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How to create a restful sleep routine

By Claudia Savin

A good night’s sleep is said to work wonders. A solid 7 to 10 hours of uninterrupted rest leaves you energized, refreshed, relaxed, and feeling like you can take on anything. However, it can be tempting to skip the sleep we need, and difficult to get the rest we need once we do hit the sheets. Many people find it hard to drop off at night, while others nod off and find themselves waking up during the night. The key is to create a healthy and restful pre-bed routine that tells your brain that it’s time to put away the gadgets and focus on winding down from a long day. You’ll be amazed at how effective this routine can be at helping you catch those Z’s.

Yoga may at first bring to mind thoughts of a challenging workout in a class setting. However, this centuries-old practice is revered for its benefits when used for meditation and relaxation before bed, in addition to more rigorous exercise. Yoga is extremely versatile and requires almost no equipment at all. If you are new to the practice, search online for simple pre-bed yoga routines for beginners. Set aside quiet time each evening to roll out a great mat such as this one, which features helpful diagrams of various poses, and begin getting in touch with your body and breath. After just ten minutes of mindful stretching, you’ll find yourself more relaxed, centered, and ready for deep sleep.
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A warm, soothing beverage before bed is an excellent way to tell your mind and body that it’s settling in for the night. Make sure to choose a caffeine-free tea for your pre-bed ritual. Gorgeous herbal blooming teas such as these bring a lovely visual element to your tea time. Simply pour hot water into the glass teapot and watch as the tight bundles of hand-rolled flowers loosen and unfold before your eyes, infusing the water with tea and bobbing like delicate underwater plants. With blooming teas, your sleep ritual becomes a feast for the senses. Settle into bed with a hot cup and take time to journal, read or reflect before bed.
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No sleep routine makeover is complete without careful consideration of your bedding; after all, this is where it all happens. Your pillows are arguably the most intimate part of your bedding, and it may be time to give them a makeover. Take this time to toss pillows that shed feathers and flat ones you no longer use or enjoy. Out with the old and in with the new. Treat yourself and your body to a pair of deliciously soft new pillows. Crisp, plump pillows like these bring a luxury hotel to mind and make going to bed feel like a tempting treat. Sink into these and savor the comfort support your neck and head need as you rest.
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Refreshing your bedding must, of course, include your sheets. Take this time to toss any that are too worn out and consider a new set that reflects the season. Soft, luxurious new sheets in a cheerful, yet restful color such as these are the ultimate way to show your bed some love. Turning off the light and snuggling into your refreshed bedding each night will become a nightly trip to heaven. You’ll find yourself feeling refreshed and pampered each morning. You deserve it.
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Do you enjoy the firm pressure of a massage or a good, tight hug? Secure, cozy, and comforting weighted blankets are a new and innovative way to relax and wind down for bed. Many people enjoy the feeling of being firmly ensconced in a warm, heavy blanket, and it may be just the sensation you’ve been craving without quite knowing it. Weighted blankets, like this soft, 25-pound one, can help relieve anxiety or induce a deep, restful sleep that you need. The sensation of being draped in one will help tell your body and brain that it’s time to relax, stop thinking about work, and start resting.
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Everyone needs to sleep; it’s indispensable to your mental and physical health. Without it, you can become crabby and anxious, with impaired memory and judgment. With it, you become a new person, armed with all the tools you need to greet each day and make it count. That’s why it’s so important to take the time to create (and stick to) a relaxing and screen-free sleep routine that tells your brain to power down. Set aside time for relaxing bedtime yoga, a fragrant cup of herbal tea, some quiet time spent in meditation or reflection. Once in bed, a supportive and luxurious set of new pillows and soft sheets, in addition to the comfort of a weighted blanket, will have you getting the quality rest you need.

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Claudia Savin
Contributor
Claudia is a fragrance enthusiast based in the Pacific Northwest. She has a passion for exploring unexpected and overlooked…
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