When it comes to sleep, there are 2 types of people - those who can fall asleep wherever, whenever, and those who are so sensitive, they struggle to even relax in bed.
I am the latter, and I've always envied people (especially my boyfriend) who can sleep as soon as they go to bed.
Usually, the more I try to relax and tell myself to fall asleep, the more tense and awake I feel, which is just so counterproductive and stressful.
Having a quality sleep is so important for your health and overall mood, so I wanted to share some tips I find helpful when trying to get a goodnight rest.
1. Aromatherapy Diffusers
I got this $20 diffuser from Marshall's, and I think this was one of the best investments!
It came with a lavender essential oil, but you can use any kinds of scents.
It instantly vaporizes water and the oil, and you can choose to turn on/off the light too.
Filling the room with relaxing scents like lavender helps you wind down and calm any busy thoughts.
2. Herbal Tea
My family swears by this tea, so we always have this huge box of SleepyTime Tea in the cabinet.
It doesn't necessary make you fall asleep, but it does definitely helps you calm your mind and relax. Other teas that can help you wind down are camomile, passionflower, and lavender.
Drinking a cup of hot herbal tea warms you up too, which helps you get ready for bed.
If you are not a fan of straight herbal tea, try adding a bit of honey!
3. Room/Linen Mist
Room/linen sprays are readily available, and it's a great alternative if you don't wanna invest in a diffuser.
Many sustainable brands offer a linen mist, and they are pretty affordable!
If you're particular about chemicals and ingredients used in the mist, you can make your own too. All you need is essential oils, witch hazel, distilled water, and a spray bottle.
<Instructions>
1. Put 25-30 drops of essential oils of your choice (I used lavender and sweet orange)
2. Fill half of the spray bottle with witch hazel
3. Fill the remainder with distilled water
4. Shake well
This ratio works well for any spray bottles - just add/put less oils depending on how fragrant you want it to be.
You can use any type of oils, but I recommend soothing/relaxing scents like bergamot and sage :)
4. Yoga
Before I got into yoga and meditation, I was skeptical about moving the body before going to bed. Like exercising when you are preparing for bedtime seemed counterintuitive to me.
But after doing it for a couple of times, I found it super effective to calm down the mind and find inner peace.
There are many yogis teaching online, but my absolute favorite is Yoga with Adriene.
Her voice is soothing and comforting, I usually start to fall asleep before the video ends!
5. Herbal Remedy
If you like natural remedies, this one is for you.
I got this "anxiety soother" from Down To Earth, but you can also find it online.
It has stress-relieving ingredients like kava and passionflower:
The direction says to shake well and take up to 40 drops in 2 oz. of water or juice, but it has such a strong taste, I only take about 10-15 drops at a time😅
But it does help me relax and worry less.
I hope you found at least one of them helpful (if not all) to get a better night sleep!
Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more wellness & sustainability contents :)