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Anyone who has ever walked into school or work coming off of a bad night of sleep can understand that rest is critical. It affects your emotional, mental, and physical health and helps you function in everyday life.

Beyond anecdotal examples, research backs this up. Sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality affect concentration, memory, and decision-making. They can cause feelings of anxiety, irritability, and impulsiveness (and this effect is worse for younger adults than older adults), and they're also linked to disorders like high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

So what's an easy way to fall asleep faster, stay asleep, and have a better night's sleep overall?

"Build a routine," says Dr. Benjamin Smarr, assistant professor at the University of California San Diego who specializes in neuroscience and sleep science and a member of Reverie's Sleep Advisory Board. "Sleep is very complicated and requires many parts of your brain and body to agree. So the more familiar your pre-sleep routine is, the more likely all those parts will line up."

Everyone has their own little tricks to help them achieve this ideal sleeping state, so I asked the rest of the Insider Reviews team to share the products that they've built into their nightly routines.

It's not surprising that many of their essential products are the ones directly related to sleeping: pillows and comforters, for example. Apps and accessories also help our team out, whether they fill the air with soothing scents and sounds or contribute to overall comfort and coziness.

But if you're experiencing serious sleep disturbances that are consistently impacting your life, the following solutions may not be adequate and you should consider consulting a specialist. Dr. Azizi Seixas, an assistant professor at the NYU School of Medicine whose research focuses on sleep disparities, says, "If these disturbances occur for longer than a month, then the person should seek professional help. Another sign that suggests immediate intervention is needed is if the person feels physically sick as a result of sleep disturbances."

Here are 20 products and apps the Reviews team uses to fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up well-rested:

Source: Business Insider

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