Nicola Appleton
Nicola Appleton is Sleep Features Editor at Tom’s Guide, specialising in quality news content surrounding sleep and wellbeing. Nicola cut her teeth as a journalist in a busy newsroom in Bristol, UK, 15 years ago as part of a team at Britain's largest independent press agency. Since then, her job as a journalist has taken her to the States, to Sydney, and then back to Blighty, where she has written and edited features for a whole host of prominent British and international brands, including The Independent, The Sydney Morning Herald, HuffPost, Refinery29, Stylist and more. As well as tackling the vast topic of sleep, Nicola will be joining the raft of expert mattress reviewers at Tom's Guide, helping steer readers towards the very best mattresses on the market.
Latest articles by Nicola Appleton
Doing this before looking at your phone each morning helps you fall asleep fast at night
By Nicola Appleton published
Doing this one crucial thing before you check your phone in the morning helps you fall asleep faster at night, say experts.
7 signs of bed bugs in your mattress — and whether it can be saved or not
By Nicola Appleton published
Think you have bed bugs in your mattress? Learn the telltale signs and symptoms, plus when a mattress can be saved and when it's time to buy new.
This is the worst sleep position for back pain, according to a chiropractor
By Nicola Appleton published
Sleeping in this position is ‘almost guaranteed’ to make your back pain worse, says a chiropractor. Here’s how to stop.
I've slept on a pillow-top mattress for the last three weeks — here's why I'll never sleep on anything else again
By Nicola Appleton published
Now that I’ve slept on the Helix Midnight Luxe and its sumptuously plush pillow top, I can’t ever go back. Here’s why.
5 signs your mattress is too firm, plus how to make it softer
By Nicola Appleton published
A mattress that is too firm can cause hip, shoulder and neck pain, plus tingling in the hands and feet. Here’s how to make your firm mattress softer.
I tried TikTok’s viral sweater sleep hack — here’s what happened
By Nicola Appleton published
The viral TikTok sweater sleep hack is a DIY version of the Sleep Crown pillow — but is it just as good? I tried it and here’s what it did for my sleep.
I've swapped my cheap microfiber pillow for a luxury memory foam — here's how it's changing my sleep
By Nicola Appleton published
Is the $120 Ostrichpillow worth its luxury price tag? I’ve been sleeping on for weeks — here’s what I think.
Why have I started snoring — and how can I stop? A doctor responds
By Nicola Appleton published
If you’ve recently started snoring, the first thing to do is to rule out sleep apnea, advises a board certified physician.
Why do I grind my teeth in my sleep? A leading neuroscientist answers
By Nicola Appleton published
A dental guard can help protect your teeth from grinding them in your sleep, but that only solves part of the problem, explains a leading sleep expert.
How do I know if I have sleep apnea? A leading sleep apnea expert answers
By Nicola Appleton published
What is sleep apnea and how to tell if you have it
Why do I sweat so much in my sleep? A sleep scientist answers
By Nicola Appleton published
A sleep scientist explains why you could be sweating more than normal during your sleep, plus 5 things you can do to stay cooler at night.
Why do I need so much sleep? An expert shares why you might need more sleep than normal
By Nicola Appleton published
If you're sleeping over nine hours a night and still feel tired every day, it could be time to see a professional. Here's why...
This is the best sleep position for back pain, according to an orthopedic surgeon
By Nicola Appleton published
This is the best (and worst) sleep position for back pain, according to an orthopedic surgeon. Plus, they reveal how to soothe your tech neck come bedtime.
Best mattress protector 2024: waterproof, cooling and zipped covers compared
By Cynthia Lawrence, Grace Franks, Nicola Appleton last updated
Sleep well with one of the best mattress protectors for every bed, lifestyle and budget.
Are soft mattresses supportive or are they bad news for your back?
By Nicola Appleton published
A mattress can be both soft and supportive, provided that it contains enough supportive layers.
5 things to avoid right before bed if you want to sleep through the night
By Nicola Appleton published
Avoid these five things right before bed if you want to fall asleep fast and sleep through the night.
Five signs you need a firm mattress for your back pain
By Nicola Appleton published
A firm mattress isn’t the only suitable sleep solution for back pain, but it could be — here’s how to tell.
This is the worst type of mattress to buy if you have back pain
By Nicola Appleton published
There are so many myths around mattress for back pain – here's what to avoid and what to buy instead.
How to get rid of dust mites from your mattress, pillows and bedding
By Nicola Appleton published
Dust mites can aggravate allergies and disrupt your sleep. Here’s how to remove them from your mattress, pillows and bedding.
Neuroscientist explains why we binge eat and doom scroll more after a bad night’s sleep
By Nicola Appleton published
A neuroscientist explains how to break the cycle of bad decision making and get better sleep tonight.
Why you should sleep with the windows open — even in winter
By Nicola Appleton published
‘‘Lüften’ is a simple but effective sleep hack that can immediately improve your sleep quality. Here’s how…
If you see or smell this on your mattress, it has gone moldy — here’s what to do next
By Nicola Appleton published
A moldy mattress impacts your health and sleep quality, but it isn’t always easy to detect. We’ll walk you through how to spot mold on your mattress, plus what to do if you find it.
How to remove mattress stains — get rid of pee, vomit, yellow stains and more
By Nicola Appleton published
Accidents happen, so here's how to remove pee, vomit and yellow mattress stains in seven easy steps.