When life throws us a curveball, often our sleep suffers. It happened to me recently. We had been doing some home renovations and in the process of sanding floors and painting walls, the whole house was in disarray. The upheaval got to me. I was struggling to get to sleep and stay asleep. So I turned to my tried and true methods for easing sleep. I haven’t had to use some of these in about a year. I didn’t need them. When I experienced a blip, I knew I had them there to help me get back on track.
My top tips for making it easier to fall asleep
If I’m spending the day running around, I can’t expect my body to switch off ready for sleep automatically. There are a few things I do to help with winding down. Essential oils are at the heart of a good night’s sleep for me because they signal to the brain to induce physical and mental relaxation.
Embrace cosy evenings
A calm and relaxing evening often leads to a calm and relaxing night because I’ve already started to head towards rest and relaxation. Getting into PJs is a must for this! Even if I’m just sitting in front of the TV, I can create a calming atmosphere with essential oils. I’ll often burn the Tranquillity Blend to help me start to switch off.
Giving yourself time to transition
I head upstairs to get ready for bed about an hour before I need to be asleep. I’ll spend this time tidying my space and getting ready for the next day. Sometimes this involves journaling. Whether it’s thoughts about what happened that day or what I need to remember for the next day, writing it down gets it out of my head. I’ll also spend this time doing the other things on this list!
Reading in bed
I love doing this because reading in bed switches my mind off. There’s probably a bit of positive association going on here too because I only read in bed unless I’m on holiday. See if you can find some kind of activity that doesn’t require screens or much energy that can help lull you into relaxation and make that a cornerstone of your sleep routine.
Aromatherapy bath
Having a bath is a great way to wash away the stress of the day. It brings me out of my head and back into my body. It’s even more calming with essential oils. The Relax and Unwind bath/shower gel and body oil are staples in my routine. I pour the bath/shower gel into the bath as I’m running the water to fill the room with calming aromas. Following up with the body oil afterwards releases any remaining tension from my muscles and I can really feel the difference in the morning.
Create a scent memory
The connection between scents and memory is quite strong. Have you ever had a moment when a scent brought you right back to a time in your childhood? We can use that to our advantage. If you use a specific essential oil blend before bed, it will help your mind and body to switch off. It will also create an association between that scent and unwinding for bed. The more you do it, the stronger the association and you might find yourself dropping off faster. That’s where our products like the Sleep Please Mist and Sleep Sound Rollerball are perfect.
On that note, routine is the key here. Keep giving your brain and body signals that it’s time to slow down and drift away into sleep. Essential oils are a really good signal because they aid in physical and mental relaxation. You’ll find all the essential oil products I mentioned in the Esker Fields shop. Take a look for essential oil infused skincare and bodycare that support rest, relaxation and a good night’s sleep.