12 Graduation Gifts to Help College Grads Sleep Better

College graduation: a bittersweet moment in my life in which I felt both sadness about leaving my college roommates and immense eagerness to have made it through three years of courses, exams, essays, and to no surprise, endless all-nighters. 

I’d be lying if I told you late-night study sessions and campouts at the school library weren’t due to poor time management, but let’s be real: I was a college kid with a lot to navigate, and that came at the expense of my sleep. But since starting a new job and stepping into the next adult-ish phase of my life, I’ve learned to prioritize and get seven to eight hours of rest every night.

If you have a loved one graduating college soon, chances are they’ve experienced sleep deprivation too. So, as they move out of their dorms and move into the next phase of their lives, why not help them create and stick to a routine with these graduation gift ideas that promote healthy sleep? 

If you’re searching for the perfect gift for the recent college grad in your life, celebrate them with the gift of better sleep. Below, we’ve rounded up our 12 favorite college graduation gifts for some good snoozin’!

Best college graduation gifts for better sleep

Saatva Classic Innerspring Mattress

Help your college grad say goodbye to flat, old mattresses that strangers have slept on with Saatva’s bestselling

 The surface you lie on is everything, and unfortunately for college students, dorms and student apartments aren’t usually equipped with quality mattresses that can properly support their bodies. If your college grad is moving into a new apartment soon, then this innerspring mattress is the perfect gift as it provides adequate back support and pressure-point relief and works well with all body types. 

$887-$2,710,

Saatva Waterproof Mattress Protector

A college grad’s bed wouldn’t be complete without a mattress protector. Our 

 will help shield their mattress from spills, stains, dirt, and humidity. Plus, it’s the deep pockets and silicone elastic band ensures it’ll stay put. 

$115-$195,

Hatch Restore Sunrise Alarm Clock

Like most college students, I had numerous alarms on my phone to wake me up for 8 a.m. classes, which would startle me and pull me out of deep sleep—and that wasn’t the best way to start my day. I had the same issue when I started working—until I learned about sunrise alarm clocks. This sunrise alarm clock mimics natural light, which can regulate your college grad’s circadian rhythm and softly wake them up. 

$129.99, amazon.com

Headspace Meditation App Subscription

A meditation app can do wonders for a college grad with stress and worries about stepping out into the big world. The Headspace app is the perfect pick for all levels of practitioners as it consists of both guided and less-structured sessions, simple navigation, and an organized library with an abundance of mediations. It even offers meditations specifically for better sleep!

$69.99 for a year, headspace.com

Saatva Silk Eye Mask

It’s no secret that light makes it difficult to fall asleep, and living with roommates can make it hard to navigate apartment lighting when someone wants to sleep but others want to stay awake. I’ve been there, and let’s just say an eye mask would’ve made my life a little easier. Saatva’s

 is made of long-fiber mulberry silk and is naturally hypoallergenic, breathable, and temperature-regulating. Most importantly, it blocks out light for restful sleep.

$60,

Alchinme Lavender Cloud Candle

Essential oil candles promote better sleep by relieving anxiety and calming the brain, especially those with notes of lavender (which certainly helped me get some shuteye on nights before a presentation or an exam). This lavender-scented candle by Alchinme comes housed in a reusable drinking glass vessel and is topped with crystals to add positive energy to your grad’s sleep space.

$25, alchinme.bigcartel.com

Saatva Cloud Memory Foam Pillow

Like dorm mattresses, the pillows I had in college were just as unsupportive. Limp and flat, I used my “pillows” from freshman year to the very end—and I’m certainly paying for it now (ouch). Hence, new pillows are a great gift for your college grad’s new place (and their back). Saatva’s

 features a blend of gel-infused memory foam and buoyant latex that contours and supports your head and shoulders, keeping them in great alignment all night long.

$135-$155,

Papier Wellness Journal 

As your college grad experiences some drastic changes in this period of their life, it’s important they remember to make time for themselves. With Papier’s daily wellness journal, they can write down thoughts, feelings, goals, intentions, and just about anything they want to ease their minds before bed for better quality sleep. Not to mention, this journal can be personalized to make for an even more meaningful gift for a special college grad. 

$35, papier.com

Saatva Diamond Knit Blanket

Saatva’s

 is the simplest way to add a little luxury to your college grad’s bedroom. This light and airy cotton blanket is made from 100% cotton knit and is naturally hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking, and free of harmful chemicals. Best of all, it can be used as a coverlet, a top layer, or a comforter alternative.

$165-$245,

Peaces & Pages Book Subscription Box

Reading a book before bed is one of the best ways a recent college grad can wind down at night. That’s why the Peace & Pages book subscription box would be an excellent gift for any college grad bookworm. The basic subscription consists of a book in a genre of their choosing, a full-sized bath/body product, and a full-sized aromatherapy product. With all of these relaxing gifts, your college grad will be sure to experience some good quality Z’s.

$27 a month, peacesandpages.com

Saatva Percale Sheet Sheet

Pamper your recent college grad with Saatva’s breathable

Believe it or not, your sheets directly impact how comfortable you sleep as some materials can trap heat and make you sweat throughout the night. Our percale sheets are specially made for hot sleepers and get softer with every wash.

$115-$225,

White Noise Machine

A white noise machine was my holy grail in college, drowning out my roommates’ late-night cooking, their group study sessions, and the parties in our building. And even when I graduated and moved out of my college apartment, that didn’t stop the noise from traveling with me. For your college grad, fix the problem before it starts by gifting them this white noise machine that will help mask any disruptive noises for more restorative sleep.

$21.99, amazon.com

Sleep tips for college grads 

What else can you do to help a recent college grad catch eight hours of Z’s every night? Share with them the following sleep advice tailored to young adults:

• 14 Ways to Sleep Better Tonight
• How to Deal With a Roommate Who’s Disrupting Your Sleep
• How Much Sleep Should You Get? Here’s What the Science Says
• 15 Things to Do if You Can’t Sleep
• How to Go to Sleep Fast: 20 Tips to Help You Fall Asleep Quickly

FAQs

What’s a good college graduation gift?

A good college graduation gift can range from gift cards to clothes—but the best college graduation gifts are those that can help your grad improve their quality of life, especially their sleep. Great college graduation gifts can include a new mattress, pillows, a wellness journal, a sleep mask, or a meditation app subscription. 

Shop Saatva this graduation season

Treat the recent college grad in your life with products that will help them sleep better as they move into the next phase in their life. At Saatva, we offer a wide range of products to help young adults sleep better, from mattresses to pillows to eye masks to blankets. 

Check out our current sale offerings to see how you can save on better sleep, plus also find more gift ideas here!