Before I talk about the benefits of sleep for beauty I wanted to first touch on the benefits of it for me mentally. I am someone that is a chronic overthinker at times, and it is never the big things that make me anxious . I find it impossible to function without sleep and while I have come to accept I will never be a 12 hour shift sleeper I can function on six or seven hours quite well. What am I? Calm and practical on the outside but really inside a sensitive soul. My sister often jokes that I won’t ever die of a heart attack as generally I am not reactive to drama or big events. I just cut the source of the drama. So I have not really been consuming much news lately. I am just following the guidelines and taking it day by day. I have checked in with anyone important or those I know on the frontline and am just living my life to the best of my abilty. Slightly catastrophic thoughts from time to time but like I think that is natural.
Truth is in the last few years I have had periods where I have needed prescription medication to help me sleep. The impact of sitting one December night in my GP’s office and begging him to help me get my sleep back on track is something I’ll never forget. Thankfully he was truly empathetic , and managed to help me and along with a therapist to help “empty my mind” I got back on track. Joining a gym really helped me also immensely and I am glad to have found Studio Fitness. That whole mental health story is probably not one I want to share at all but I suppose in terms of my personal emotions, I am quite circumspect. It does however form part of the basis of this post.
From a sleep hygiene perspective there are loads of tips and here are the best ones.
Therapy- If something is violating your mind and causing a lack of sleep you probably need to deal with it. Lack of sleep dimishes our ability to live and enjoy life.
Create a caffiene and food cut off time. Hard for me as I love a hot chocolate and mini twix at bedtime.
The ideal situation is not to have our phones charging beside our bed and to instead invest in an alarm clock. At the very least turn it on airplane mode.
No screen time 30 minutes before bed.
Go to bed at the same time each night. Keep a sleep and wake routine.
Maintain a good bedroom temperature. Heat and cold are proven to hinder sleep.
Only use the bedroom for sleep and sex , it’s also worth noting the bedroom isn’t the only place for both of these.
Keep your bedroom pitch black or wear a sleep mask.
Try to keep your mind free, have a notebook by your bed to write down any things that occur to you in terms of to do lists etc.
Make sure that you are sleeping in comfortable PJ’s with natural fabrics. or in the nip of course if you prefer.
The quality and length of sleep you receive every night can have a profound impact on your skin’s overall health.
Adequate sleep is essential for all areas of your life, everything from beauty and mental focus to your skin and nervous system, it’s essential to get a good night’s sleep When we sleep our bodies recharge and revive. Not only do our bodies recharge, our skin does as well. That is possibly why so many night creams contain ingredients to help rejuvenate. Throughout sleep we heal, restore and eliminate toxins from the skin. If sleep is compromised so is the body’s ability to carry out these essential skin functions, therefore beauty sleep is real. Dark circles are widespread symptom of not sleeping. Lack of sleep makes your blood vessel dilate leading to dark circles. If you miss out on sleep it can also affect the moisture levels in your skin. Unfortunately, busy lives and never-ending pandemics take their toll, causing one-third of adults to have difficulty falling asleep.
Here are some things that have helped me hugely in the quest for sleep.
Nami Naturale Lavender and Clary Sage Room spray is now my bedroom scent. Your olfactory system directly affects the part of your brain that regulates emotion. That’s why what you smell can trigger memories and elicit feelings, both negative and positive.It reminds me that my bedroom is a safe place and the calming aroma is both luxurious and clean. When used in aromatherapy, clary sage oil can help alleviate stress by inducing a sense of well-being. The fragrance from the oils of the lavender plant is believed to help promote calmness and wellness. It’s also said to help reduce stress, anxiety and for me I associate it with home comfort. It is available at http://www.naminaturale.com
Reflex Pillow €79.00: This was designed by a Corkman and has helped me with teeth grinding and snoring. It’s quite firm and is designed to help with neck and back pain also. Practically it fits most pillowcases and comes with it’s own protector. I got mine in Living Dreamz in Little Island.
K Bamboo Bed Linen: Bamboo is naturally soft, strong fabric with a long sateen fibre weave. A good night sleep becomes a great night sleep with bamboo sheets. No nasty chemicals are used in growing bamboo plants; bamboo is organically resilient to pests, bacteria and bugs, even when they are on your bed. Bamboo fibres wicks away moisture from the body which keeps you cools in the summer. It is super if you have sensitive skin, i fond it comforting and coooling. . The anti- bacterial properties offering you and your family a healthy sleeping environment it is one of the best fabric choices if you suffer from allergies. It is made from 300 thread count with sateen weave with the feel of 1000 thread count in cotton, the organic bamboo bedding Is available in fitted sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases. http://www.kbamboo.ie
Hush and Hush – MindYourMind™ (€58.50) is a natural melatonin-free sleep aid that quiets your mind, body and soul in order to create a state of calmness and peacefulness to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. This enriched nutraceutical contains a scientific blend of natural sleep aids, such as trytophen, an amino acid that is essential for a good night sleep and Valerian root, an all-natural sleep aid which eases insomnia, restlessness and nervousness. Stress is a major factor on why people can’t fall asleep, with endless thoughts often keeping you up all night. Holy Basel Leaf has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for years to help calm the body by reducing stress, anxiety and inflammation. It also regulates cortisol spikes during the sleep cycle to keep you asleep for longer. All these ingredients work together in order to relax your mind without the fear of grogginess the next morning. Enough sleep provides an opportunity for your brain to repair and reconstruct neural networks to help boost mental well-being and your overall health. MindYourMind™ helps to pave the way for a more relaxed and healthier you. I have been using them for about six weeks and will be defintely repurchasing them.
Lucy Wolfe Sleep Through Relaxing Rub (100ml €19.99)
This Relaxing Rub designed by Lucy is a natural blend of essential oils including Lavender, Eucalyptus, Clove and Chamomile. Rub the lotion onto chest, wrists and soles of feet 20-30 minutes before bedtime as part of your pre-sleep ritual. This is suitable for all of the family.
Thanks for reading
Stay Safe and take care of yourself.
GlamityJane 