I never really had any trouble falling asleep before having Quinn. Night time anxiety was REAL postpartum (I wrote about it here) and it’s lingered making it really challenging to get restful sleep some nights. Over the past few years I’ve started to get really serious about my sleep hygiene routine. There are specific steps and products I use in the evening to help set me up for a successful night’s sleep that I wanted to share.
- Epsom salt bath + essential oils Once Quinn is down for the night I will run a bath and add a cup of epsom salt and calming essential oils. Epsom salt helps with relaxation because it is magnesium sulfate that dissolves into the bath and can be absorbed into the skin during soaking. Magnesium sulfate can help sooth sore muscles, reduce stress and can promote relaxation.
- Before heading up stairs for the night I make myself a cup of tea. I either drink chamomile tea, CALM tea (raspberry lemon is my favorite flavor), or reishi mushroom tea
- Ideally I’m getting into bed about 30-60 minutes before I’d like to be asleep, my phone is off, and I’m reading a book. If I am on my computer or watching TV then I’m wearing my blue light blocking glasses. The bright blue lights from electronics disrupts the body’s natural melatonin production and can make it more difficult to fall asleep.
- Magnesium supplement + CBD oil both of these supplements help me relax before bed. I will take magnesium if I didn’t drink the CALM tea (too much magnesium can cause GI issues 😉 and I’ve just started CBD oil the past few weeks and really feel like it’s helping with anxiety at night.
- Weighted blankets are really popular right now to help with anxiety. I first learned about weighted blankets years ago when touring an eating disorder treatment facility and they were using them with patients to help with anxiety. Unfortunately, I only got a 12 pound blanket (thinking that was plenty of weight) and I wish I had 15-20 pounds. I will probably get a heavier one like this in the future, but for now I do think it’s helpful!
- Sleep mask is a must for me! It took me awhile to get use to sleeping with this on, but now I can’t fall asleep without it. Complete darkness helps me fall asleep faster and get into a deeper sleep. A sleep mask might also protect the delicate skin around your eyes from wrinkles- win!
Last step, which I have no control over is Quinn and my 15 year old lab sleeping through the night. Odds are at least one of them wakes up needing something in the middle of the night, but on the rare occasion they both sleep 12 hours I feel like a million bucks when I wake up!
xx, A
