Laura Brewick is president of Serta, leading brand and innovation development for the Serta brand at Atlanta-based Serta Simmons Bedding. Before moving to Serta, Brewick held various leadership roles within SSB. In her 17 years with the company, she has garnered multiple top performance honors, most recently the Impact of the Year award in 2020. Brewick is president of the Serta Inc. board and serves on the International Sleep Products Association board of trustees.
She is a proud mother of two daughters, Elise and Finley, and two rescue dogs, Pearl and Ruby. She enjoys the outdoors, early morning gym time and hopes to one day return to the game of golf on a more consistent basis.
BedTimes: Tell us about your bedtime routine.
Laura Brewick: One of my favorite aspects of being in the bedding industry is learning how important sleep is to leading a healthier life, and setting a routine plays a big part. I’m blessed to have two children (girls ages 6 and 8), so my nighttime routine is spent getting them ready for bed, which has helped me have an earlier and more consistent bedtime. I make an effort to start turning off some of the lights in the house and getting ready for the nighttime book read. We read books and have lights out by 8:30 p.m. (sometimes later when they are fighting every step of getting ready for bed).
BT: What do you never do before bed?
LB: Eat or drink caffeine. I love coffee, but I don’t have any late in the day, and I try to eat at least a few hours before bed for better sleep.
BT: How many hours of sleep do you typically get?
LB: The industry person in me would like to claim eight to nine, but the reality is more like six to seven most nights. I’m pretty regimented about getting up at 4-4:30 a.m. every day during the week, and depending on work needs, I do sacrifice some sleep time to accomplish all I want to in a day.
BT: Pets in the bed – yay or nay?
LB: Yay, and this is my No. 1 sleep disruptor. We adopted a pit-mix puppy named Ruby last year and she has deemed me “her person.” She follows me everywhere I go when I’m home and must sleep right next to me or even on me at night — and she’s 60-plus pounds! I’m working to find a happy balance here, but her sad eyes when I push her off the bed break my heart every time.
BT: Barefoot or socks?
LB: Barefoot, most of the time. But I learned a long time ago that cold feet prevent you from falling asleep faster, so I have no shame in going to bed in socks if I’m cold. But it means I’m peeling them off at some point in the night.
BT: What are your secrets for getting a good night’s sleep while traveling?
LB: First, my hotel profiles state I’d prefer a room far from the elevators; I hate hearing other travelers moving about. I turn down the thermostat in my room as soon as I check-in so that if I’m coming back late, I know the temperature will be right, as that is usually what bothers me most in hotels. Blackout shades are a must for me, and I always have a sleep mask in case the room has an alarm clock that casts light into the room.
BT: What are your best sleep tips?
LB: Have a temperature-controlled thermostat that can lower the temperature in your room one to two hours before bed. I like 68 degrees, so I can have a blanket or two. I’m also a big believer in sleeping in the softest pajamas and sheets possible. Smooth fabric that breathes and moves easily just equals better rest. I also have an air purifier in my bedroom — and on one of the higher settings to create not only clean air, but the perfect level of white noise to help me sleep. As noted above, for best sleep I would say no pets (or children) in bed, but I’m a work in progress in this area.
