“Sleep is the ultimate luxury” a jazz musician once said to me, but no matter how much money you have, it’s so frustratingly good at being elusive. Not least this year for many of us.
But in the search for “Sleep Better, Sleep Sooner” solutions, this is actually where a “sleep stack” can really help – ie layering different elements into one dream-inducing wind-down ritual (like cocoa and the favourite teddy bear for adults).
Try:
1. No digital devices at least 90 mins before bed
2. Flower essences
3. Herbal teas (lavender, lemon balm, chamomile, orange blossom to name four sleep friendly ones)
What else?
4. A good pillow spray
5. A guided meditation
6. Diffusing Lavender oil (I use Tisserand’s spa diffuser)
7. Magnesium, or a sleep-centric supplement with 5HTP or GABA, valerian, hops, montmorency cherry, etc – there are loads out there.
Magnesium is a big one, it’s like jojoba for skincare, brilliant but “boring” and often overlooked and – fact – almost all of us are magnesium deficient.
8. Epsom salts or himalayan salts. What if if you have neither at home? Even sea salt is better than nothing, and salts team up well with eucalyptus, rosemary, orange or pine oil if your spirits need reviving or you’ve had a bit of an up-down day.
9. Next up are the grounding aromatherapy aids like juniper and sandalwood, while rose and geranium can help soothe an over-alert limbic system and lastly, nature’s sleep hero through the ages – lavender.
This is a wonderful time to have a play creating your own blends (I like layering grapefruit and other citruses to wear as perfume in summer – also fab in a spray bottle for the kitchen or home office, while for working, peppermint is fantastic, it’s great for concentration – like rosemary – and helps clear brain fog/fatigue).
For me, a combo of bath salts or oils, magnesium, a pillow spray and a sleep meditation work well. And a cosy bed in a coolish room – if it’s too warm it’ll boycott drifting off. And a REAL book with paper pages not a smartphone or an iPad.
And winding down each day with this question can be helpful:
What went well today?
What went well? is a great way to end a day when often the mind can – so easily – fill up with “automatic negative thoughts” or ANTS as Dr Daniel Amen calls them.
Speaking of good things that work, all the BRANDS featured are Beauty Shortlist winners:
Weleda (ultra-natural scents straight from nature)
Dr Teal’s (lavender – super soothing or eucalyptus + mint – really refreshing, and they do many more of these gorgeous bath salts)
Therapie by Michelle Roques-O’Neil (an award-winning knock you out bath to obliterate insomnia)
Tisserand (this bright but decompressing geranium, nutmeg and orange Total De-Stress blend is delightful, cheerful and comforting)
BetterYou (wonderful wind-down magnesium)
Micheline Arcier (her Sommeil sleep oil is divine)
NEOM Organics Real Luxury Bath Foam (starring grounding and relaxing lavender, jasmine & Brazilian rosewood)
Do you have a special sleep ritual particularly, let’s say, for when life is challenging? What seems to work?
Wishing you a restful night tonight.