Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in Volume 6 of B.H. Magazine. To get your copy (and access to future issues), subscribe here.
Sleep is easy to overlook until you realise the world’s best performers treat it like training. Roger Federer has been widely reported to prioritise as much as 11 to 12 hours of sleep a day during his playing career, using rest as part of the program that kept him sharp, durable, and world-class for so long.
For everyone else, the lesson is simpler: better sleep can mean better focus, mood, recovery, and long-term health. As a result, we wanted to speak with Bedgear‘s resident Sleep Expert, Aimee Griffiths, about why rest matters, how to sleep better, and round up a few of our favourite products that can genuinely help you get more of it.
B.H. Magazine: What’s the most common sleep mistake most people make?
Aimee Griffiths: Thinking you can “get by” on four or five hours a night and still perform. Sleep is the foundation for decision-making, muscle repair, and emotional stability – not an optional extra. People also underestimate how much work their pillow does; replacing it every one to three years can dramatically improve both support and hygiene.
B.H.: Does consistency matter more than eight hours?
AG: Yes. Research shows regular sleep and wake times are stronger predictors of long-term health than duration alone. A consistent rhythm trains your circadian system, helping your body expect sleep at the same time each night and improving the depth and quality of rest.
B.H.: Can you actually catch up on sleep?
AG: Not really. The body doesn’t store rest – it’s designed to repair on a nightly cycle. If you miss a few hours, return to your usual schedule and head to bed slightly earlier for a few nights, or use a short nap to take the edge off fatigue without confusing your body clock.
B.H.: Do caffeine and alcohol really affect sleep?
AG: Definitely. Caffeine can linger in the body for six hours or more, which means your afternoon flat white may still be active at bedtime. Alcohol does the opposite – it helps you drift off but fragments REM sleep, leading to wake-ups and poor recovery.
B.H.: Are sleep trackers helpful or just anxiety-inducing?
AG: They’re helpful when used with perspective. Devices like Whoop offer valuable insight into recovery and sleep quality, but focusing too much on the data can trigger “orthosomnia” – the stress of trying to sleep perfectly. Look for patterns, not perfection.
B.H.: What’s one small change that delivers big results?
AG: Keep your sleep environment cool and breathable. A lower temperature supports deeper rest, and since your pillow accounts for roughly a third of overall comfort, choose one that promotes airflow and regulates heat.
B.H.: What’s the biggest myth about sleep?
AG: That being a “light sleeper” is unchangeable. Most people can sleep well once they stop glorifying tiredness and prioritise recovery. Sleep is the ultimate performance enhancer – it powers focus, mood, and resilience better than anything else.
Bedroom Essentials:
- Crown Posture Reserve Louis Mattress
- Pillar Triple Magnesium Powder
- Eight Sleep Pod 5
- Ozlo Sleepbuds
- Bambi Moodmaker Superior Alpaca Memory Foam Pillow
- Boody Sleep Shorts
- Whoop MG
- This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray
- Sutram Bedding
- Mynt Lab Sheets
- Soundcore Sleep A30
- Dore & Rose Aura Sleep Mask
- Bedgear Night Ice Performance Pillow
- Bonny Bed Sheets
- Vibae Roma Slip-Ons
Crown Posture Reserve Louis Mattress
If the Reserve Louis were a car, it’d be a Bentley Continental GT Speed – stately and reassuring, with the perfect balance of performance and control.
Built with an almost unreasonable attention to detail, the Reserve Louis is the flagship of Australian sleep engineering and the pinnacle of the Crown Posture brand. Handmade locally from layers of high-density graphite memory foam, a material called Black Diamond latex (so you know it’s serious), and Crown Posture’s exclusive Quadcoil Spring support system, the Louis offers a weightless yet anchored sleep.
The Firm model hits that rare sweet spot between plush comfort and disciplined alignment – ideal for those who prefer structure over slouch. Edge-to-edge reinforcement maximises usable sleep space, while motion isolation ensures your partner’s late-night scroll won’t ripple across the bed.
It’s the sleep equivalent of slipping behind the wheel of something hand-built, balanced, and quietly brilliant.
Pillar Triple Magnesium Powder
Pillar’s Triple Magnesium powder delivers three potent forms of bioavailable magnesium for genuine absorption and smooth recovery.
It supports muscle relaxation, nervous system balance, and deeper REM sleep – helping the body unwind from both training and tension – all while tasting like a Piña Colada.
Clean, effective, and crafted for high performers who take rest as seriously as training.
Eight Sleep Pod 5
The Eight Sleep Pod 5 is what happens when Silicon Valley applies its obsession with optimisation to the oldest performance enhancer there is: sleep. Designed to slip seamlessly over your existing mattress via the Pod Cover, it uses a network of water-based thermoregulation channels that – when paired with the $299-a-year autopilot subscription – adjust throughout the night to maintain your body’s ideal temperature.
Powered by a bedside pod, the cover features dual-zone climate control, allowing you and your partner to manage your own sides through the Eight Sleep app. Autopilot is what makes the system truly intelligent, learning your individual rhythms over time and adapting automatically to subtle changes in temperature, season, and routine.
The app tracks heart rate, HRV, and sleep phases with clinical precision, then delivers a recovery score you can actually use. It’s intuitive, game-changing tech that genuinely enhances your sleep – helping you wake sharper, calmer, and more consistent, as if someone finally found the ‘optimum human’ setting and turned it on.
Ozlo Sleepbuds
Designed by former Bose engineers, Ozlo Sleepbuds use a passive seal plus a library of noise-masking soundscapes (with the option to play your own audio) to dull disruptions without active noise cancellation.
Expect around 10 hours of in-ear use, a low- profile fit that works for side sleepers, and no phone-call features. They’re purpose- built for masking unwanted noise, so think steady, soothing coverage rather than total silence.
Bambi Moodmaker Superior Alpaca Memory Foam Pillow
This isn’t your average pillow. It combines gel-infused memory foam with a layer of breathable Australian alpaca fleece, creating a balance of support and softness that few pillows achieve.
Hypoallergenic and washable, this cloud-like creation cradles your head, aligns your spine, and regulates your temperature throughout the night.
Boody Sleep Shorts
Cut from bamboo jersey and finished with pockets, these Boody sleep shorts are lightweight, soft, and made to move. Perfect for dads on night duty.
Whoop MG
The Whoop MG represents a major leap forward for the category – the world’s first medical-grade performance tracker.
Building on the foundation of the Whoop 4.0, it uses newly approved sensors to deliver clinically accurate heart-rate and HRV data 24/7, transforming recovery tracking from anecdotal to evidence-based.
The result? A tool trusted by elite athletes, sleep scientists, and anyone chasing consistency.
This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray
A cult favourite for a reason – this blend of lavender, vetiver, and chamomile helps quiet the mind and signals the body it’s time to switch off. Two sprays on your pillow, and the day feels a little further away.
Sutram Bedding
If you’re driven by aesthetics, one look at the Sutram website will confirm you’re in the right place. Their 100 per cent cotton duvet covers showcase extraordinary attention to detail, with a double-layered Oxford border, internal corner ties, and concealed, biodegradable coconut-husk buttons.
Mynt Lab Sheets
Made from plant- based fibres and infused with mint, Mynt Lab sheets are naturally cooling, making them ideal for hot sleepers. From $229 for a fitted sheet set.
Soundcore Sleep A30
The Sleep A30 levels up the already fantastic A20, adding active noise cancellation and adaptive snore masking to the sleep-earbud category. With a discreet, side-sleep-friendly design, on-bud and app-controlled sounds, and a battery life of up to 9 hours, they’re for sleepers who require more than just passive masking.
Dore & Rose Aura Sleep Mask
Thanks to its contoured design, the Aura sleep mask by Dore & Rose claims to block 100 per cent of light, while silver-ion tech fights bacteria – reducing puffiness, eye bags, and breakouts overnight.
Bedgear Night Ice Performance Pillow
With triple-cooling tech and superior airflow, Bedgear’s Night Ice Performance Pillow is the coolest pillow you’ll ever own.
Bonny Bed Sheets
A lightweight bamboo-linen blend that feels effortlessly coastal. Naturally breathable and antibacterial, it stays cool in summer and warm in winter – ideal for those who dislike the texture of flannel. Go classic or choose from a range of fun pre-selected colour combos.
Vibae Roma Slip-Ons
Made in Portugal, Vibae’s handsome Roma slip-ons – constructed from wool and recycled natural rubber – are ideal for lazy mornings or late night-bin runs.
If you enjoyed this article on how to improve your sleep, you might enjoy some of Boss Hunting’s other recovery-focused guides below:
