Get Better ZZZs: Tried & True Sleep Tips

Hi! Today we’re talking about sleep, because who doesn’t LOVE sleep?! It’s pretty much one of my favorite activities of all time. 

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t always get 8 hours each night. But, who really does? Some nights I don’t get to sleep until midnight and I have to wake up at 5:30am. Shit happens. We’re all busy people here. 

I make sure to at least TRY my best every night, because I feel amazing when I get enough sleep. My skin looks better, my concentration is higher, and I’m in an overall better mood. The stars basically align when I feel well-rested. I’m sure you understand. 

So, today I thought it would be fun to share some of my tried and true sleep tips. 

Start your nighttime routine early

First up is probably the most important tip. You’ve got to start your nighttime routine early. That way, you’re not rushing around late at night, when you’d much rather be sleeping. Plus, you’ll never forget to take your makeup off before getting in bed. 

For me, I like to start getting ready for bed an hour before I’d like to be sleeping. That gives me enough time to brush my teeth, do my skincare routine, and read or watch TV. After all that is done, it’s right around the time that I want to fall asleep. 

Limit caffeine in the afternoon

We all know that caffeine at night can really affect your ability to fall asleep. However, research has shown that caffeine can affect sleep when it is consumed up to six hours before bedtime. For most of us, that’s in the late afternoon!

So, instead of drinking an afternoon coffee, I’ve been drinking a lot more decaf tea. Raspberry leaf is my favorite because it’s multi-purpose. It’s naturally high in magnesium, potassium, iron, and vitamins C and B, and it helps with upset stomach and nausea. I drink a cup usually after lunch and a cup after dinner, because I find that it also helps with digestion. 

Practice yin yoga 

If you’re subscribed to my newsletter, you know how much I love yin yoga. After a few days of vinyasa classes, my body is calling for a yin class. Yin yoga is appropriate for all people – no matter your fitness level. It’s designed to restore the connective tissues of the body. In a yin class, you’ll practice concentration and breath as you hold poses longer to create openness in your ligaments, fascia and tendons. My studio provides bolster pillows, blankets and blocks to help ease yourself into the positions. 

The yin classes I attend start at 7:30pm and run until around 9pm. It really calms me down after a long day, and gets me relaxed and ready for bed. If you’re interested and want to try it for free, check out these YouTube videos from Sarah Beth Yoga and Boho Beautiful. 

Pamper yourself at often as possible

I’m a huge fan of self-love. Over the years, I’ve learned to put myself and my needs first. It’s not selfish. It’s actually beneficial. When I’m in a good mood and feel healthy, I can be a better wife, a better co-worker, a better dog-mom… you get the point.

One of things that I love doing before bed is putting on a face mask and eye masks. Bryan makes fun of me because I always have some crazy colored face mask on before bed. But, it’s just become a part of my routine, and I love it! I have so many favorite skin care products, but recently I’ve been using these cucumber eye masks and this probiotic face mask most frequently. They are cooling on the skin and help reduce inflammation. 

You don’t need to buy any fancy products, just use whatever makes you happy and helps you relax after a long day. 

Use essential oils & candles

I’m all about a good ambiance, so the bedroom is no exception. Everything needs to be just right before I go to bed. I’m one of those people who can’t fall asleep if there’s clothes all over the floor, or if the closet door is open. Essential oils are my jam. I swear by my lavender pillow spray. Bryan might not be a huge fan of it, but I love it! I spritz it all over my pillow and sheets right before I hop into bed.

Lavender can help you relax, clear your mind, and ease any tension. I personally like the one from Aura Cacia {NOT sponsored}, because it’s 100% pure essential oils, is not tested on animals, and doesn’t contain any synthetic preservatives, colors or fragrances. It’s a clean product and 

I also really dig having lit candles while I’m relaxing before bed {obviously, I blow them out before falling asleep!}. If you follow me on Snapchat, you know that I’m currently loving these soy ones from Glade. My fav scent is Jasmine Cedarwood. I buy them from Target and they cost less than $5. I also love burning my pink salt lamp. Learn all about that in this post. 

So long story short – my environment needs to be spot on for me to get a good night’s sleep. 

// What are you favorite sleep tips? 

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