I have learned just how juicy sleep is when alcohol is out of your system. However, it didn’t just happen overnight. Well, I mean, it did - but it wasn’t the first night. Here are some of the best lessons I’ve learned about sleep.
Snooze Rituals
A nighttime routine does wonders, and is best when it doesn’t include scrolling on social media. I try to be asleep just about every night at 10 pm - and here’s the leadup that starts at 9pm with a phone reminder to get ready for bed:
Take sleep supplement (see #2 for more information)
Phone goes into sleep focus
Change into my pj’s - if I’m not in them already!
Make an herbal tea - right now I’m loving the Nighty Night Tea from Traditional Medicinals
Wash my face and use all the anti-aging solutions possible
Apply a lip sleeping mask - and bonus, it tastes like dessert
Get into bed about 9:45 and depending on mood, either read a book for a few minutes, listen to a meditation, or just lay there and reflect on gratitude
This practice means I’m asleep pretty close to 10pm, and this is optimal for my typical 6am wake up.
Supplement Smarts
Find a supplement, if needed, that works for you. Now, note - I am not a doctor, and this is all based on my lived experience - but the reality is that not all sleep supplements are created equal. I took Melatonin for a long time, and then, well, it just stopped working and had almost the opposite effect. That’s when I started reading more about the product I was taking and realized it really wasn’t doing me any favors.
I then tried taking a probiotic that had some sleep supplements in it, and then another product that included a cocktail of sleep stuff. They worked, a little, but they were expensive and I just wasn’t convinced. Also, I have a pretty hectic and at times stressful life, and I have these little benign heart murmurs that are induced by stress. My doctor told me magnesium would really help with them - and oh, by the way, they showed up the most when I laid in bed trying to fall asleep.
So, I did a little research on magnesium, and found out that the calming effect can be really positive at bed time. Long story short - I found something that works for me by advocating for myself, researching, and not settling on what was trending. So, at 9pm every night, I take OptiMag Neuro Mix Berry mixed in water, and not only are those PVCs almost completely gone, I’m noticeably more relaxed, and I think my nervous system is more happy with me than not!
The Great Pillow Saga: Fluff, Fail, Repeat
This is the biggest one - find the right pillow. No joke - I think I’ve purchased and returned at least 20 pillows. I’ve tried Purple, Casper, Nectar, Serta, Sleepgram, Cushion Lab, Pillow Cube, Cosy House, Tuft and Needle, and probably others that I can’t remember. I tried memory foam in both shredded and solid forms, and the fluffy stuff. Heck - I even ordered a Medcline Sleep System. There were a couple that were a fail from the moment they came out of the package, some I ditched after one night, and some I wanted to love, but there was just that one thing. The good news is I learned what worked and didn’t. For me - the filling didn’t matter as long as it didn’t spread apart and leave my head without support in the night. And that, my friends, was hard to find.
Until one day, while scrolling Facebook (before 9pm of course), I found an ad for the MVMI pillow - pronounced Mummy. It made so much sense - it had chambers sewn into it that kept the fluffy stuff in place. Simply amazing! When it came, I was so hopeful. I slept on it for three nights before I was frustrated. The stuffing stayed, but It wasn’t high enough in general for me as I sleep mostly on my side. But, from such a pillow collection, I knew just what to do!
I threw the MVMI pillow into the outer layer of the Sleepgram 3-in-1 Adjustable Pillow and omg - I have literally made the perfect pillow! It’s been a solid 4 weeks, of great sleep and no neck pain, and I am a happy girl.
Dry + Routine + Perfect Pillow = Blissed Out Rest
As it turns out, the equation for my perfect night of sleep is:
Alcohol-free + bedtime routine + OptiMag Neuro + (MVMI x Sleepgram) = 8 blissful hours leading to a Optimal night of sleep (as reported by both me and my Oura ring).
I challenge you to spend some time really investigating your sleep quality and see what you can do to find your bliss! You are worth it!
*****************************************************************************************************
Chopra and Nocerino, a law office in NYC, reached out to us regarding the impact fatigue can have on driving. It has a lot of information that even surprised us! Learn more.
Comments