I admit I’m sleeping a little, and I’ve been there since my child was born! Here are some of my sleep aids and how to get the best night’s sleep.
What does it actually look like when you wake up? ))
I think I’m still recovering since my child (currently 6 and 12) was a newborn. I’ve always been someone who needs a decent night’s sleep to function, and those early years really drain you! As I age, I feel more sensitive to alcohol, and more generally, I age, and couples with sleep being more important than ever!
I got the idea for this post with the intention of sharing my Apple Watch data. For a while I was chatting with friends about sleep, but decided to track my sleep. I quickly realized that since I’m not sleeping in the lab, it’s very difficult to measure trends! When I do science experiments, I can’t have too many variables and my life is all variables! From the random smoke alarms to the birch that woke up until the second half of football match, to what they ate that day, I couldn’t really conclude. But like most things about health, the most important thing is how you feel.
Generally I’m a decent sleeper and if I have a normal healthy routine, I usually get a pretty normal night’s sleep (no alcohol, slow workouts, no kids come at night). My goal is 8-9 hours and it’s not interrupted. I woke up at 6:30 without an alarm and knew it would have been a great night if the last thing I remember was to read my Kindle! Not always this epic, so there are several ways to optimize your sleep!
How to get the best night’s sleep
Settings: Sleeproom Favorites
Our bed
I have had a Tempur-Pedic Cloud Supreme mattress for over 10 years. (Remember the Sleep Number saga?!) I think the model I have is closest to the newer version of Tempur-Cloud, medium hardness. I’m obsessed with it. I can’t stand anything with the coil (someone who wants to sleep with the coil!?). I love that the bed won’t move if someone moves (sleeping in coils while traveling is terrible). Whenever I decide to get a new mattress, I really like this company too, so I consider natural memory forms (like EOS). That’s what we got for Mazen’s Bed and I have a discount code on that post.
I also love the ceramic barn lorry bed. It’s solid and the fabric holds up nicely (even the random stains I made worse on our journey!).
room temperature
In this article, I say “Fever is the enemy of sleep,” but I couldn’t agree any further!! I recommend 60-65 degrees, but I think it’s pretty cold in the summer. Keep the thermostat at 68 degrees at night, warm things are too hot!
Body pillow
When I was experiencing pain in my shoulder muscles (I am sure it has nothing to do with sleep now), I started using the King as a body pillow. I have a lily silk pillowcase that is very cool. I place it vertically next to the bed and use it for side sleep at night. The additional support is great.
Eye masks are also great for blocking all the light!
Favorite bedding
I’ve been using these 400 thread count sheets from Target for 10 years now. They are pure cotton and are expensive for quality. I’m sure there are plenty of very luxurious seats out there, but these are just such good value.
White Noise Air Purifier
There is this air purifier that acts as white noise. It will help to create a lovely white noise sound and also clean the air at night. It will be set up with an Amazon Smart plug, so it will automatically turn off at 7am.
Sleep Dos and Donts
Consistent bedtime
Consistent bedtime is very important to me! I have a strong body clock and I tend to wake up tired every day, regardless of when I sleep. Bedtime is between 9:30 and 10, and wake-ups are between 6 and 7!
Avoid alcohol
My number one sleep is as much as I got, to choose not to drink. That said, I’m still drinking alcohol. Usually, if I have, my sleep is slightly affected. But if there are 2-4 drinks (some party night opportunities a year), will the boy pay for it! I throw, turn, and never get a deep sleep. One of those nights will return to prioritizing sleep for the entire next week.
CBD/THC
The main reason I became interested in CBD and THC was due to my connection to deep sleep. Green Compass is the company I buy most often and has several products designed to help you sleep.
Roll up the jelly – these are the strongest products of Green Compass, containing 2.5mg of THC and 25mg of CBD. These flavors are very tasty and are like a ginger mojito. Think of it as “alcohol exchange.” You’ll want to try these on nights where you need a deep sleep following the “ultimate cold.” If you’re not used to THC, get ½. Full-spectrum tincture – this is before bedtime to support sleep. This is what I do if I have insomnia and don’t need faster results and sugar in my teeth (from jerry). Alternatively, if you have insomnia, use it in the middle of the night. Shake the bottle, apply a drip of oil, dispense it under the tongue, hold it for 1 minute (counts 60) and swallow the rest. This allows for maximum absorption of the sublingual gland. I really like the natural mint flavor. Because it is often something you have in your mouth around your teeth brushing when you are sleeping. Better Nano Jerry – These blackberry-flavored jellies contain cannabinoids, ashwagandha, lemon balm oil and passion flowers, known for their sedative properties. It takes 30 minutes before going to bed. Don’t worry, they won’t knock you out. I take them on nights when I really need a good sleep. Like if I slept poorly the night before due to a sick child or other interruption.
Agz
The new AG1 is AGZ! I received an AGZ sample a few weeks ago, and it became part of my nightly routine several nights a week. The ingredients promote clinically studied adaptations, herbal extracts and minerals, such as magnesium L-thleonic acid, ashwagandha, saffron, L-thianine, and valerian roots. Mix the powder with warm or cold water or milk about 90 minutes before bed to promote the air. It’s sweetened with stevia and monk fruit, so it tastes like hot chocolate, with only 1 gram of sugar.
Tips for insomnia
Even with good sleep habits, insomnia sometimes hits me. Most of the time it comes from alcohol, but sometimes it’s because I either have slow training (like the 8pm soccer game) or didn’t eat enough dinner. When I was pregnant with a boy, I realized that my insomnia was often associated with having to (or not) eat in the evening. Slow workouts can zap my shop even if you don’t feel hungry.
I have protein when I go to bed
My birth doula taught me pregnant women suffering from insomnia as they have almonds and proteins at bedtime. This helps prevent midnight wake-ups.
Lemonade at night
Another pregnancy trick I’m learning and still using is to drink lemonade at night. This juice immediately rehydrates and gives sugar to the bloodstream. I swear that my insomnia is often glucose-related. If I could convince myself to get out of bed and get the energy to go downstairs for some juice, it almost always puts me to sleep. If you don’t have juice in your fridge, you can try anything with quick sugar, such as dried or fresh fruit, honey or maple syrup.
Read fiction on my Kindle
Sometimes my insomnia has something to do with it being too much in my mind. And the best thing to do is to turn my mind off. Reading fiction on my Kindle is a great way to incorporate my mind into my life and stories. So, after I eat lemonade, I read my Kindle in the dark and get sleepy again, usually in about 10 minutes. This is the main reason why I am a team Kindle. No lights are needed. You can be by your side deep in the covered cover where your Kindle is supported to read yourself back to sleep!
Cover your ears
I learned this trick from a massage therapist I’ve seen once. She told me she had an unusual comfort in covering her ears while she was asleep. It makes her feel even safer. I’ve started trying this and it works for me too! The bonus is that you too will ring in the middle of the night.
