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Our Favourite Sleep Treats
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The importance of sleep to our physical and emotional wellbeing is well documented, from the mythological '8 hours a day' through to thriving on just 5 hours, but how come for many of us it’s often so elusive?
From ‘coronasomnia’ combined with the negative impact of increased stress, financial worry and general anxiety, many of us are struggling. And taking into account our always ‘on’ wfh technology habits, it’s no wonder our night-time routines are disturbed!
So for World Sleep day, we’re bringing you a few recommendations from the Live Well family to help you sleep and to soothe your bedtime routine!
1. Create a Relaxing Bed Time Environment
Making your bedroom 'sleep-friendly' can make a big difference to your sleep quality and sleep hygiene.
Some of our favourite sleep inducing bedroom upgrades are:
Ardere Provence Candle - create a dreamy ambience by lighting a relaxing scented candles while you are getting ready for bed. The Ardere Provence Candle is infused with lavender - one of the most soothing scents whose calming powers are well-known for lulling people into a peaceful slumber.
Lumie Lights Bodyclock Wake Up Light Range - It is suggested that you should avoid direct bright light exposure before bed to maintain the body's natural sleep cycle. Lumie's Wake Up Lights not only feature a gradually brightening light to gently rouses you from sleep so that you feel naturally wide awake and more energised, but also a fading sunset at bedtime that creates an environment where sleep comes easily.
Nightire Bamboo Pillowcases - Your bedding can make a huge difference to your sleep quality. How many times have you woken in the night hot, uncomfortable and frustrated? Your temperature can fluctuate massively while you sleep so having bedding that aids temperature regulation is a game-changer. The stunning Nightire Pillowcases are made of Organic Bamboo meaning they are soft to the touch, moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating! The perfect combo for a tranquil nights sleep.
2. Calm Your Mind
Practicing forms of meditation and/or breathwork before bed can help you relax, release tension and place you in a state of calm in which you’re more likely to fall asleep.
Two of our top picks for the best way to wind down are:
Breathwork with The Breath Guy - Breathwork teaches you to breath with purpose and has infinite benefits such as reducing stress and anxiety and improving sleep quality. Richie Bostock is a firm Live Well favourite and his dreamy breathwork sessions are the perfect way to wind down for a good nights sleep. You can practice with him online via his app or various Instagram Live sessions and you will also find him at Live Well London 2021 where you can try the practice in person - an experience that is truly wonderful.
Gong Bath with Gong Stories - A gong bath is an immersive sound experience that will effortlessly lull your mind into a meditative state, while revitalizing your body and releasing tension and will leave you feeling supremely relaxed, calm and happy. Gong Stories are currently offering a range of virtual classes and you will also be able to experience this amazing practice in their sessions across the weekend at Live Well London 2021.
Meditation with Emerald + Tiger - Meditation can quiet the mind and body while enhancing inner peace and when done before bedtime, meditation may help reduce sleep troubles by promoting overall calmness. Emerald + Tiger have some great resources, such as audio recordings, on their website right now and they are currently running meditations on Instagram Live on Mondays at 8pm GMT. You will also find Emerald + Tiger live at Live Well London 2021, where you will be able to reap the benefits of their meditation classes in person.
3. Try Natural Sleep Remedies
A natural sleep remedy taken just before you hit the sheets can help to improve sleep onset, quantity and quality when combined with good sleep practices and habits such as some of the practices listed below.
Two of our favourites are:
Kloris CBD Relax Bath Block - well known for it’s sleep inducing properties and effect on the endocannabinoid system, CBD can also be helpful in reducing anxiety, a major reason why you may find yourself tossing and turning at night. Why not try a relaxing Kloris CBD Relax Bath Block before bed? Research published in Sleep Medicine Reviews suggests that having a bath around 90 minutes before bed can help you fall asleep more quickly and regulate your temperature through the night. Combine this with the sleep benefits of CBD and your winning!
Life Armour 'Drops of Slumber' - Using a combination of some of the most popular natural sleep aids such as Montmorency cherry which has natural traces of melatonin, Valerian Root, Lavender Flower and Vegetable glycerine, Life Armour's 'Drops of Slumber' have been created to help ease your mind for a restful night and leave you feeling refreshed and revitalised the next morning. They are 100% natural, vegan friendly and alcohol free.
Note: If you are taking other medications then you should talk to your doctor before trying natural supplements.
We will have a huge variety of brands showcasing the latest sleep aids at Live Well London this year, dedicated talks from experts in the Knowledge Hub and Science & Nutrition Stage covering sleep-related topics, and the chance to experience dreamy meditations and breathwork classes giving you skills to take away and use when you’re next struggling to sleep!
