I've never been the 'head to the pillow and I'm out' type so I'm always researching ways to get a better night of sleep. Over the years, I've honed in on a nighttime wind down routine that calms my mind and relaxes my body to help me get more restful zzz's. From sleeping with your phone in another room to making your bedroom a more calming environment, I've tried it all. And now I'm sharing what has worked for me in case you're looking for some #bettersleep tips and tricks, too!
One thing to note - do what works for you. It might take some experimenting in figuring out what works for you. There are some things I always do each night to prep my mind and body for sleep, and some that are bonuses or I'll only do if I need more support in setting myself up for a great night of sleep.
Limit Technology
This is one you've probably heard before but it truly works (and, it's free)! The nights I limit technology before bed (phone and TV), I always sleep sooo much better. My favorite way to do this is to sleep with my phone in a different room. This is something I always do and something all the experts recommend. While I'm in bed, my phone is charging in our living area. This way, I know my phone isn't the last thing I see at night and the first thing I see in the morning. It provides at least a little buffer! If you need your phone for an alarm, consider going old school with an inexpensive clock.
Wind Down Time
Most nights, I aim to get ready for bed 30 - 60 minutes before I get into bed. When I have the time, I'll run a warm bath using our RELAX CBD-infused Bath Salts. There are a lot of benefits to taking a CBD bath, including helping you fall asleep - and stay asleep - faster. Light a candle, put on some tunes, and let the bath do the rest.
If I don't have time for a bath, I'll still give my mind and body some downtime before I go to bed. I love making a cup of Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao Mix - it's soothing, tastes delicious, and the organic reishi mushroom helps support the body's natural sleep cycle (i.e. sets your body up for sleep). At the very minimum, I'll read or write in my journal in bed for a few minutes. Studies have shown that writing before bed can help you sleep longer, and better. If you're looking to start a journaling practice but don't know where to start, we offer a range of journals that will help you fine tune your thoughts - from gratitude to manifestation.
Replace Your Bedroom Bulbs
This is another favorite tip of mine, and one I feel is often overlooked. Change the lightbulbs in your bedroom - replace the standard bulbs with special 'Good Night', or sleep, lightbulbs. These bulbs eliminate blue light and help promote a healthy circadian rhythm, which is important because then your body can make the right amount of melatonin needed for a good night of sleep. We don't have any regular lightbulbs in our bedroom - when I turn on the light at night to read, our bedroom glows in such a soothing way. So much focus goes into the bedroom aesthetic and comfort of the bed (important, yes!), but in my opinion, lighting is just as important! You can find Good Night bulbs on Amazon here.
A Few Minutes of Self-Care
After my nightly skincare routine is done, I'll often take it a step further and use my Gua Sha to give my skin an extra boost. It helps my skincare products better absorb into my skin, along with giving my face a lymphatic drainage massage - which means smoother skin in the am! The better sleep gem of a Gua Sha is the relief it can provide along the jawline. If you tend to clench your jaw at night, try using one before bed - massage along your jawline to ease pain and tension and you'll start to notice you're clenching less at night (and sleeping better)! Try the back of your neck, too!
Now... take a few deep breaths and you're off to dreamland! What are some of your favorite better sleep tips? I'd love to know, so please share below!
By the way, now that you know my secrets to sleeping better, check out my tips on how to have better (more mindful) mornings!
