The term beauty sleep has been around for more than 150 years. Some scholars have traced it back to Shakespeare’s poem Lucrece: “Each in her sleepe themselves so beautifie…” Other historians mention the term sleeping beauty written by C. White in 1828 — way before the notorious Disney princess.
Without a blink of an eye in today’s world, it’s almost impossible to achieve necessary rest regardless of beauty (and this includes all gender identities). The bottom line is that we simply look and feel better with proper rest. For those of us with hectic schedules who suffer from bouts of insomnia, I’ve tried and tested the following products to get some well-needed rest. Here are my findings:
I’ve tried the chamomile tea ritual, from brewing it in the sun to spiking it with nip of spirits (whiskey). It never worked for me. This time around, I tried organic Good Night by Bee Inspired. The caffeine-free blend consists of chamomile, linden flowers, spearmint, rose petals and lavender. I tested it for a week and while it did not make me fall asleep, it did calm me down after a busy work schedule and prompted me to not fret so much while counting sheep. I’ve learned that herbal teas affect each consumer differently, so perhaps this savory brew will be the cure in your search for slumber. It’s worth a try.
For those of us who travel for work and see more airline personnel than family members, I recommend More Labs Dream Well. My first note about this product is that it’s tasty and comes in a TSA-friendly 3.4 fl. oz. bottle. I recommend that you take it 30 minutes before sleep regardless if you are on a plane or train. The active ingredient is melatonin and it’s sugar-free. During my trial period, it worked 2 out of the 5 nights. I felt rested in the morning, but had to brush away a few groggy cobwebs. Melatonin has that effect on me, perhaps you will fare better and more alert.
I am what clinicians call a hibernator — one who has to black out the windows and create complete silence in order to go to sleep. I blame this on the many years of working the graveyard shift, but that’s just my opinion. I recently found an amazing product called Loop to help me muffle the street noise, local construction work, and my neighbor’s rambunctious cat, two dogs, and a parrot. Hallelujah for Loop! The best feature of this product is proper fit (each box comes with a selection of plug sizes). I’ve tried cotton and other earplugs that eventually fall out of the ear canal due to tossing and turning. Loop has a special design that firmly keeps the plug in the ear canal. It’s great for travel and times when you need peace and quiet like public transportation, sporting events and family reunions. For me, they helped block out jolting sounds and disturbances but not my alarm clock.
Several of my friends and colleagues informed me that my sleep problem could be cured by dietary supplements. They also know that I am not a fan of pill-popping: I avoid pharmaceuticals unless absolutely necessary. For this test, I kept an open mind and tried Forest Leaf Magnesium Complex to promote healthy body function. With a little bit of research, I’ve learned the difference between melatonin and magnesium. Magnesium helps to promote relaxation and stress reduction to improve sleep. Melatonin may help to regulate the circadian rhythm, and supplemental melatonin may help improve sleep in people with a disrupted circadian rhythm. The magnesium did not leave me with morning fog and I am willing to keep in handy in my medicine cabinet.
For those who do not want to ingest anything, I discovered this machine by Adaptive Sound Technologies — Sound + Sleep SE. It has 64 distinct sound profiles engineered to promote deeper sleep, relaxation, and renewal. The company claims that unlike other “white noise” sound machines, Sound + Sleep SE uses naturally recorded, high-definition sounds that constantly evolve and never loop. This eliminates all audio repetition for real-world natural sound experiences. I found it relaxing and keep it playing while I am doing research or need to block out daily distractions for just a moment or two or three…
Click on the link below for more information.
Leefy Organics Nidra comes in a dropper bottle for easy traveling. The flavor I tested is tart cherry, which is easy to administer with just two squeezes of the dropper under the tongue. The product is vegan, with no sugars, artificial colors, or preservatives. It is a dietary supplement to improve healthy joints, enhance muscle recovery, and support sleep. After a week of nightly dosages, it did not make me fall asleep but I can attest that my joints did not hurt in the morning. Discover more on their website.
ThereICE offers Sleep+Mask. This product provides both a warm or cool experience depending on the user’s preference. Simply pop the mask in your freezer or microwave for desired usage. I tried both ways and realized that heating the mask worked better for me to get rest. Two things to keep in mind before you try this product. Read the instructions before using it (unfortunately they chose a very tiny print with white text on a clear bag), secondly, make sure you do not over-heat the mask. Keep it warm to the touch. During my test trials, I realized that the mask from my freezer did not help me sleep but it did reduce puffy eyes. Learn more about the Sleep+Mask on their website.
I hope these products help you achieve proper rest. Regardless of beauty and handsomeness, beauty sleep is not old-fashioned or a thing of the past — it’s a necessary function to maintain good health, look and feel good, and perform our daily responsibilities.
