High-quality sleep is crucial for overall well-being – it allows the body to repair itself, regulate emotions, and maintain optimal brain function. We all feel better when we’ve slept a full eight hours. A few months ago, I began to experience difficulty with falling and staying asleep. After much research and trial and error, I built a sleep routine using the following items. Whether it’s a placebo effect or something deeper, my sleep has meaningfully improved.
The first change I made was to invest in cotton sheets. If you’ve never tried cotton sheets before, they feel cool to the touch even in warm temperatures. I’ve been sleeping on the Villa Cotton Hotel Italia Embroidered Sheet Set, made from 100% Turkish cotton, and I can’t get over how comfortable they are. Accented with luxe gold embroidery, they feel crisp and indulgent enough for royalty. Paired with my white comforter, they transform my bedroom into a Mediterranean hotel. The thinking behind this brand is to bring la dolce vita, or the sweet life, to consumers at a more accessible price. Their textiles are like works of art, meant to adorn a room and spark joy for those who inhabit it.
(Note: It might go without saying, but a comfortable pillow is vital for a good night’s rest. My favorite is the Twilla Pillow which I reviewed here.)
A key discovery I made in my mission to achieve better sleep is the magic of weight – weighted blankets and pillows, specifically. I recently wrote an article reviewing three weighted blankets by Bearaby, Magic Weighted Blanket, and Baloo Living which I will link here (spoiler: I love all three). Weighted pillows, too, offer the stress and anxiety relief of a blanket, in a slightly different format. Hugimals World is a brand that offers high-quality comfort items for children and adults, from adorable pigs, elephants and puppies to more understated shapes, like the Heart to Hug Pillow. Its five pounds of deep touch pressure soothe the mind and body, bringing a sense of grounding tranquility. If you find yourself suffering from a racing mind and heart at bedtime, this might help you.
Let’s rewind a little bit to the period before you’ve slipped under your cotton sheets. The importance of an entire sleep routine has become clearer to me, and I think I’ve nailed down the process. If you want to set yourself up for the best chance at rest, consider taking a hot bath or shower in the evening. The warmth soothes the central nervous system and readies the body for rest. I have been enjoying Reveka’s Tea Tree + Peppermint Body Bar, which creates a hydrating and rich latter and smells divine. This contains magnesium chloride, which can help relax nerves and promote feelings of calm. In addition to its sleep benefits, it is also nourishing for the skin due to the addition of shea butter.
Once of out the shower, I’ve been loving Wholesome Hippy’s Calm Cream, which also contains magnesium. The pain blend provides instant relief, adding moisture into skin while dissolving aches and rejuvenating the senses. Key ingredients include vitamin D3, organic shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, arnica flower extract and turmeric root extract.
There are a few supplements I’ve been trying as well in search of dreamy sleep. First, I started taking Magximum Magnesium Glycinate capsules from Trio Nutrition. This vitamin combines magnesium with amino acid glycine, and is believed to improve sleep and calm anxiety. You can take these any time of day to promote a sense of calm (of course, it’s a good idea to consult a doctor before taking vitamins like this).
My other supplements both come from Apothekary: Wine Down and Take the Edge Off. These have been life-changing for me. These tinctures can be purchased individually or in a duo. Wine Down (L-theanine, California poppy, and tart cherry) is a kind of red wine replacement that reduces stress and provides relief after a long stressful day. It actually tastes really good on its own (like cherry), but I love putting one dropperful into a glass of tart cherry juice, which naturally contains melatonin. Take the Edge Off (passionflower and skullcap) has similar benefits – rather than red wine, it replaces white (and also tastes great). I’ve taken this one throughout the day, not just at night, and seen amazing anti-anxiety results. Using both in conjunction with each other has greatly reduced feelings of stress, and I’m not sure I can live without them now.
Finally, this last product is a scientifically-backed, NASA-inspired patented technology that is trusted by both doctors and sleep specialists. It’s Helight Sleep, a red light therapy device that bathes the room in light for 28 minutes before shutting off automatically. As the red light passes through your eyelids, it activates photosensitive cells, which results in a biological response that helps you relax. Red light therapy is currently all the rage, but so far this is the only form of it I’ve tried. I was skeptical at first, but it must be working, since I’ve never been awake to see it shut off after the 28 minutes have passed…
Whether you invest in one of these products or all, I hope they bring you some nighttime relief. Here’s to sweet dreams!
