Best Sleep of Your Life: Part Two!
/How to get even MORE of the sleep you crave.
In case you missed the first installment of this 3-part series, click here to get all the helpful hacks to start sleeping better tonight!
Note: This email contains helpful links to connect you with some products and stuff I love. Everything you see pictured and linked are items I already own and rounded up just for this article. It’s all for YOU, my dear reader! Enjoy!
My Pillow Game Ain’t Full of Fluff
Yes, I’m one of those people.
I’m a Pillow Prude
(Funny aside: I started to write “pillow queen,” but a quick check on Urban Dictionary had me backspacing my way to happily rest with Pillow Prude.)
I sleep with a minimum of five pillows.
Before you roll your eyes and think I just get lost in a sea of pillows, know that each pillow has a purpose!
Not only am I intentional about how I start my day, but your girl is all about intentional pillow placement.
For example, when I sleep on my back, I put pillows under my legs. Sometimes horizontal, sometimes vertical. This feels soooo good and delicious to my lower back.
Try it! Your chiropractor will be proud of you.
And for you side sleepers, check this out — I put a pillow:
Between my knees (can’t stand that bone-to-bone feeling! Bleh!) to support my top leg and booty, which takes strain off my hip and IT band,
Behind my back to support my entire back body,
Under my top arm to add support and avoid shoulder strain,
Beneath my head for neck alignment & support, and
Over my eyes. I love love love my eye pillows!
That's me below — satin bonnet and all!
Yes, y’all. I even have pillows for my eyes.
One with a gentle strap to keep the pillow in place for whatever position I’m in.
Another one made of satin that feels extra relaxing when I lay on my back.
It’s seriously like having cool cucumbers placed on your eyes when you’re getting a facial—without the mess!
The Science Behind Eye Pillow Magic
Allow me nerd out purely for your benefit.
Eye pillows are super fabulous for your sleep because they apply gentle pressure on your eyelids, which stimulates the vagus nerve (this is the main balancer of your parasympathetic nervous system—the “rest & digest” controller).
This sends calming messages down the back of your neck to your shoulders and chest, heart and stomach.
This little 4” x 9” pillow has been scientifically shown to lower your heart rate and regulate your mood. It puts your body and mind at rest, and allows you to enjoy your deepest sleep.
I also love my eye pillow because it cuts out light, which sends a message to your brain: “Knock it off! Stop thinking! It’s time to be still."
Racing thoughts?
Your busy brain can be tamed with the simple technique of resting with an eye pillow on your eyelids for 10 minutes before bed. As the vagus nerve is stimulated, the mind becomes still with the received message to “Let go and relax, woman.”
Don’t Go Cheap on Your Sleep
My last note about pillows is all about quality.
I’m almost embarrassed to write how much I spent on my pillows.
But they feel soooo good.
Here’s my favorite pillow: The TEMPUR-pedic Symphony.
When we were dating my husband called it “a sack of potatoes,” and couldn’t believe I was taking it with me on an airplane.
(Yes, I take my pillow when I travel. It’s THAT good.)
Yet on that same trip, he was trying to escape the woefully inadequate hotel pillow and snag a corner of my delicious Symphony pillow.
(Maybe that’s why he married me...just after my pillows! LOL)
While I use my Symphony pillows to do all the body support, my favorite pillow for my head is the TEMPUR-Cloud.
It supports me wonderfully whether I’m choosing to sleep on my back or my side.
(I’m non-committal in that way. Your girl likes options!).
Bougie Bedding
Since 30% of your life is spent horizontal, make it a cozy place
In addition to fancy pillows, upgrade to some bedding that feels good on your skin. The sheets and blankets I use are breathable, 100% cotton. Think of them like those comfy yoga pants you’ve been wearing all through the pandemic.
I also made an investment and bought an organic Avocado mattress and topper. Best sleep money spent.
Earplugs. Get Some.
I sleep with them every night. Yup. EVERY night.
I’m a super-sensitive sleeper and the slightest noise can fully arouse me.
At first, I was worried about sleeping with them all. the. time.
Several sleep doctors assured me there is no harm in it. Plus, I’ve been using them consistently for over 10 years, and by now my body has a conditioned response to get sleepy even when I put them in!
BONUS: they’re great for drowning out the annoying white noise machine in your kid’s room!
Racing Thoughts? Feeling Anxious?
Get It Out.
This is my favorite part of my night routine.
I take 5 minutes to do two things:
Write 3-5 new things I’m grateful for, and
Take a Brain Dump
If you can't fall asleep or if you wake up at 2am with a busy brain full of racing thoughts, this second step could be a very helpful strategy.
I briefly jot down:
What I intend to feel tomorrow (e.g. excitement, EASE, freedom),
My top priorities of what I want to focus on (e.g. writing and sending this post), and
Any other lingering to-dos.
By physically putting the thoughts down on paper, the brain can r-e-l-a-x and stop worrying about “forgetting to remember to email the school that form.”
Sleep Meditations That Actually Work
Here are my favorite meditations for some really good sleep. You can find them all for free on the app Insight Timer.
Yoga Nidra for Sleep by Jennifer Piercy
There’s a reason THIS track is the #1 most played meditation on the world’s #1 most popular meditation app: IT WORKS!
Compassionate Body Scan by Stephan Pende Wormland
His voice is relaxing and I love the technique. I know he starts at your feet, but I’ve never been awake to find out how it ends!
Yoga Nidra for Sleep & Rest by The StillPoint
Another highly effective yoga nidra meditation that I like to regularly throw in the mix.
Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Affirmations by Jason Stephenson
This is a great track to listen to when you're winding down for the evening.
Your thoughts create your reality, so let's think on something fabulous!
I’ll be honest, I was hesitant to share the sleep app meditations because I’m a proponent of keeping my phone out of the bedroom.
Studies find that having your cell phone next to you at night can change your sleep structure and affect REM sleep.
Science aside, I keep my phone out of my bedroom because it’s too damn tempting to just grab and start reading, Googling, scrolling, and messaging!
The Social Dilemma ‘ish is REAL!
When I’ve taken my phone to bed with me I ditch all the great tips I just shared, and before I know it it’s 11:30pm and my subsequent sleep sucks!
My solution: I listen to the bedtime meditations in my living room, or
I have my husband to hurl my phone across the room when I’ve listened to fall asleep!
This is the end of Best Sleep of Your Life Part 2.
Try some hacks tonight!
When you wake-up refreshed in the morning, you will be so glad you did.
Future You says, "Thank you!"
PS. Reply to this email and tell me what you're going to do to start getting the Best Sleep of Your Life!
PPS. The 'ish gets real on Friday! Be sure to check your inbox to learn more magic sleep solutions like my go-to sleeping pill.
Thank you for reading!
Live well.