“Early to bed, early to rise” – The age-old saying that so many of us heard from our grandparents as they pushed us into bed, may in fact be more powerful than we ever thought…
As we continue to learn more about the importance of good quality sleep and its impact on our physical, and emotional health, it seems increasingly obvious that a solid 7 to 9 hours of deep sleep each night may just be the best thing we can do for our health. This is because sleep is the only time when the body is able to fully recover and repair itself, whether that be from physical stress or mental stress, enabling us to wake up well rested and clear minded.
With this in mind, we thought it best to share Our Top Tips For A Great Night’s Sleep & An Even Better Morning…
1. Create A Sleep Hygiene Ritual
For those of us who are unfamiliar with the term “Sleep Hygiene” – this refers to the habits and behaviours that contribute to a healthy, deep sleep. In fact, many of us already have our own “sleep hygiene” rituals without even knowing it. For example, our nightly tea and square of chocolate in our pyjamas, brushing our teeth followed by some light reading – these are all a part of our very own sleep time rituals.
We recommend following a more conscious and consistent sleep hygiene routine instead to avoid a late night Netflix binge. We always begin with our must-do hygiene rituals such as brushing our teeth with Grant’s Natural Toothpaste, and quickly washing our face. When it comes time to really unwind though, we dim the lights, avoid screens, over-stimulating Netflix episodes, and up-beat Spotify playlists, and might even open a window…This is because all of these things would otherwise “excite us” and make falling asleep even harder as the night wears on.
2. Take The Edge Off With Tea
There’s nothing quite like putting your feet up after a long day’s work, with a cuppa’ in hand, and when it comes to bedtime – it might just be the best thing you can do to elevate stress and lull yourself to sleep. In fact our friend’s at The Tea Crowd even created a Sweet Slumber blend designed to do exactly that. With Chamomile’s sleepy antioxidants, the stress-relieving properties of Lavender and Rose, and Peppermint for improved digestive function, we can nod off knowing nothing but sweet dreams await…
3. Get It All Out
Studies have shown that people who have trouble sleeping are prone to fretting and worrying at bedtime. These unwelcome thoughts produce stress and anxiety, which make people feel keyed up when they want to wind down. Ordering the thoughts to stop—and getting mad when that doesn’t work—only makes the problem worse.
Thankfully, many have found a simple and effective solution in journalling. The simple act of writing out all of your thoughts and worries onto paper can have incredible, stress-relieving benefits; clearing clutter in our mind, allowing us to better relax and eventually fall asleep. And should you choose to journal before bed every night, this practice can become a soothing part of your bedtime routine, as you will come to associate your journal with feelings of relaxation and sweet, sweet slumber.
4. Prep A Healthy Breakfast
It feels good going to bed knowing that you are organised and ready for the morning. For some of us this may mean laying out our yoga gear or the dog lead, but for most of us foodies this means having a delicious breakfast packed and ready to go. Thankfully our friends at Power Superfood Blends have crafted a range of certified organic, plant-based ingredients that we love to add to pre-made chia puddings or overnight oats for a super boost of nutrition first thing.
But as we all know – every chia pudding or mason jar breakfast always needs some seriously crunchy toppings, and that’s where our Smashed Orbs from Foodie Fee come in. With easy to shake jars filled to the brim with whole food goodness, these toppings are a breakfast must-try!
So there you have it: our top tips for a great night’s sleep and an awesome morning – mostly due to a kick-ass brekky!