Sleep is something all of us need to survive and without it our immune systems, hormones, mental health, productivity, and skin suffer!
I myself have a really hard time getting to sleep and staying asleep through the night and will do anything I can to get a restful nights sleep. I don't know if you can relate but I'll basically become a dragon breathing fire if my sleep is interrupted or I just don't get enough of it, haha!
Without sleep our cells cannot repair themselves and heal properly, making it hard for all processes of the body to function properly.
"Sleep is the best meditation." ~ Dalai Lama
Here are some sleep tips that I find useful, after many, many tried and failed attempts:
Tea Time I've always been a tea drinker, never really a coffee person which shocks most people, but hey it comes in handy to like tea when there's so many options for helping you sleep!
Some of my favorites for tea:
1. Bedtime Tea- Yogi Tea makes a beautiful blend that mixes Passionflower with Chamomile, Licorice, Cardamom and Cinnamon.
2. Chamomile Tea- in loose leaf form or in a tea bag, both are great options to help promote relaxation and soothe your mind! Extra benefit is that Chamomile is great for your skin too!
3. Lemon Balm Tea- has been used since the Middle Ages to promote relaxation and help with insomnia
4. Hot Water- I drink hot water all day long to help promote healthy digestion and keep my core body temperature up to stay healthy! This is a great option if you aren't a tea drinker and want a hot beverage before bed.
Yogi Time
Yoga before bed is so incredible, you get to relax your muscles and center your mind... Yoga with Adriene on YouTube is my go-to for flows at home and I really love that she doesn't push the typical "yoga narrative" that is out there, because yoga should be for everyone despite body type, strength level and hippyness level too haha!
CBD is for me!
If you are dealing with pain, anxiety and/or poor sleep then I highly suggest finding a GOOD QUALITY ORGANIC CBD that is trusted. I really trust CBD Caring for quality brands and if you are struggling with pain I love the Black Belt CBD Roll On, literally everyone I have try this stuff goes and buys it.
Magnesium Drink, huh?
Natural Vitality Official makes an incredible magnesium and calcium supplement called Natural Calm: The Anti-Stress Drink (my favorite flavor is the Raspberry Lemon) and I’ll drink some of this if I’m having anxiety or to prepare for sleep. This comes in a powder form and can be mixed into warm water about 1 hour before bed or really any time you're having a bit of anxiety. Magnesium can also help with muscle cramping and nerve calming, all preparing you for a good night's sleep.
You Need To Calm Down
I've tried a lot of apps for sleeping and this one is by far my favorite (oh, and I'm not paid by any of these companies to talk about them BTW- haha wish I was!). The Calm App has been my saving grace these last few months with guided meditations, sleep stories, nature sounds, and breathing exercises it has basically all the tools to help calm you down. There is a paid version and an unpaid version. I ended up purchasing the paid version since I don't go a night without listening to it!
Essential Oils
If you have a diffuser, organic essential oils like lavender and peppermint are my favorite to use in the diffuser while I’m sleeping. You can also make your own blends of your favorite scents by putting a few drops of each. Try to set it up in your room 10-15 minutes before you lay down so the scent is already in the room while you try to sleep!
We Are What We Eat (for the most part)
The type of food you consume matters and can truly impact your sleep, hormones and overall health. If you have high amounts of processed sugar and carbs in your diet this could greatly impact your sleep and overall health. Whole foods like veggies, fruits and grains can be very beneficial, also try avoiding sugar at least an hour or two before bed and see if this helps with your sleep!
I hope one of these tips help you in your mission to get a good night's beauty sleep. Message me any tips that you want to share as well!
Take care, xo
Astrid Makenzi
The Holistica Hive
Schedule an appointment with me here.