My Top 5 Tips For A Good Night’s Sleep

A good night’s sleep has eluded me for around a decade if not more, thanks primarily to a sizeable (6 inch) previously hidden nodule on my thyroid that had been winding most nights for 8 long years before its removal last year and of course I have two kids, aged 6 and 9 who still sometimes wake me up at night. My youngest is going through a patch of night wakings finding himself in my bed and my eldest suffered 3 months of insomnia when the horrendous MOMO internet fiasco took hold.

Sleep is rarely synonymous with kids but coupled with night wakings by myself until recently with my throat and the boys taking wakefulness in turns, I’ve become somewhat of an accidental expert in insomnia. FYI, this is not a job I ever wanted.

Let’s go back to the beginning for a moment.

My first son, Oliver, barely slept as a baby (colic and wanting to feed 24/7 made me into a zombie) and he doesn’t seem to need much sleep even now, to function. My second son, Alexander, fittingly slept like a dream from the get-go but has become wakeful lately. Perhaps it’s hormonal changes or a habits picked up on holiday where he slept in our bed so everyone could fit into the holiday apartment but either way, bad sleep seems to catch up with even the initially easiest of sleepers.

Thankfully throat is 95% better now, I have mild Hashimito’s but if I stay away from wheat and stick to low carb vegetarianism, I feel tip-top most of the time and for the most part, I’m sleeping like a baby (make that Alexander as a baby).

Below I share my sleep routine in case it helps you too.

1. Switch tech off. I’ve blogged about this lots of times before because it’s an absolute deal breaker when it comes to slumber, and can make the difference between a bad night and a good night’s sleep. It really is that’s simple. The blue light tech omits suppresses the production of melatonin more than any other light, and equally, feeling stimulated and often saddened/worried about the world right before bed doesn’t help. I’ve had to stop reading the news at night for this reason. My anxiety levels were just too high. My advice, put your phone away and pick up a book instead (I usually have two on the go). I’ve got a great recommendation here for you 😉 !
2. Bath time. A long soak with bath salts ( I love Dead Sea Spa Magik) is how I like to shed my day and start my night routine. Dead Sea Salts are packed-full of natural minerals: bromides, potassium and magnesium to restore dry skin and relax those tired muscles. With antiseptic and anti-fungal properties too, salts can help relieve acne, psoriasis and eczema. If I’m feeling particularly EXTRA, I light some candles by the bath too (Jo Malone’s Pomegranate Noir never fails to help me wind down).
3. Fun stuff before bed. Shush the naughty ones in the cheap seats, at the back! I like to laugh before bedtime and that means although tech is switched off by around 10 pm, I try and watch a comedy/something light-hearted like Reality TV before I do turn the telly off.
4. If I’m worried, I write a list of any concerns onto paper, promising myself I’ll focus on each worry in the morning. That way, I get to offload my anxiety allowing me to let go and sleep peacefully.
5. This Works Deep Sleep Spray. The greatest sleep spray on the market in my opinion (and I’ve tried a fair few), I spray my pillow with two pumps, pop my space mask on, and I’m usually asleep in minutes. The spray, which I discovered on Amazon while searching for sleep aids, really DOES WORK! 100% of fellow restless sleepers who were independently tested agree with me. 200 participants with sleep problems aged 18 and over were tested against a placebo over a 14 day period and gave it the thumbs up, or the eyes shut so do try it. The eye mask combo with the spray really is the bee’s knees, and will help you get your zzzzs. Spacemasks is a multi-award winning self-heating eye mask which works thanks to a thin layer of iron filings entwining with oxygen molecules in the air, and it’s completely safe, too.  The low concentration of jasmine in the mask also works to soothe your eyes, and doesn’t irritate the skin. These interstellar masks are the perfect antidote to a day staring at a screen, helping to not only rest your eyes but also your mind. Many have said they help cure migraines too. I usually nod off with one still on. Check out spacemasks.com. *

P.S. Can I just say, it feels so freaking amazing to finally sleep better than I have in 10 whole years. To not suffer from night terrors/mares now that my throat has recovered is a real blessing, and I will never take a good night’s sleep for granted, ever.

Let me know if you try these steps and your thoughts.

*gifted item but as always, my words are honest.