulating the production of melatonin, the all-important sleep-inducing hormone. Melatonin is responsible for making us feel sleepy. While bright white light suppresses this hormone, warm red light prompts the brain, specifically the pineal gland, to release it. So if you already have one of the best mattresses but you're still not getting enough sleep, a shortage of melatonin could be to blame. In fact, light is a key circadian cue and you can regulate your circadian rhythm with carefully-timed light exposure. Specifically, evening red light exposure and morning sunlight exposure helps your body get used to producing sleep-wake hormones at the right time of day so you fall asleep fast at night and wake up refreshed in the morning. What I really love about a red light clip is that it's lightweight and portable enough to take with me wherever I go. I stay away from home one night a week for work, and packing up my other sleep tech, namely my beloved Eight Sleep Pod 4 and Hatch sunrise alarm clock, wouldn't be so practical. Therefore, I rely on a red light clip to help me unwind in unfamiliar environments, and after six months of using it it's yet to fail me. I also recommend using a red light LED face mask as part of your bedtime routine if you're looking for a gadget that can help you wind down at night while taking care of your skin.
Tom's Guide
18-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
It has 4 stars on Amazon but this inflatable nap pillow doesn't live up to the hype — here's why
In a cramped space with an achy neck and restless legs, sleeping on the go is somewhat of a skill. However, there are now a bunch of accessories available to help you snooze wherever you are (or claim to do that). And the travel pillow market is getting particularly experimental. While you'll never get the same quality sleep as you would resting on one of this year's best pillows, there are innovative pillow designs to help you fit in ZZZs at your desk, on a train or mid flight. With a few trips planned for the summer, I decided to give an Amazon's Choice inflatable travel pillow a go. With an average rating of 4/5 stars and over 400 verified reviews, I was keen to try it out. My verdict? I won't be parting ways with my trusty neck pillow anytime soon. Even though this one is inflatable and packs down neatly, I find a standard travel pillow a more practical and comfortable option. I've been using the Maliton inflatable pillow, which is designed to support your head in various positions while sleeping on planes, trains, in cars or at the office. It's available at for $16.49 now after a 21% discount (was $20.99), or you can find it at retail price of £15.99 at The inflatable pillow is designed with holes for your face and arms and a 45° tilt at the top for optimal neck support. Plus there's extra cushioning around where you place your face for more comfort. Maliton Inflatable Travel Pillow: was $20.99 now $16.49/£15.99 at AmazonThe Maliton inflatable comes in four color options including black, navy, dark grey and light grey. You can get it for $16.49/£15.99 now and it'll be delivered for free the following day with Amazon Prime. Yes the nap pillow should, in theory, provide a comfortable means of napping no matter where you are. But, in all honesty, I don't recommend it and won't be packing it when I travel this summer. Here's why... The Maliton pillow claims to inflate in 5 to 10 breaths. Even after getting myself out of puff countless times, it's still not fully inflated, which means it's not very supportive and deflates quickly. The premise behind the pillow is strong. I like the idea of keeping the neck and upper back in correct posture to help you find comfort and avoid aches and pains in compromised sleeping situations. However, the Maliton pillow needs a sturdier build to be effective. Even though it can be folded up into a pouch, at 4'x6"x9" when packaged it's still a fairly bulky addition to your hand luggage. Though, I will say it is more smaller than an always-inflated pillow. Pulling out and blowing up this pillow, which stands at 13'x13'x20' when inflated, is likely to draw a few stares in a space-limited cabin. For this reason and safety precautions, some airlines forbid pillows onboard. Plus, with the effort it took to blow up to a half-inflated state, I'd rather slip on a neck pillow and eye mask without drawing attention to myself or disrupting others on public transport. But what neck pillow do I recommend? The memory foam Napfun travel pillow (now $15.86 at Amazon). For peaceful sleep on board, I'd recommend shopping other sleep products. A reliable sleep mask or sleep headphones, which could be more useful for sleeping while travelling to block out light and noise pollution that's sure to disrupt your rest. I particularly like the SOMO Sleep Fitness Mask, a luxury soft sleep mask that uses acupressure to help you relax. It comes with a premium price tag ($59). But it can help you sleep while travelling, bag an afternoon nap at home, or sleep better night after night thanks to its durable design. Additionally, a pair of sleep headphones or earbuds can help you drown out a noisy cabin, which is key to getting shut-eye when travelling. These will also come in handy (much handier than a obnoxious inflatable pillow) if you're struggling to sleep next to a snoring partner.
Tom's Guide
17-06-2025
- Health
- Tom's Guide
I tried the TikTok famous mushroom hot chocolate and had the best sleep of my life
Can mushrooms really help you sleep better? Like you this was the first question in my mind when I came across one of the latest sleep trends doing the rounds on social media: mushroom hot chocolate for sleep. Even before becoming a sleep writer, I've always been interested in trying out new bedtime drinks, determined to find something that helps me sleep better, reduces nighttime wakings and promotes a more restful sleep. So I gave mushroom hot cocoa a go. The blend I tried is a concoction of nutritious reishi mushrooms and other sleep-friendly ingredients with purported benefits for your immunity and sleep health. Unlike other sleep hacks I've tried (mouth taping I'm looking at you), this one actually worked. Read on to find out about my experience. The basic premise of this beverage is that certain types of mushrooms (reishi) are adaptogenic in nature. This means that these will help your body better manage stress, anxiety and improve overall wellbeing. I tried the Sixways Unwind + Recover Mushroom Blend which includes ingredients like reishi mushrooms, ashwagandha (a traditional Indian ayurvedic herb) and magnesium bisglycinate (a form of magnesium supplement), cacao powder, L- tryptophan, vitamin C, chamomile flower and lemon balm leaf extract. The brand claims that it enhances your mood and promotes relaxation by reducing cortisol (the stress hormone) which helps with preparing your body and mind for a restorative night's sleep. Sixways Unwind and Recover Sleep Drink: was from £32 now £25.59 at AmazonThe Sixways Unwind and Recover Mushroom Blend is usually £32. Right now, it's 20% off, bringing the price down to £25.59. While that may seem expensive for a hot chocolate drink, the ingrediants used are high quality and difficult to source. Also, this pack carries 30 servings, which means currently each cup will just be 86p. Om Mushroom Superfood Hot Chocolate Blend: from $27.49 at AmazonWhile this isn't the specific mushroom hot chocolate I tried, this blend available in America from Amazon has plenty of the same sleep-inducing ingrediants like reishi mushrooms and ashwagandha. This hot cocoa is designed to reduce stress and boost immunity, perfect for getting good rest night after night. The Sixways Unwind+Recover mushroom hot chocolate comes in an easy to open re-sealable pouch. One pouch will last you for 30 days and the brand recommends having a drink once every day. Sixways suggests mixing one scoop of the fine powder with hot or cold water or milk and having it at least an hour before heading to bed. I usually have mine after dinner, with a bit of hot water (to get rid of any lumps) and then some vanilla flavoured soy milk. I have to be honest and say that not everyone will be a fan of the aftertaste. I'd describe it as quite an earthy flavor, which is certainly an acquired taste. Personally, just water or just skimmed milk wasn't enough to make this drink taste good. Yes, the chocolate cleverly masks it but not enough for a sweet tooth like me, hence why I felt the need to add vanilla flavored milk. I had little to no expectations from a simple cup of 'hot chocolate', and I certainly didn't expect it to save my sleep. But I was impressed. It's not a matter of instantly falling asleep (that would be unnatural), but slowly drifting into a state of rest and relaxation. Here's how it helped me sleep. While I aim to be in bed by 11 pm every night, I get easily distracted by an intriguing show or mindless scrolling through social media and before I know it, it's nearly midnight. Even though I'm physically exhausted, my mind is usually too awake to rest. During the testing period, I made sure that having the mushroom hot chocolate was one of the last steps of my nighttime routine. I then give myself thirty minutes to one hour after this to finish off the last bits and pieces of my nighttime routine, like my skincare routine and reading a chapter or two of my book, and by the end of it, felt drowsy enough to be in bed. No staring-up-at-the-ceiling, no waiting, just an easy drifting off until I was peacefully asleep. This was perhaps, the biggest advantage for me. As opposed to randomly waking up in the middle of the night, the drink helped me sleep throughout. However, it's important to note that no one actually sleeps through the night. Experts say that stirring or waking up at the end of each sleep cycle is a very normal thing to do, but often, you won't even remember these disturbances. What you need to gauge instead is your overall sleep pattern, the duration of these awakenings and how rested you feel after a night's sleep. During the days I had the drink, I felt that my nighttime wakings reduced, my body got the rest it needed (I've figured this is about 8 hours for me) and woke up naturally at my usual wake-up time feeling like I ""slept well" and was energized. As a sleep writer, I cannot stress enough the importance of having a bedtime routine to help you leave the stresses of the day behind. This could include anything from a long warm shower, journaling or even a quick 15-minute yoga. However, thanks to the digital age we live in, it's tricky to switch off at times and stick to your routine and I'm guilty of this, too. Having the mushroom hot chocolate gave my routine a good structure, and because of this, I started sleeping earlier than I have been the past few weeks. I would absolutely recommend this hot chocolate to others. Since drinking it regularly, I've felt more energetic and rested after waking up. However, the fact remains that there is only limited research which directly links reishi mushrooms with improved sleep. Although, the rest of the ingrediants, like magnesium and chamomile have been proven to help induce sleep. It's also crucial to check the ingredient list of the mushroom hot chocolate you're considering to buy and make sure that it includes the sleep-friendly elements we've mentioned here, without any chemical nasties. Opt for FDA-certified products to ensure it's safe for consumption. Lastly, mushroom hot chocolate is definitely an acquired taste. If you're expecting a creamy hot chocolate flavor, you might be disappointed. I've now become accustomed to the taste, which is why it's definitely in my top bedtime drinks for better sleep.
