Several years ago I was gripped by insomnia, and sleep became something I dreaded. I can’t tell you exactly why I developed insomnia, but stress and depression probably had something to do with it. I’d spend half the night awake, and most of the next day a zombie. I lived like that for months.
My problems with sleep led me on a journey of discovery (and ultimately saw me train as a Certified Sleep Science Coach). I spent a fortune on bedtime teas and pillow sprays, and tried endless guided sleep meditations to ‘cure’ my insomnia. In the end a therapy called CBT-i got me back on track by helping me to learn proper sleep hygiene, a cornerstone of which is going to bed and getting up at the same time every day to retrain your inner body clock.
But along the way I found a small army of sleep products that worked and I now use these every night. Some I use two hours before bed (see the Winding Down section), some I use during my bedtime routine, which I start 30 minutes before I actually want to start falling asleep (see Bedding Down), and three I use when I’m in bed (see Drifting Off).
Winding down
The more relaxed you feel before bed, the better your chances of falling asleep quickly. A good wind-down routine is key to this, and for me that usually starts with making either a Sleepy Girl Mocktail (a mix of magnesium powder for sleep, tart cherry juice, and sugar-free soda or carbonated water) or a cup of bedtime tea. These types of drinks help you sleep by relaxing your nervous system, so you feel calmer and more able to drop off.
Bedding down
Creating the ideal bedroom for sleep is another cornerstone of good sleep hygiene. The basic rule is to keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet for sleeping, free of clutter, and inviting enough for you to want to go in there and sleep. I’ve built on that over the years by experimenting with different types of pillows, sheets, pajamas and bed socks to find the ones that make me feel super-comfy, and I always recommend choosing the best mattress for your needs.
Drifting off
In my job as a Certified Sleep Science Coach I’ve tested every sleep technique, hack and trick you can think of, from the Military Sleep Method (designed to help you fall asleep in two minutes), to 4-7-8 breathing method for sleep. Guided sleep meditations work the best for me, and I love listening to them via the Calm app while I’m in bed. I’ve trained my brain to respond to these so effectively now that I normally don’t last longer than a few minutes into a meditation before falling asleep.
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