Hey there, friends!
Or I should say... Good morning!
Have you ever had trouble sleeping? Normally i never do. I'm kind of notorious for getting my required 6-8hrs a night. I thrive on sleep and work my schedule around it. I'm a believer in cat naps and shutting down early. I've been known to go to bed by 7pm to be rested for early flights. It's safe to say I'm a big fan of catching my ZZZs.
Another reason I feel strongly about setting up a nighttime ritual and preparing yourself both mentally and physically for a full night of restful sleep is because it actually helps calm anxiety. If I don't get enough sleep, I feel irritable and easily stressed. I can actually feel the anxiety build in my body. So yeah, it's a done deal for me- and I hope it's one for you too- however, for the past few nights I've been having trouble falling asleep and even more trouble staying asleep. I do have an earlier start tomorrow and getting a good night's rest is already weighing heavy on my mind (see? i told you i'm kinda crazy about it!). Thinking about not sleeping is causing me to be even more anxious so I'm preparing my nighttime ritual now so by tonight I'm calm, centered and ready for a solid night of uninterrupted and peaceful sleep.
Here's my GP (game plan) to ensure I'm ready for a solid snooze-fest by tonight:
~ shut down all work/laptop/phone post-evening yoga
~ quick tub soak with lavender scented epsom salts
~10 mins alternate nostril breathing in bed
~ eye mask
~ dark room
There are so many things you can do to make sure you set yourself up for a good night's rest. Here are some other things a nighttime ritual can include to make sure you wake up rested and energetic:
~LAVENDER- light a scented candle, use a scented eye mask or dab some of the essential oil on your pulse points.
~MEDITATE- even just 5 minutes before bed can help calm your mind and release physical stress
~ YOGA- legs up the wall pose is one of the most relaxing and restorative poses you can do for yourself to re-center. Even better, take an evening restorative class if you can!
~ WORKOUT- not neccessarily right before bed, but in the morning or afternoon. Any movement or moderate exercise will benefit you by eliminating extra energy that builds up in your body
~ DITCH THE CAFF- quit caffeine as much as you can! Need your morning cup? Ok, then swap out your afternoon fix for an herbal (caff free) tea. Try sparkling water with dinner instead of soda and curb your sweet tooth when it comes to dessert.
~ CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT- something I thrive for in yoga is the right setting. Music, lighting, flowing... it all completes the practice. Your bedroom is the same deal. Turn off the TV, close the curtains or put on an eye mask, try using a salt lamp to purify the air, keep it cool, use nice sheets... these things also come together to create the perfect accompaniment to a restful night's sleep.
~ HAVE A NOTEBOOK BY YOUR BED- ok, this one seems a bit odd, i know. BUT, I swear by it! If stressful, anxious thoughts are keeping your mind spinning you'll never get to sleep. Whatever is buzzing around your head, just write it down in the notebook. Promise yourself that once you close the book on it, you close your mind to it. It'll be there tomorrow. You wrote all your stresses and To-Dos out so you won't forget them and you can deal with it all tomorrow .. once you're rested!
Sat Nam and Snoozes!
XO, b
Or I should say... Good morning!
Have you ever had trouble sleeping? Normally i never do. I'm kind of notorious for getting my required 6-8hrs a night. I thrive on sleep and work my schedule around it. I'm a believer in cat naps and shutting down early. I've been known to go to bed by 7pm to be rested for early flights. It's safe to say I'm a big fan of catching my ZZZs.
Another reason I feel strongly about setting up a nighttime ritual and preparing yourself both mentally and physically for a full night of restful sleep is because it actually helps calm anxiety. If I don't get enough sleep, I feel irritable and easily stressed. I can actually feel the anxiety build in my body. So yeah, it's a done deal for me- and I hope it's one for you too- however, for the past few nights I've been having trouble falling asleep and even more trouble staying asleep. I do have an earlier start tomorrow and getting a good night's rest is already weighing heavy on my mind (see? i told you i'm kinda crazy about it!). Thinking about not sleeping is causing me to be even more anxious so I'm preparing my nighttime ritual now so by tonight I'm calm, centered and ready for a solid night of uninterrupted and peaceful sleep.
Here's my GP (game plan) to ensure I'm ready for a solid snooze-fest by tonight:
~ shut down all work/laptop/phone post-evening yoga
~ quick tub soak with lavender scented epsom salts
~10 mins alternate nostril breathing in bed
~ eye mask
~ dark room
There are so many things you can do to make sure you set yourself up for a good night's rest. Here are some other things a nighttime ritual can include to make sure you wake up rested and energetic:
~LAVENDER- light a scented candle, use a scented eye mask or dab some of the essential oil on your pulse points.
~MEDITATE- even just 5 minutes before bed can help calm your mind and release physical stress
~ YOGA- legs up the wall pose is one of the most relaxing and restorative poses you can do for yourself to re-center. Even better, take an evening restorative class if you can!
~ WORKOUT- not neccessarily right before bed, but in the morning or afternoon. Any movement or moderate exercise will benefit you by eliminating extra energy that builds up in your body
~ DITCH THE CAFF- quit caffeine as much as you can! Need your morning cup? Ok, then swap out your afternoon fix for an herbal (caff free) tea. Try sparkling water with dinner instead of soda and curb your sweet tooth when it comes to dessert.
~ CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT- something I thrive for in yoga is the right setting. Music, lighting, flowing... it all completes the practice. Your bedroom is the same deal. Turn off the TV, close the curtains or put on an eye mask, try using a salt lamp to purify the air, keep it cool, use nice sheets... these things also come together to create the perfect accompaniment to a restful night's sleep.
~ HAVE A NOTEBOOK BY YOUR BED- ok, this one seems a bit odd, i know. BUT, I swear by it! If stressful, anxious thoughts are keeping your mind spinning you'll never get to sleep. Whatever is buzzing around your head, just write it down in the notebook. Promise yourself that once you close the book on it, you close your mind to it. It'll be there tomorrow. You wrote all your stresses and To-Dos out so you won't forget them and you can deal with it all tomorrow .. once you're rested!
Sat Nam and Snoozes!
XO, b
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