Do you ever get anxious about not being able to fall asleep and then it spirals into a night of restlessness? I listen to a sleep mediation every night and the woman says, “Don’t worry about falling asleep, just enjoy this moment of rest”. I don’t know what it is about that phrase, but it takes the pressure of falling asleep off the table. There are so many things that can affect how well we sleep, but setting yourself up for success (and to clarify, success = sleep) is the best place to start. I’ve had my fair share of sleepless nights, but have found that these 5 things that help sleep – as in the best possible shut eye!
(check out this post for my favorite bedding)
Before I get to these 5 things, let’s cover a few basics. I try to go to bed at the same time every night so my internal clock doesn’t get out of whack. Avoiding screens right before bed also recommended, but usually I am guilty of this! Having a great mattress is also a no brainer and if you are in need of a new one, this is the mattress we sleep on (luxury firm) and highly recommend! You can use code MOC25 for a discount!
Five Things That Help Sleep
The weighted blanket can be game changer if you have never used one before! It’s almost like a soothing hug for your body and just melts stress away. My kids all use them too and my older kids who can articulate why they like them have told me that when they put it on it helps turn their brains off so they can fall asleep faster. Their are lighter weighted blankets for kids, but the general recommendation is that the blanket is 5-10% off your body weight.
I’m not totally convinced that this sleep spray is just a placebo effect, but I associate this smell with sleep and I am sure there is some science behind why that works. I just spritz a few sprays in the air and waft it on to my pillow. If nothing else, it smells dreamy and forces me to slow down my breathing and relax. Oh, and if your kids every say they can’t fall asleep, you can let them borrow your sleep spray and it works every time!
On those nights that I think sleep might not come as easily because I have a lot on my mind, I take a sleep supplement. These are two that I love and I don’t usually take them both, but just one or the other. Calm is just magnesium which is a supplement that promotes relaxation. The Olly Sleep gummies have melatonin, L-Theanine, and Gaba all which help to promote sleep. Always ask your doctor before starting something like this!
Is there anything worse than being jolted awake because of a blaring alarm clock? Insert, heart racing and a terrible way to start the day. The Hatch alarm clock syncs with an app on your smartphone and allows you to set a sleep schedule – rest time which gives you access to sleep sounds and meditations, a bed time, and a gradual awake time (yes, I wake up to a simulation of the rising sun and birds chirping).
Ok in reality, I am laying in my bed on my back, under my aforementioned weighted blanket with the scent of lavender floating in the air. I have found that meditation is good for my overall well-being and I should do it more often than just before bed, but having this set time helps me get it in once per day. I use the meditation feature on my Hatch alarm (it is an extra fee) and gives me access to a library of different sleep meditations. There are so many meditation apps out there like Calm, Insight Timer, and HeadSpace to name a few.
Ok now share yours?! What are some things that help sleep?
