Practical sleep advice for New Zealanders
8 Hours is a New Zealand sleep magazine with down-to-earth guides to sleeping better, from bedtime routines and hot summer nights to choosing a bed. We’re published by NZ bedding company Dreamland, and we say so up front.
Start here
Three of our most useful guides, kept up to date.
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Why get 8 hours sleep
Why is it important to get 8 hours of sleep? The ‘eight hours of sleep a night’ requirement has been…
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Signs you need a new mattress, and how long a mattress really lasts
The 10 signs your mattress is past it, from sagging and lumps to creaky springs, how long a mattress really…
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How to sleep when it’s hot: a NZ summer guide
Hot, sticky night and no air con? Practical NZ tips to cool your bedroom, use fans and heat pumps well,…
Latest articles
New and freshly updated from 8 Hours.
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What to do with an old mattress in NZ: donate, recycle or dispose of it
Got an old mattress to get rid of? Which charities may take it, where to recycle it in Auckland, Wellington…
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NZ bed sizes: mattress dimensions in cm, from single to super king
Every standard NZ bed size in centimetres, from single to super king, plus how to pick the right size for…
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How to choose the right mattress for your age and stage
What to look for in a mattress at every stage of life, from a snug fitting cot mattress and kids’…
Sleep tips
Simple, practical ways to set yourself up for a better night’s sleep.
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Is the 5am Club some kind of secret society or cult?
What the 5am Club really is, who started it, the benefits fans claim, and what time you’d need to go…
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The weirdest-ever sleep hack for insomniacs
Can’t sleep? Meet the intentional paradox method, the odd trick of trying to stay awake so you fall asleep, and…
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What is lucid dreaming and can you learn to do it?
What lucid dreaming is, how people learn to know they’re dreaming while still asleep, and what to try once you…
Sleep and health
How sleep fits in with the rest of your life, in plain English. For medical advice, talk to your GP.
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The importance of deep sleep for mental wellbeing
Why deep sleep matters for your mood and focus, what your brain gets up to during it, when it happens,…
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How to shake off restless leg syndrome
What restless leg syndrome is, what can cause it, and practical things to try at night, from stretching and movement…
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Sleep for athletes: why is it so important?
Why sleep matters for anyone who trains or plays sport, how poor sleep affects performance, and simple guidelines to help…
Kids and family sleep
Bedtimes, night waking and routines for the whole whānau.
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Five children’s sleep problems
Kids won’t sleep? Five common children’s sleep problems, from insomnia and sleepwalking to bedwetting, nightmares and snoring, with ideas to…
Mattresses and beds
How to choose a bed, look after it and pass it on, plus NZ bed sizes.
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Could a bed-in-a-box transform your sleeping?
What a bed-in-a-box is, how a pocket spring mattress fits in the back of your car, and why it’s an…
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What mattress should I buy?
Buying a mattress is something you only do every few years. Our quick refresher: set a budget, try different types…
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Body impressions in your mattress: normal dent or sagging?
Noticed a dip where you sleep? How to tell normal body impressions from a sagging mattress, how to even them…
Want to try a Dreamland bed?
If you’d like to lie on a Dreamland bed before you decide, the stockist finder shows which stores near you carry each range.
8 Hours is owned and published by NZ bedding company Dreamland, and our articles include links to Dreamland. We aim to give advice that is useful whichever brand you choose. More about 8 Hours