This year, I have decided, will be when I finally start prioritising sleep.
It’s long overdue, let me tell you.
I think my not sleeping enough is a combination of many things. Such as simply being a mum (who has time for eight hours?!), flexible work hours (that often lead me to catch up on stuff when everyone else is in bed) and just the fact that I have always been a bit of a night owl.
However, I write about health and wellness for a living, and know fine well just how flipping important sleep is – for a variety of reasons. It improves your memory, concentration and mood. It improves your skin (yes, really) and can even boost your immune system. In other words – sleep is amazing, and we all should be getting more of it.
But it’s not easy, I know.
Which is why I have decided to now really made a conscious effort to make sure I sleep more. And to help me on my way, I have invested in some really amazing products that I swear have a made a difference.
1. Sleep Through by Lucy Wolfe-Body and Bed Spray
Essential oils are having a moment, and even though you might still be a while of being a full-on oil-rubbing crunchy mum, you might have heard that when it comes to oils that will improve your sleep – or even just make you feel more tired and ready for bed – lavender it is.
Which is why I have fallen head over heels for the brand new Sleep Through by Lucy Wolfe-Body and Bed Spray – which leaves my bedroom and bedsheets smelling gently of lavender, and has now become part of this little evening ritual I have cultivated – all in the name of a more peaceful bedtime and more restful sleep.
I love that the spray is made with only natural ingredients, and is vegan-friendly and free from parabens and sulfate, and contains lovely, soothing ingredients like Aloe Vera, Lavender, Cinnamon, Camphor, Vetiver and Chamomile.
I spray a little spritz on my pillows and duvet now about 20 minutes before I actually crawl into bed at night, and it leaves my whole room smelling faintly of lavender, making me feel all calm and soothed and ready for some extra delicious sleep.
€20, Dowlings Pharmacy
2. Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 wake-up light alarm clock
I love getting up early – ideally around 6 am, but find it so hard to motivate myself to do in winter, when the mornings are dark and cold. Instead of getting myself up when the alarm goes off the first time, I as hit snooze a few times, knowing it will end up also messing with my evening routine, but not having the energy to stop doing so and actually get up anyway.
However; now I have invested in the clever Lumi Bodyclock, which wakes you gradually with light that mimics a real sunrise. Sounds lovely? It really is. The brightening light naturally brings you round from sleep, prompting your body to reduce the production of sleep hormones such as melatonin, whilst increasing the levels of hormones like cortisol that help you get up and go.
I have only used mine for about a week, but noticed the difference from the very first morning. Instead of feeling exhausted when my alarm went off, I actually felt awake and ready to take on the day – all because it is a far nicer experience to wake up in bright and sunny room, and opposed to the pitch dark bedroom I was used to.
I also love how the clock has an evening function, where you can wind down gradually with the sunset feature that lasts 30 minutes. The fading light is a signal for the body to produce melatonin ready for sleep, so the sunset makes you naturally drowsy. The incredibly realistic lighting fades through pink, orange, red then turns off or stays at a soft glow if you set the nightlight feature.
€79.99, Boots.ie
3. Washed linen duvet cover set
If you don’t own a set of washed linen bedsheet yet, make it a priority to get yourself some of these this year. Not only are linen sheets long-wearing and robust, but they will also get softer with age, and have moisture reducing abilities and breathability, which leaves the sheet cool and dry no matter how long they are in use.
Another great reason to opt for linen over cotton is that the unique filtering properties can help reduce the number of allergens and germs found in a typical set of bedsheets.
There are many linen sheets to choose from out there, but we love these ones from H&M Home, which not only look stylish, but are also priced in a way where we can all afford them.
€99.99, H&M Home
