Are You Sleeping?
Well I’m writing this blog actually at 2:15 am in the morning... the proof that I have a huge issue with sleep. I used to be able to fall asleep so quickly without being bothered by pillows, toppers, the right duvet or a night-time routine. Well things certainly have changed…
Is it age ? Is it hormones ? Is it anxiety ? Is it the moon ? Your guess is as good as mine!
I’ve been struggling with sleeping issues for a few years mainly because of hormone issues and anxiety, so I thought that sharing some tips I found would help you to snooze off.
My skin for sure looks older after a night without good sleep and my mood is not the best either, neither is my digestion. Ask my husband how cranky I am before 10am if I didn’t sleep well. At times I toss and turn, and my brain can’t settle down or I have to literally get up 9 times to go to the toilet and by then it’s 3 AM. And then there are also nightmares often that affect my day...
I decided to establish a routine that helps me to calm down and be more mindful. I think it really helps to unwind and have this precious self-care moment before bedtime. We are all about mindful eating so I think that sleep can be addressed in the same way. It’s an “add to cart” sort of night for me, and lately I’ve been getting lots of great products that help my sleeping routine.
“I just want to move in there and change everything I have at home.”
It’s All In The Bedding
A quality mattress and good pillows are so important and I am still in the search for the perfect bed. When I go to a hotel where the beds are better then my own I just want to move in there and change everything I have at home. But can you believe it, sometimes my new pillow is my enemy! Investing the money in good quality does make a difference and to have good pillows and a mattress that is perfectly you is really key. I buy all my bedsheets, duvets and pillows at The White Company as their quality is really good and they have beautiful neutral collections. My new idea is linen sheets but they have to be really good quality and I’m still looking for a good brand.
Winding down...
After having taken my time for my skincare routine, I always cream or oil my body at night and absolutely love these two body products I use depending on my mood. The Neom Body Relaxing Cream smells so nice and the Mauli Surrender Oil feels very luxurious. I love to add fragrance before I hop into bed and it’s nice to have this body awareness. Smell is actually very important for winding down and can be very calming.
I light some palo santo afterwards and basically fume out my entire bedroom.
My husband made fun of me at first but he is now addicted to the woody scent and loving it. It calms the mind and purifies the air. You can get them on amazon or at any crystal or yoga shop and just sticking them into a bowl with sand and some crystals makes it even a pretty ambiance. I know that sage helps as well but hubby finds it smells like weed so that’s a no no.
“Yoga poses at night really help me to wind down and make me relax. ”
Yoga poses at night really help me to wind down and make me relax. You don’t have to be a yogi to do this and it takes just 10 minutes. When I’m really awake and a bit too hormonal or excited I lie on the floor and put my feet straight up against the wall for ten minutes. This helps to bring my heart-rate down, making my feet and legs feel lighter.
Below are some poses I found on Pinterest that help me with sleep but sometimes I just go with the flow and do what my body tells me to.
What’s on my bedside table...
Once I make it into bed, I like massaging my feet with the Prismologie foot cream with Oud and Samphire which I picked up at Amelia Nour. It’s such a lovely texture and I find that massaging your feet with a luxurious cream is very relaxing and soothing. Just three minutes of finding my pressure points feels amazing.
I also massage my hands with the Ashanti Maame Balm that I use also for other dry areas and as an overnight lip balm, perfect for my nails and cuticles as well. These minutes really feel like self-care and I find that scents and textures are so helpful to relax.
Then I take 2 Magnesium Citrate from Solgar which I find is a very important supplement for muscle relaxation and sometimes I put several drops of Dr Bach Night Rescue Remedy in my mouth which helps to settle down and it works on anxiety (I even give it to my daughter before exams).
If you like a tea at night... I don’t like a hot drink every night but very often I bring up a cup of Sirocco Wellness Relax Tea. Anything with lavender will calm your body right down !
I don’t have a magic remedy for sleeping issues and I still battle with it but since I followed this routine and go to bed more in a conscious way I do feel much better. Then at times, really not bothering helps when I’m all over the place, so I just try not to stress about it and say to myself “well tonight is going to be tough so don’t fight it” ! Just don’t fight it is such a good mantra to bring into your routine too.
I did a survey on my stories the other day about sleep and had lots of input from my lovely followers that also might help some of you.
Followers who shared...
Red light therapy apparently helps. I do have a light LED mask from MZ Skin but never used it for sleep. Will for sure try it.
One said that Magnesium Salt baths are also a big helper and very relaxing and I do it sometimes but in winter usually so I might do it more regularly.
Lavender spray on your pillows seems like a nice idea. Have tried. It smells amazing but have you seen my routine above already? Exhausting... could be why it works for me!
Sleeping apps ! I heard so much about them and tried out some but personally they actually make me more nervous. I believe it works on some people and others not.
A glass of red wine...or two... well that might help. My problem is I love white instead and that doesn’t help much. And I do love a shot of tequila, which isn’t a friend of sleep either.
Night sweats ? Ohhh yes I have them. Never know what to do really except embracing it and keeping my mind cool. I do keep my clothing light and wear a cotton bra. Weirdly enough it keeps my boobs area more dry when I sweat at night and makes me feel more contained. I try to put my hair up in a bun to avoid heat in my neck as well.
Bedtime thoughts
Well... I do envy those who are lucky enough to just go to bed without any sort of issue and drop dead sleeping. What a luxury... Finding my right bedtime was also key. My hubby can be ok going to snooze off at 10PM. It’s just not working for my body so we figured out with good communication that each of us has its own rhythm.
I just educated myself differently and got into a routine that is gentle on my mind and body. Unwinding, giving loving attention to your body, and going to sleep more consciously is certainly part of self-care.
We are awake all day figuring out our problems. Being happy or unhappy, anxious or chilled... everything we go through during our day reflects in our sleep. Let’s keep this in mind... the more we worry being awake, the less good is our sleep.
Gute Nacht !!!
