How To Elevate Your Sleep Routine
Developing a consistent nightly routine is important to setting yourself up for a well rested night and making the most out of the next day. After all, we spend a third of our life sleeping; we should treat this aspect of our life with the respect it deserves. As a routine oriented person, I enjoy creating small rituals that better my health and well-being each day. Having a well stocked nightstand is as imperative as the pre-sleep routine itself. These are some of the products I keep in my nightstand that have elevated my sleep experience and how I have incorporated them into my routine.
The products that I keep by my bedside are like little treasures that I look forward to using each night. I truly love this time that I dedicate to myself each evening. I do not currently track my sleep rhythm, but I know when I sleep well and when I don’t. If you are like me, sometimes your brain is not ready to go to bed when you are. These are some tools I use to assist in calming my mind, lowering my cortisol levels and achieving a relaxing nights rest.
I start with misting my pillow with an aromatherapy blend. I love the *Aura Cacia relaxing lavender spray and *Pacifica pillow mist. Both of these have a unique blend of calm and balancing essential oils. I also like to create my own with my choice of essential oils with an empty *small spray bottle. Try Lavender, Frankincense and sweet orange diluted with water. Once you start using a pillow mist, you will never go back. I like to do this step first so that the mist has time to dry on the pillows.
I keep a moisturizing *hand cream and an *aromatherapy blend roll-on. These two combined go all over the palms of my hands, back of the neck, and my pulse points. Sometimes, if I am feeling extra I will apply a cuticle oil too. I like the *Olive and June cuticle pen. I then sit down and say my affirmations, take slow deep breaths, close my eyes, and be in that moment. The aroma is incredibly serene and melts away all the worries of the day. I take the 5 minutes to appreciate my day and all it brought me.
I apply a hydrating *Lip balm and use my *Olbas aromatherapy nasal inhaler. If you haven’t used a nasal inhaler, it is life changing. I have several around the house and never leave without one in my purse.
Newest to my routine is a *Magnesium Lotion. I use the regular version but they do make a formula with Melatonin too. I have had RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) for years now and this product helps a lot with that. Magnesium is an essential mineral that I now apply topically and I take as a supplement. If you suffer with nightly leg cramps, magnesium can help with that too.
If I need some assistance getting back into a sleep schedule or I know my alarm will be going off early I will take Melatonin an hour before I lay down. I like the *Olly sleep gummy that has 3mg melatonin along with passionflower root and L-Theanine. I would love to make sure I am not having any screen time 2 hours before I go to bed but we all know that is not always realistic. I consciously make an effort to put my phone on the charger and either read or write in my journal.
Lastly, and my most recent addition, is adding red light bulbs in the bedroom. Red light can enhance your body’s melatonin. I changed out our two bedside lamps with *red bulbs and what a difference the type of light you use makes. This gives the bedroom such a calm vibe.
My mind is always running and I have found that these products help me find my center and slip into a rejuvenating sleep. I hope some of these products help you too. Everyone has different sleep particularities. This is what has worked for me. I know this may seem like a lot of steps, but it is 10 minutes of my day that pays off dividends in how I will feel tomorrow. I have grown this product collection over time to suit my preferences and I encourage you to find your own products and a routine that works for you.
If you try any of these let me know! Chime in on your favorite evening products that you use to unwind. Also, do we like routines?
*include affiliate links from Amazon.
See you next week.
Xo Charlene
