If you’re investing in a really good mattress, Forbes says it’s worth paying attention to what’s underneath it, too. “Your mattress is really only as good as the bed frame it is set upon,” she says. Pair an excellent mattress with a flimsy frame, she explains, and “the mattress’s performance is probably going to be greatly hindered by the frame.”

That’s part of what makes the Thuma Classic Bed Frame Forbes’ top pick and why she calls it “the Cadillac of this type of bed [frame], which is Japanese joinery.” Its sturdy construction uses Japanese joinery to create a solid base for your mattress to rest on. 

“It is an architectural style that helps balance buildings against earthquakes,” she says. “It usually doesn’t use screws, bolts or nails. The wood is holding onto each surrounding piece with nooks, crannies and grooves.” Her simpler explanation? “Think of one giant Jenga pile and a puzzle at the same time.” 

That interlocking design also makes assembly pretty painless. “That’s the premise of the Japanese joinery Thuma follows: tool-free bed assembly,” Forbes says. And after testing her fair share of bed frames, she has especially high praise for this one: “It is the ultimate quality of everything I’ve tested.”

While Forbes' favorite silk sleep mask makes her look a little like a “human fly” in her words, that doesn’t stop her from loving it. In fact, she owns every sleep mask the brand has!

“I actually have all of the sleep masks they offer, and I’ve bought them for all of my family members for Christmas, birthdays and what have you because they all serve different purposes,” she says. 

“It is kind of like complete blackout curtains, but in a mask, with no pressure on the eyes,” she says. 

That lack of pressure is a big deal for Forbes. “Sleep masks traditionally—even when they have a hint of stretch across the eyes—I hate that,” she says. 

The Manta’s removable eye cups sit around the eyes instead. For an easy fit, “it’s labeled and says where your nose goes, so you put that right at the nose bridge,” she says. 

Her silk go-to version earns extra points for comfort. “Silk is wonderful because it is not abrasive and is obviously super-soft,” Forbes says. 

And unlike blackout curtains (which she still adores), the mask can go just about anywhere. “I love blackout curtains, but they’re not easy to take with you when you’re traveling or to use quickly on the fly when you have a migraine,” she says. 

Forbes shares that Manta even has “a line of cups you can put in the freezer or microwave” when she wants a cooling or warming option. 

 “Manta, love you forever,” she says. “Seriously.”

While the NextSense Smartbuds may look like regular earbuds, Forbes shares that they can do more than play music. “You get it in [your ear] so the sensor is pressed against your skin, and then it monitors your brain waves while you sleep,” she says. “It is really in-depth tracking. It also shows your sleep cycles.”

The Smartbuds also use those brain waves to adjust what you hear as you drift off. “While you’re falling asleep, it plays whatever audio you prefer according to your brain waves,” Forbes says. “I personally love a thunderstorm.” The sound can get softer as you get closer to sleep, and “it shuts off on its own once it senses that you’re asleep.”

Still, Forbes knows “a lot of people complain that they don’t like sleeping with earplugs in,” but the brand has some sizing variety to help with that. 

“They have different ear tips and wings, so you have to get them in there and fine-tune them,” she says. “Maybe your ear canal is smaller in one ear, like mine, than the other. They give you options to fine-tune that.”

Not every sleep essential belongs in your bed. For Forbes, getting comfortable before lights out means taking care of her sensitive, eczema-prone skin. “People do their pre-bedtime routine, and skincare often falls into that,” she says. When her skin gets especially dry, Forbes says it can make falling or staying asleep that much harder. 

To get some relief, she turns to Marin, the small business out of Maine started by two biochemical engineers who “saw a surplus in the lobster industry.” 

“They were taking what the fisheries were going to discard and upcycling it into skincare products,” she says. “I would put it on, and it deeply hydrates. Obviously, you need to stay on top of it, but it has been so soothing.”

She uses it most during the winter on her body and face. 

“I’ve gifted this and bought it for so many friends who also have eczema on their bodies,” she says. “One of my best friends has eczema all over her hands, and she is a customer for life now because I got her onto this.” Forbes simply puts it simply: “Well, thank you, lobsters.”

“When it comes to pajamas, I have an obscene pajama collection,” she says. “I guess you could say I take my work very seriously. But beyond having something cute to wear, she says what you rest in plays a real role in helping you sleep. “The material of what you’re wearing and surrounding yourself with matters.” 

Her collection includes plenty of styles from Printfresh, which she says she’s “been collecting these guys like Pokémon.” She especially loves the Eco Satin line, but notes it’s not actually satin fabric. “They have a couple of lines within their pajama lines, including Eco Satin, which has more of a cooling and satiny feel. It is not actual satin.”

While the Eco Satin line keeps her cool throughout the night, she reaches for the cotton options as well, saying “they are very cool to sleep in because, again, breathable cotton.” The brand even offers limited-run patterns which is ideal for Forbes who enjoys a whimsical style. 

She makes sure to baby them to keep their quality, washing them on a delicate cycle and air-drying them. “I’m trying to make them last as long as humanly possible because they’re cute and I love them.” 

But, it’s always important to think about your personal sleep temperature preferences when picking your sleepwear. “Are you setting yourself up for success, or are you inadvertently setting yourself up for failure because you’re wearing materials that are not breathable or cooling?”