Getting a great night’s sleep has never been more challenging – there are so many obstacles lying in wait, ready to pop up and interrupt our ability to say goodbye to the day and drift off into the care of what Shakespeare called “nature’s soft nurse.” There’s the stress of day, to-do items left unfinished, our afternoon and evening caffeine habit, the blue light from our ubiquitous screens. But there’s also the simplest and most direct impediment to sound sleep: sound. I speak from experience, living smack in the middle of the city that never sleeps. And though technology is often the source of the unwanted noise, it can also be the solution. For over 50 years, Bose has been dedicated to using science to enhance the joy and pleasure of sound. And now, with the introduction of Bose noise-masking sleepbuds, they’re using cutting edge science to help us sleep. That’s why I’m delighted to announce that Thrive Global is partnering with Bose on the Unwanted Noise campaign, dedicated to helping you get a better night’s sleep. We’ll be encouraging people to share their “unwanted noise” -- their own personal barriers preventing them from getting a good night’s sleep -- and use science-backed microsteps to make impactful improvements to their sleep and well-being (as well as giving away five pairs of Bose noise-masking sleepbuds to help people sleep better!).There are many elements to creating the perfect sleep environment. I’ve tried to make my own bedroom a temple to sleep. There’s a canopy bed and bedside tables overflowing with flowers and candles and pictures of my daughters, and an old-fashioned analog alarm clock (which I use to wake me up instead of my phone). And now a pair of noise-masking sleepbuds, which silence unwanted noise where it counts most: at the point of entry. They give you back one of the most important qualities for sound sleep: the knowledge that you can control your sleep environment by getting rid of unwanted sound. They’re the newest part of my nighttime ritual.And as we know from the growing mountain of sleep studies, sleep is the underpinning of our physical well-being, our mental well-being, and all the qualities we need to call on throughout the course of our day to perform at our best: creativity, focus, attention, decision-making, energy and productivity. The quality of our sleep at night determines the quality of our days. So it’s worth doing whatever you have to do to prioritize the power and the gift of sleep. Starting with getting rid of unwanted noise.This article was produced by Thrive Global and sponsored by Bose.