Drew Barrymore Says It Was Often 'Impossible' for Her to Get to Sleep — This Was Her ‘Game-Changer’ (Exclusive)

Drew Barrymore knows it can be difficult to get a good night’s sleep.

“Being a mom, businesswoman, and someone whose mind is constantly racing, it can feel not just challenging but impossible,” she tells PEOPLE. “I used to toss and turn throughout the night or stay up staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep.”

She adds, “More recently, I’ve become a bit of a hot sleeper (thanks, hormones), which really affects how well I sleep and whether I can make it throughout the night without waking up. Or if I do, if I can fall back asleep at all.”

As part of her journey to quality sleep, the actress and talk show host, 49, partnered with Rest as the bedding brand’s official “Sleep Wellness Advocate.”

Barrymore says the collaboration has taught her one thing that's made all the difference: snoozing in a cool environment.

“I never realized how much of a game-changer it could be,” she says. “I've always preferred sleeping in a cooler room, but using cooling bedding has made my sleep environment absolutely perfect. It sets me up to achieve deeper and more restful sleep.”

The mom of two — she shares daughters Olive, 12, and Frankie, 10, with ex Will Kopelman — is particularly fond of the brand’s Evercool Cooling Comforter, saying she’s “never slept better.”

And her girls "started stealing my comforter and wouldn't stop fighting over it, so I had to get them their own sets,” she says.

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After her daugthers are asleep, Barrymore typically has  her own calming bedtime routine.

“I always have a stack of reading on my nightstand, so if I have it in me, I may read a little before turning out the lights. If not, I say goodnight to all the cats and Douglas [her dog], close my eyes and am practically asleep by the time my head hits the pillow,” she says.

For Barrymore, she prioritizes sleep just like good nutrition or exercise.

“We can’t be our best selves without a good night’s rest,” she says. “Ask any cranky baby — or grownup! Quality sleep is essential. It impacts us mentally and physically, our well-being, and our overall health. It affects how we show up in the world.”