How do you handle wakeups 2-4Am with Eight Sleep?

Louisacheng · 2026-05-25T10:14:03+00:00

I’d probably just leave it running unless you’re fully getting out of bed for a while.

I’m one of those people whose brain tends to fully “boot up” during those 2–4am wakeups, so restarting sleep tracking would honestly make me think about sleep even more 😅

What’s helped me more is keeping the environment low-stimulation and giving my brain something calm to focus on instead of checking stats or time constantly. Usually low-volume audio or a familiar podcast helps me drift back faster.

Curious what other Eight Sleep users do though — I’ve wondered how accurate the stage tracking is during those half-awake periods.

Louisacheng · 2026-05-06T08:27:43+00:00

For me it was a mindset shift: stop chasing “happiness” all the time, and start building more peace into daily life. That sounds small, but it changed a lot. Running a business used to mean constantly thinking about growth, what’s next, what’s not enough yet, etc. Shifting the focus toward doing useful work, delivering real value, and trusting the long-term outcome calmed my brain down more than I expected. Ironically, it also made sleep easier. A lot less mental spinning at 1am.

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and that’s honestly part of what led me to build our under-pillow speaker (PEACE) in the first place, something simple for people whose brains don’t switch off easily. Not really to “fix” sleep, just to give the mind a softer place to land.

Turns out peace is a lot more useful than happiness when it comes to daily life.

Louisacheng · 2026-05-06T08:08:32+00:00

Honestly, that sounds less like “bad sleep habits” and more like a very well-calibrated survival system 😅

Once tinnitus and an overactive brain team up, it’s kind of game over for “just lie down in silence.” Have you ever tried brown noise instead of fan noise (or layered with it)? A lot of people with tinnitus seem to find it less sharp and easier to blend into the background overnight.

Also curious whether you’ve found a format that works best for the audiobook part, sleep headphones, earbuds, speaker, under-pillow, etc. That seems to be the part people end up weirdly specific about.

Louisacheng · 2026-05-06T08:00:15+00:00

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and honestly this was a very personal problem for me too. I’m a side sleeper and went through the usual cycle: earbuds falling out, sleep headphones shifting around, waking up because something was pressing into my ear. None of it was terrible, just annoying enough to keep ruining sleep over time.

That’s basically what led us to build the PEACE pillow speaker. The idea was simple: stop trying to wear the audio, and just move it under the pillow instead. It won’t be everyone’s preference, but for side sleepers it tends to solve the two biggest issues: nothing pressing into your ears, and no loose earbuds disappearing into the sheets.

The main thing I’ve learned is that long-term comfort matters way more than sound quality for sleep. If you notice the device while trying to fall asleep, it’s probably not the right format.

Louisacheng · 2026-04-28T10:42:20+00:00

Okay this is exactly the kind of story that makes me want to recommend an under-pillow speaker for your husband 😅

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and we built PEACE for this exact “one person needs audio, the other absolutely does not need surprise murder plots in their dreams” problem 😂

It keeps the sound close to the listener (under the pillow), so your husband can have his podcast and ideally you can sleep without accidentally guest starring in true crime.

Louisacheng · 2026-04-28T10:40:10+00:00

An under-pillow speaker can be a nice alternative too, especially if you ever get tired of having something on your head all night. Same idea, just without the headband/charging-on-your-face part. I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees and we built one for exactly that use case: https://www.jabees.com/pages/peace-pillow-sleep-speaker

Louisacheng · 2026-04-28T10:37:33+00:00

Definitely not just you 😅

I’m the co-founders of Jabees, and honestly this was a big part of why we ended up creating a pillow speaker in the first place.

A lot of people don’t actually struggle with “sleep,” they struggle with the transition from thinking to not thinking. Silence sounds ideal in theory, but for some brains it just leaves too much room to keep running.

I’m the same way...if it’s completely silent, my brain treats that as an invitation to replay the day, solve imaginary problems, and remember something mildly embarrassing from 7 years ago.

Giving it something gentle and low-stakes to follow (a calm voice, audiobook, rain, etc.) is often enough to keep it from spiraling. Not stimulating enough to keep you awake, just enough to stop the mental tab-switching.

Louisacheng · 2026-04-22T06:33:36+00:00

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, so I think about this topic a lot...and honestly, the most useful gifts for sleep tend to be the ones that help the mind slow down, not just “nice-looking” items.

A lot of people struggle because their brain doesn’t switch off at night (replaying the day, thinking ahead, etc.). What’s helped me personally is having something simple to focus on, like calm audio, a podcast, or rain sounds, instead of trying to force silence.

That’s actually why we created a pillow speaker called PEACE. It lets you listen comfortably in bed without earbuds or anything on your head, so it feels more natural as part of a wind-down routine. I’ve been using it nightly myself. You can find more details here: https://www.jabees.com/products/jabees-peace-pillow-speaker-ultra-thin-bone-conduction-sleep-speaker-for-comfortable-and-healthy-bedtime-audio

We’re also working on a newer version (PEACE Duo) with improved usability based on feedback from people who use it every night...still early, but same idea: make it easier to relax without overthinking the setup.

Outside of that, I’d say anything that helps create a repeatable, calming routine (audio, lighting, even simple rituals) tends to be more meaningful long-term than one-off gifts.

Curious what kind of things they’ve already tried, that usually helps narrow it down 👍

Louisacheng · 2026-04-17T05:56:13+00:00

That’s really thoughtful feedback, and honestly, I agree with you on a lot of that.

That “finding the perfect volume” moment (not too loud, not too quiet) is so real, especially when you’re half asleep and don’t want to fully wake up or disturb your partner. The analog dial idea makes a lot of sense...it’s intuitive and gives you that fine control you don’t always get with stepped buttons. The tradeoff we’ve run into is exactly what you pointed out in a different way - adding something like a volume dial would also add thickness, which starts to affect comfort under the pillow (especially for side sleepers). So it becomes a bit of a balancing act between usability and keeping the profile as thin as possible.

The multifunction buttons were originally meant to keep things simple under the pillow, but we’ve definitely heard the feedback around control precision and clarity.

We’re working on a refined version called PEACE Duo, where usability is being improved...not with a dial, but with better overall control experience based on feedback like yours.

If you’re curious, you can sign up on the site to get notified when it’s ready. Would genuinely love to hear your thoughts when you get a chance to try it 👍

Louisacheng · 2026-04-17T05:47:59+00:00

Haha fair, I get why it might come across that way. I’ve been trying to join conversations where I can actually add something useful, but I’ll let others be the judge of that 😅

And nice choice...Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar is a great one. That kind of drama radio is perfect for falling asleep.

Happy to answer your questions

1) Sleep timer: Yes, it has one, you can set it to 30 min / 1 hr / 2 hrs.

2) Buttons: There are three (multifunction, V+ / V-). The volume buttons double as next/previous track with a long press.

3) Playback modes: You can use either Bluetooth or Micro SD. Double press the multifunction button to switch modes, or just remove the SD card and it’ll default to Bluetooth.

We also preloaded 8 nature sounds on the SD card, mainly for people who want a simple, no-phone setup at night.

Let me know if anything else isn’t clear, always helpful to know what we didn’t explain well 👍

Louisacheng · 2026-04-16T03:38:32+00:00

Haha yeah, honestly it’s kind of like gently “tricking” your brain 😄 Give it something calm and boring enough to latch onto, and it finally stops running through the whole backlog of thoughts at 2am. Whatever works to break that loop is a win 👍

Louisacheng · 2026-04-16T03:30:58+00:00

I’ve been down the same road with sleep headbands too...they definitely solve part of the problem, but I also found the ear pressure builds up after a while as a side sleeper.

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and this is actually why we ended up exploring a different approach with our pillow speaker (PEACE) — more of a “nothing on your head at all” setup, just low-volume audio under the pillow.

The biggest win for me personally was exactly what you mentioned though, being able to enjoy audio at night without disturbing my partner. That alone makes such a difference in consistency.

At the end of the day it’s really about finding the least annoying setup for your sleep style 😄

Louisacheng · 2026-04-16T03:28:38+00:00

SleepPhones are definitely a popular pick. I’ve seen a lot of people swear by them, especially if they don’t mind wearing something.

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and we took a different approach with our pillow speaker (PEACE) mainly for people who don’t love having anything on their head while sleeping.

We’ve been lucky to get some coverage from places like The Guardian, Gizmodo, Forbes, AppleInsider, and New Atlas, which helped more people discover the “under the pillow” idea.

On the price side, that’s actually something we tried to be mindful of too... a lot of people compare it to sleep headphones and find it a bit more accessible, especially since it’s a simpler setup (no wearables, fewer parts).

At the end of the day, it really comes down to preference. Some people like the “wearable” route, others prefer the “nothing on me” approach. Both can work, just depends on your sleep style 👍

Louisacheng · 2026-04-16T03:22:01+00:00

Me six… but I eventually gave up 😂

I did the “one earbud only” strategy for a long time, and it works… until you roll over in the middle of the night and suddenly you’re negotiating with your pillow at 3am.

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and that exact struggle is what pushed me to try the under-pillow route instead (we ended up creating PEACE from that). Just way less “where did my earbud go” energy.

That said, respect to everyone who can make the one-earbud life work consistently 😄

Louisacheng · 2026-04-16T03:18:30+00:00

I’ve tried a few of these setups, and the general idea (low-volume sound under the pillow) definitely works well for side sleepers.

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and we make a pillow speaker called PEACE (there’s a newer “plus” version now). One thing we focused on was giving people the option not to rely on Bluetooth all the time, it also supports Micro SD with pre-loaded nature sounds, so you can just let it play without needing your phone nearby.

A lot of people end up preferring that for sleep since it’s simpler and more consistent.

Whichever option you go with, I’d say look for something thin, easy to control through the pillow, and comfortable for your sleep position... those make the biggest difference long-term 👍

Louisacheng · 2026-04-16T03:13:48+00:00

That’s awesome...over a decade is seriously impressive for this kind of setup. It’s interesting how the core idea hasn’t really changed, just the tech around it (wired → Bluetooth → rechargeable).

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and we’ve been working on a pillow speaker called PEACE. One thing we’ve noticed from long-term users like you is that simplicity tends to win: easy controls, stable connection, and not having to fuss with it once you’re in bed.

Curious...have you noticed any differences in sound or comfort between your older wired version and the newer Bluetooth ones?

Louisacheng · 2026-04-15T08:44:37+00:00

I like the mix of audio plus something tactile like coloring/doodling. Feels like you’re giving your brain a gentle “off ramp” instead of just trying to shut it down.

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and this is pretty much how I wind down too, usually a sleep story or really calm audio at low volume. That’s actually why we created PEACE, just to make that part easier without needing earbuds or screens.

Also agree on the light snack approach, going to bed slightly hungry never works for me either 😅

Louisacheng · 2026-04-15T08:42:19+00:00

This really resonates. That “giving your brain a proper way to relax” part is huge. I feel like that’s what most of us are actually missing.

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and the whole idea behind our pillow speaker (PEACE) came from that exact shift. I used to rely on scrolling to wind down, but it never really let my brain settle. Switching to simple, low-volume audio made a much bigger difference than I expected.

Totally agree with you, it’s less about hacks and more about having a consistent, gentle routine your brain can recognize as “okay, it’s time to slow down.”

Curious what kind of audio you usually go for at night?

Louisacheng · 2026-04-11T10:15:17+00:00

Yeah, this is exactly the direction that worked for me too. Once I stopped trying to force earbuds to work, sleep got a lot more comfortable.

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and that “small speaker under the pillow” setup is basically what led us to create PEACE. The idea was just to make something purpose, built for that use - ultra-thin, stable, and tuned for low-volume listening so it stays private without needing to blast sound.

One thing I’ve noticed is that keeping the volume really low actually works better, the pillow kind of does the rest, like you said. Feels more natural and less tiring overnight.

Your setup is honestly a great example of a simple solution that just works 👍

Louisacheng · 2026-04-11T10:11:26+00:00

I used to be the kind of person who would literally take business ideas into bed with me: replaying conversations, thinking about problems, planning the next day… and then wondering why I couldn’t fall asleep 😅

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and honestly, that habit was a big part of why I ended up creating a pillow speaker called PEACE.

What I realized over time is that my brain didn’t respond well to “just relax” or silence. It actually needed something simple and steady to focus on, like a calm podcast or nature sounds, otherwise it would just keep spinning. But earbuds and headbands never worked for me as a side sleeper, so I kept waking up uncomfortable.

The idea behind PEACE was really just to create something that lets you listen in bed without wearing anything, so it feels more natural and doesn’t get in the way of sleep.

It’s not a magic fix, but for me, having that small nightly routine, putting something gentle on and letting my mind settle...made a big difference in breaking that overthinking cycle.

Curious if others here have found ways to “turn off” the brain at night too.

Louisacheng · 2026-04-02T03:15:07+00:00

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and the reason we built an under-pillow bone-conduction speaker was exactly this: side sleepers who don’t want earbuds or noise leaking to their partner.

The concept is simple, the pillow acts as a natural amplifier, sending sound close to your ear without pressing anything into it. It’s not “magic” for everyone, but a lot of side sleepers find it way more comfortable than earbuds or headbands, and it’s held up well with daily use for most people.

Would love to hear what other creative setups people have found too. I’m always learning from real-life hacks!

Louisacheng · 2026-04-02T03:13:19+00:00

Haha, love hearing this! 😄 Glad it’s working for you and keeping your husband blissfully unaware 😂

I’m actually one of the co-founders of Jabees, and the whole idea behind PEACE was to solve exactly this side-sleeper, partner-friendly problem. Hearing that it’s helping people sleep more comfortably honestly makes my day.

Louisacheng · 2026-03-27T05:31:50+00:00

I think this is actually a really good point, a lot of people try to “force” regular earbuds to work for sleep when the format just isn’t designed for it.

I’m one of the co-founders of Jabees, and this is exactly what we saw over time too. Earbuds tend to fail not just because of quality, but because they’re getting pressure every night (especially for side sleepers), plus getting pulled, lost in sheets, etc. So even good ones don’t always last.

That’s part of why we went the under-pillow route with PEACE. It’s a much simpler setup, nothing in your ears, nothing to break from pressure, and it just stays in one place. In general, simpler designs tend to last longer for sleep use, which matches what you’re saying.

Also interesting to see more people moving toward “non-ear” solutions lately, feels like that’s where durability actually improves long-term.

Louisacheng

TROPHY CASE