You know us. We’re ALL about finding new ways to get to sleep faster, easier, and then keep that slumber going through the night. This year, we looked at some fun, holistic and quirky ways people get to sleep all over the world, cool “this always seems to work” for me ideas you can try for yourself.
Yes, we know there are TONS of them, but we’ve chosen four of our faves and would love to hear some you may have found. Just for the record, these are in no particular order and we have tried SOME of them — not all — so off we go!
“Stay awake, don’t rest your head. Don’t lie down upon your bed…”
If you’re a MARY POPPINS fan, you’ll recognize this little ditty. At one point in the original movie, Mary begins singing a reverse lullaby to Jane and Michael and because they’re struggling to remain awake, they end up falling asleep. It’s one of my favorite lullabies in the world — I sang that and “Hushabye Mountain” from CHITTY, CHITTY BANG-BANG to my kids all the time and it worked like a charm. But, ya know, this isn’t about me, sooo...
THE POINT IS… the idea behind it actually works! Fighting to stay awake makes you fall asleep. Yep. It’s that whole reverse psychology thing and if you really work at resisting it — actually keep your eyes open and keep saying, “I will not sleep, I will not sleep” over and over again, you’ll find yourself giving into it. They call it the “sleep paradox.” Pretty sneaky, huh? How very Mary!
Let’s get in touch with our feelings, shall we?
Turn off your lights, the television, hide your phone and cover your clock — if you have one. Lay your head back against your pillow and just sense your surroundings. Feel the weight of your bedding on, around and under you. Tune into the sounds you’re hearing, the touch of breeze, the temperature of the room… you get the picture.
As you do that, identify those things silently to yourself as calmly and as detailed as you can. “I feel the soft cotton of my pillow against my cheek.” “I hear the rhythmic ticking of the clock.” Slow your breathing, get more and more in tune with your surroundings and what’s going on. And before you know it, you’ll open your eyes and it’s morning. It’s super simple but helps you slow your breathing, relax your body and get into a rhythm that moves you into sleep.
“Bubble, bubble, blow and…”
Okay, we’re not gonna lie — this sounds like so much fun, we can’t wait to do it. Blowing bubbles — as in, taking a bubble wand out of the bottle and, yes, blowing through it to create bubbles — gets your breathing to a state similar to meditation. It’s relaxing and slows your mind down. Yeah, really. It’s also a great de-stress technique, per Martin Rawls-Meehan, the CEO and Founder of a sleep technology company called Reverie. This is one of the techniques he uses with his clients and he says it naturally takes you back to your childhood which, for many of us, is a reminder of a time when life was much easier and carefree. Just free your mind, grab a bubble bottle, and blow.
Oh, we are so there.
Warm milk goes next level
This is one of the most tried and true sleep remedies on the planet, but if you’re lactose intolerant it may very well be your Kryptonite. Fear not, sleep seeker. Ayurvedic health practitioner, Ananta Ripa Ajmera, has a great recipe for not only enhancing the benefits of old faithful warm milk but making it drink-friendly for everyone.
Per Dr. Ajmera, it would appear that if you spice up warm milk, literally, it makes for a more satisfying night’s sleep. Not only that, but the lactose intolerant seem okay when you add cinnamon, saffron, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric — all super good for you spices — and even a touch of organic sugar, if you want it a little sweeter. Drink it three hours after your last meal and let its magic take you away.
Oh, and here’s Dr. Ajmera’s actual recipe, which you can find in her book THE AYURVEDA WAY along with 107 more tips on living a healthier, more enriched life.
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups organic cow’s milk
4-6 crushed saffron threads
4-6 crushed green cardamom pods
½ teaspoon powdered turmeric
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch each of ginger and nutmeg
2-4 teaspoons organic cane sugar or preferred natural sweetener (optional)
WHAT TO DO:
- Put the cow’s milk in a medium pot and place over medium heat.
- Add all of the spices and allow the milk to just come to a boil then reduce the heat to simmer, stirring occasionally to keep from boiling over.
- Once hot, stir in the sweetener, if using, until dissolved.
- Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly before enjoying.
Yummy slumber.
Falling in love with sleep
These are just a few tricks and tips to give a try. Whatever works best for you — that helps you, is healthy, and won’t give you more grief than relief — is what’s best. We’d LOVE to hear if you have some sleep tip that just seems to work, no matter how strange it sounds. And, actually, the odder the better. We’re always looking for new ways to crack the sleep code to share with all of you and it’ll be fun to hear what works or even hasn’t for you.
No matter what, fall in love with sleep. Let it caress and care for you. It’s such a great friend and incredible benefit.
And just think of the cool dreams some of these unique sleep tricks will bring…
Ooh…
Blowing bubbles over a mug of warm spiced milk…
TAKE ME AWAY!
