Sleep

Even Beyonce has trouble sleeping, yet when I started struggling with falling and staying asleep, I thought it was just my problem. ​​You see, the phrase, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” has never been something to come out of my mouth. I’ve just never had an issue with getting quality shut-eye. But with work deadlines, personal responsibilities, and, let’s be honest, too much TikTok keeping me up at night, sleeping like a baby became a thing of the past.
Since sleep is a form of self-care, I made it my mission to get a better night’s sleep. Along the way, I stumbled upon one truly glorious product that I refuse to shut up about: Equilibria’s Sleep Gummies. And I can’t stop recommending them to everyone I know.

Equilibria
Sleep Gummies
Sleep Gummies are formulated with CBD, CBN, chamomile, and L-theanine, so falling asleep and staying asleep are easier.
Use code THEEVERYGIRL for 25% off sitewide at Equilibria—both new and returning customers eligible until end of month! Code stackable with subscription savings

Why I Tried Equilibria’s Sleep Gummies
When I started experiencing trouble falling and staying asleep, I did what every person does: I turned down the tea aisle of my grocery store to grab the first box of bedtime tea I could find. I made myself a cozy cup of tea, thinking I was sipping my woes away. Yet, much to my dismay, the tea didn’t do the trick.
I have friends who swear by melatonin to help them sleep through the night. So, on my next trip to the store, I snagged that. Long story short: I now blame melatonin for sleeping through my alarm, missing my workout class, and getting charged a no-show fee. 
I never used either of those products again. However, since I’m not a quitter, I did a little more research on how to get better sleep and finally turned to Equilibria’s Sleep Gummies. Equilibria’s products are some of my favorites for managing anxiety, productivity, and mood (shoutout to the Softgels). So, I figured their Sleep Gummies would be a reliable bet.

My First Impression 
After getting over my fear of sleeping through another workout class, I took one gummy about an hour before bed, knowing that the onset time was 30-60 minutes. (Tip: The longer you chew your Sleep Gummies, the faster they’ll kick in.) As someone who orders a Dirty Shirley with extra maraschino cherries, I immediately loved the Bordeaux Cherry flavor. In about 45 minutes, I was feeling calmer—which I anticipated since that is how other Equilibria CBD products make me feel—but I was hopeful that they would help me sleep, too.
And they did. My restfulness subsided, my head hit the pillow, and I was out like a light. The best part? I made it to class on time, feeling refreshed and well-rested. I felt on top of the world after a quality sleep and a workout I didn’t dread waking up for.
Try them out for yourself and use code THEEVERYGIRL to score 25% off sitewide at Equilibria—new AND returning customers eligible until 9/30! Code also stackable with subscription savings.

Source: @equilibriawomen

The Verdict
After about a week of taking one gummy before bed, I increased my intake to the full serving—two gummies. When I say I didn’t move in the middle of the night, I mean it. You know how sometimes you think you had a good night’s sleep, but you remember rolling a bit or waking up for a second? Well, you haven’t experienced a truly uninterrupted, good night’s sleep until you’ve tried these.
One thing I know calms me down and helps me feel relaxed is CBD, so I don’t know why I didn’t try Equilibria’s Sleep Gummies sooner. After taking them, I fall asleep easier and sleep better throughout the night. They last 4-8 hours, and I sleep better now than I ever have.
Equilibria states that their Sleep Gummies “help balance a healthy sleep-wake cycle for a luxurious night’s sleep,” and believe me, I feel like a well-rested, luxury-living queen every morning now. And the flavor? It’s the Bordeaux cherry on top. 

Equilibria
Sleep Gummies
Sleep Gummies are formulated with CBD, CBN, chamomile, and L-theanine, so falling asleep and staying asleep are easier.
Use code THEEVERYGIRL for 25% off sitewide at Equilibria—both new and returning customers eligible until end of month! Code stackable with subscription savings

5 Things Successful Women Do Before Bedtime

 
This post is sponsored by Equilibria, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board. More

Looking back at my childhood, I can’t understand why I fought my mom on taking naps or going to bed at 8 p.m. Now, naps and getting solid Zzzs are luxuries I would do anything for (anyone else think naps should be implemented into the workday?). With a laundry list of “what-ifs” and to-dos circling my mind, counting sheep doesn’t stand a chance. Then there’s the having-to-pee-every-couple-of-hours scenario that disrupts my beauty sleep. If that sounds familiar, we’re not alone. According to the Casper-Gallup State of Sleep in America 2022 Report, about 84 million adults struggle to get quality shut-eye. 
So how do we ensure a sound slumber for a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed morning? I consulted four sleep specialists to get to the bottom of it and they let me in on their tried-and-true sleep hacks. Here’s to the best sleep of our lives. 

In this article

 
What does the body need to fall asleep?
When it comes to catching Zzzs, we may think there’s not much to it other than whether or not we get a good night’s rest. But what goes on internally when we sleep? “Sleep is a complex process of multiple pathways and neurotransmitters in the brain,” explained Dr. Valerie Cacho, MD, a board-certified internal medicine and sleep medicine physician, co-editor of Integrative Sleep Medicine, and founder of Sleephoria. “Simply put, we fall asleep when our brain waves slow down, our muscles relax, and we lose consciousness.” Sounds easy enough, right? It turns out, there are a lot of other factors at play to hit the sleep jackpot (I’m all in). 
You’ve probably heard of the term “circadian rhythm” but don’t know exactly what it is. Otherwise known as our internal clock and the body’s 24-hour sleep and wake cycle, it plays a vital role in reaching deep sleep. “Not only does it signal us to let our bodies rest, but it also plays a role in our body temperature, heart rate, and hormone regulation,” said Tara Youngblood, CEO and cofounder of Sleepme and sleep coach for the Cincinnati Reds. “We want our circadian rhythm to stay consistent every day,” affirmed Dr. Whitney Roban, PhD, a sleep specialist and founder of Solve Our Sleep. “In doing so, we will have an easier time falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up.”
Bottom line: “When our circadian rhythm is working well, we’re likely to get restorative sleep and have energy during the day,” explained Morgan Adams, a holistic sleep coach for women and an accredited health coach with advanced certifications in sleep science. “When it’s not working well, you’re at more risk of developing insomnia and being extremely sleepy during the day.”

What does “quality sleep” mean?
I think it’s fair to say we all strive for optimal sleep and waking up on the right side of the bed in the morning, but what does that really look like? Sure, the National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep for adults, but the key to restful sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. “While seven to nine hours is the highly prescribed amount of time to sleep each night, think of it as a ‘quality over quantity’ situation,” Youngblood said. “You could be in bed for eight hours but never fully hit your deep sleep stage, which will leave you feeling tired.”
“Not everybody needs eight hours of sleep,” Adams agreed. In addition to getting the recommended number of hours for your age group, Adams listed other indicators of  quality rest: falling asleep within 30 minutes of getting into bed, having minimal nighttime awakenings, and falling asleep within 20 minutes if you do wake up. “A more subjective way to assess your sleep quality is to check in with how you feel in the morning and during the day,” Adams said. “Is your mood stable? Is your energy level high enough for you to perform at your job? Do you feel well physically? If so, chances are, you’re getting your own personal sleep requirement.”

Why does getting enough sleep matter?
There’s no denying that sleep is an essential part of the wellness equation and bears a lot of weight on our mental and physical health. “So many different processes happen while we sleep that keep us healthy (rest, recovery, repair, rejuvenation),” Roban said. “Your brain and body release toxins—which leads to stronger brain health and overall physical health—your body restores energy, the muscles and cells in your body repair and grow, and the information you learned from the day gets processed and stored from short-term memory to long-term memory.” Whether it’s a big presentation for work or running a marathon, getting adequate sleep the night before can make or break the outcome. And—as I can attest—the irritability, anxiety, and difficulty focusing after a night of tossing and turning is enough to make anyone want to cry.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but lack of sleep can have long-term effects. “Our bodies need to rest, and when we are sleep deprived, we can have problems with our cognition, mental and cardiovascular health, ability to control our metabolism and weight, and even have a higher risk for cancer,” Cacho warned. On the other hand, when we have consistent nights of blissful sleep, Adams cited better brain function, improved emotional regulation, a healthy immune system and weight, and decreased risk of developing chronic diseases. 

Expert hacks to get the best sleep of your life

1. Establish a wind-down routine
Whether you’re part of the WFH club or someone who tends to bring work home, it can be difficult to set boundaries and unplug, leaving your body to wonder when it’s time to start winding down for the night. “A consistent bedtime routine will signal to the brain and body that it is time for sleep,” Roban said. Adams agreed and advised carving out at least 30 minutes for your daily regimen. “During this time, choose activities that aren’t stimulating or involve bright light,” Adams stated. “Some ideas are reading, journaling, meditation, crafts, or chatting about your day with your partner.” Youngblood’s pre-bedtime go-tos are practicing yoga or listening to soft music, like jazz or classical, to relax, relieve stress, and unwind.

2. Follow a consistent sleep schedule
Just like any routine, our bodies get used to following a certain sleep pattern. “Our bodies thrive on consistency, and a consistent sleep schedule promotes healthy sleep,” Roban explained. Adams recommended waking up at the same time every morning, even on the weekends. “This helps keep your circadian rhythm strong, and you’re more likely to get sleepy around the same time each night,” she said. Yes, that means going to bed and waking up at approximately the same time every day (even when you have a long-overdue, epic GNO).

3. Set a food and drink curfew 
I hate to break it to you, but what you eat affects your sleep. Adams suggested curbing your intake of food and alcohol three to four hours before bed. “Alcohol can disrupt your sleep, especially that critical REM phase where emotional regulation happens,” she said. “Food too close to bedtime can signal wakefulness in the brain, which can interfere with your ability to fall asleep.” If your goal is to be in bed by 10 p.m., try having dinner ready no later than 6:30 p.m. to ensure you have enough time in between your meal and bedtime (meal prep FTW). 

Roban’s rule of thumb is no caffeine after lunch and no heavy meals and alcohol close to bedtime. That’s right: Bidding adieu to your afternoon pick-me-up and favorite nightcap is the sacrifice we have to make for a good snooze. According to Roban, fatty and spicy foods are also a no-no before bed. We’ve all learned that the hard way. 

4. Incorporate movement in your day  
If you’re anything like me, you need to work out to relieve stress, feel balanced, and get a solid night’s rest. Aside from boosting your self-esteem and mental and physical health, Cacho explained that getting your body physically tired promotes quality sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, moderate-to-vigorous exercise can increase sleep quality for adults by reducing the time it takes to fall asleep and decrease the amount of time they lie awake in bed during the night. 
As for whether working out within hours before going to sleep is detrimental to your quality of sleep is up for debate. Like I said, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to sleep. So exercise at the time of day (or night) and intensity that works best for you. Only you know what feels best for your body and sleep. 

5. Keep your sleeping environment cool
As someone who runs hot, this sleep hack is preaching to the choir (sorry to my boyfriend—I win). “Your core body temperate needs to cool down by a couple of degrees to fall and stay asleep,” Adams said. The optimal room temperature for healthy sleep? Youngblood suggested keeping your sleeping quarters between 65°F and 72°F. If the temperature is too hot or cold, it may affect the natural drop in your body’s internal temperature at night and cause you to have disrupted sleep. 
To stay cool during the night, you might consider sleeping in breathable sheets, keeping a cool glass of water on your nightstand, and wearing lightweight cotton pajamas (if sleeping in your birthday suit feels the most comfortable, by all means!). 

6. Get sunlight first thing in the morning 
Vitamin D not only gives you that just-came-back-from-Hawaii glow, but it also does your sleep good. Cacho suggested soaking it in up to 30 minutes within an hour of waking up. “This is the signal our brains need to tell us to be awake and start the day,” she said. Getting morning sun exposure can be as simple as taking your coffee out on your balcony or your dog out for a walk around the neighborhood. “A 15-minute burst of natural light helps regulate key hormones, melatonin and cortisol, for the rest of the day into the evening,” Adams said. She suggested getting direct sunlight sans sunglasses, as it loses its effect when filtered. What’s more, exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the calming and mood-boosting hormone serotonin. I rest my case. 

Please consult a doctor or a mental health professional before beginning any treatments. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

I Just Had the Best Sleep of My Entire Life—I Credit These 5 Products More

One thing is true: I love to sleep. I mean, who doesn’t? It’s the new self-care. But when I am on a streak of not sleeping well, I truly start to despise bedtime because I assume it’s going to result in waking up frequently, tossing and turning, and ultimately, not being as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as I want to be in the morning. Read: waking up puffy and irritable. Sadly, no ice roller I’ve tried has been able to fix week-long sleep-deprived face swelling, so I’ve made it my mission to do my research on how to wake up more well-rested, which has resulted in me trying some popular tips for getting better sleep. Just like anything, some worked and some definitely didn’t, so I am sharing the 10 ways that actually work and can help you get better sleep by tomorrow.

1. Take CBD before bed
You know how much we love CBD for anxiety, productivity, and mood, but we also love how effective it is during bedtime. According to Equilibria, our go-to source for high-quality CBD products, “CBD works with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to support homeostasis, which in turn may balance other areas of your well-being, such as maintaining healthy sleep and wake cycles.” Simply put, it can help you feel calmer and at ease when you are winding down, which in turn can result in better sleep.
Equilibria’s Sleep Gummies are our favorite because they are formulated with their high-quality CBD along with CBN and a botanical blend of chamomile and L-theanine, which help women combat restlessness and unwelcome thoughts at night. Talk about a total game changer. Try them out for yourself and use code THEEVERYGIRL for 20% off your first order at Equilibria!

Equilibria
Sleep Gummies
Sleep Gummies are formulated with CBD, CBN, chamomile, and L-theanine, so falling asleep and staying asleep are easier.
Use code THEEVERYGIRL for 20% off your first order at Equilibria!

2. Incorporate breathwork or meditation
Do you feel like your mind is always racing when your head hits the pillow? You’re not alone. The stress of the day is hard to shake off sometimes! One effective way to relax your mind and body before bed (or really at any time of the day) is by incorporating breathing exercises and/or meditation. According to the Sleep Foundation, research shows that meditation and breathwork “can help improve insomnia, and may even improve sleep quality.” Not sure where to start? Download an app! There are so many options that you can try depending on which method you are most interested in.

Guided Breathing App
The Breathwrk app is the #1 breathing app with more than 1 million users worldwide. They offer guided breathing exercises for falling asleep, easing anxiety, and waking up.

Mindful Meditation App
Headspace offers meditations for sleep, stress, and mindfulness. With over 70 million members and 600k+ reviews, it’s one of the best.

3. Exercise during the day 
I know what you’re thinking: Do I have to? But hear me out. The good news here is that you don’t have to run a marathon in the name of getting a good night of rest. Even engaging in just 30 minutes of aerobic activity throughout the day can lead to more slow-wave sleep (read: deep sleep) during the night and can help you decompress so that when it’s time for bed, you’ll have an easier time falling asleep. So roll out that yoga mat, get those steps in, or pick up a light set of weights—you’ll thank me tomorrow morning.

4. Lower your body temperature
I despise being cold—like I get straight-up cranky if I am chilly—but I can’t deny that I feel like I get a better night’s sleep when I am a little colder. Sleep Advisor’s Thermoregulation Guide breaks down how body temperature regulation works while we are sleeping and sheds light on how a drop in body temperature can help you fall asleep faster and improve the quality of your REM sleep. To reap the benefits of this, turn your thermostat down to 65 degrees before you start winding down or invest in bedding that has cooling technology.

Brooklinen
Cooling Bedding Bundle
Percale sheets make your whole bed feel like “the cool side of your pillow,” according to Brooklinen. *Adds to cart*

5. Swap screen time with reading
I have to admit something I am not proud of: I am #guilty of scrolling through my Instagram feed or watching episodes of Schitt’s Creek until the moment I close my eyes. But honestly, most of us are. We have all heard about the negative effects of blue light, but one of the major reasons to limit screen time (especially before bed) is because of the effect that it has on our production of melatonin. With that said, the National Sleep Foundation recommends avoiding electronics in the hours leading up to bedtime.
Instead, try picking up a book and lulling yourself to sleep with a light read. If you’re antsy before bed or not ready for sleep, reading can help promote a more relaxed and peaceful state of mind. In a 2021 online study, reading before bed was linked to improved sleep quality, which is a good argument to swap screen time for reading. Here are some light reads that our team has been loving lately:

Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
This one is an editor favorite for multiple reasons, but our Branded Content Editor Ashley loved reading this one before bed. The story is glamorous, characters are complex, and chapters are short, which makes it a great read to escape into and put down once the Zzzz’s take over.

Emily Henry
People We Meet on Vacation
A lot of our team members hold this read close to their hearts and for good reason. This friends-to-lovers romance serves up all of the escapism and wanderlust our hearts desire but is low stakes enough that it won’t keep us up until 2 a.m. with nail-biting cliffhangers.

6. Avoid eating late at night
While the idea of a late-night snack can be overwhelmingly tempting, according to Alexis Supan, a registered dietitian from the Cleveland Clinic, eating late at night goes directly against our body’s circadian rhythm. “It’s best to stop eating about three hours before going to bed,” she noted. “That allows plenty of time for your body to digest the last food you ate so it won’t disrupt your sleep but leaves a small enough window before sleep that you won’t go to bed feeling hungry.” This way, while we’re getting into sleep mode, our digestive system can rest along with the rest of our mind and body.

7. Use blue light-blocking glasses
If avoiding screens at night isn’t always an option for you because you study or work late (or you like to read on a Kindle), make sure that you utilize nighttime mode and/or wear blue light-blocking glasses. On most devices, you can adjust your display settings to make your screen a yellowish tone, which is much easier on your eyes and has little to no effect on your circadian rhythm. I actually have the nighttime mode set to be on all day on both my computer and my phone, and I wear blue light-blocking glasses daily. I highly, highly recommend doing both!

8. Limit caffeine consumption
I know what you’re thinking, but hear me out: You can do this. I am not saying give up your coffee and tea altogether (I would never do that to you), but I am suggesting that limiting your caffeine intake can improve your sleep. Caffeine can have a disruptive effect on your sleep and reduce your total sleep time, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, so it is recommended to avoid caffeine during the second half of the day. Opt for caffeine-free tea or decaf coffee if you want to sip on something but still want to feel well-rested, and reach for a sleepy tea at night.

Celestial Seasonings
Sleep Tea
There are so many sleepy teas at grocery stores and online, but this is one of my favorites. If you like mint, you will love this organic tea with melatonin.

9. Limit naps throughout the day
Listen, I love a good nap as much as the next gal, but the reality is that when midday snoozes are prolonged or frequent, it can have a negative impact on nighttime sleep. The next time you find yourself fighting that middle-of-the-day, post-lunchtime slump, try resisting the urge to snuggle up and escape the daytime by drinking an ice-cold glass of water, doing a light workout, getting some sunlight by going outside, or using a light therapy lamp.

10. Maximize your sleep environment
If there’s one area that you have the most control over when it comes to getting better sleep, it’s maximizing the environment that you’re snoozing in. According to the CDC, a “good” sleep environment is one that is dark, cool, comfortable, and quiet. And while you can’t always control street lamp placement outside of your bedroom window or a train that might pass in the night, you can make adjustments to your space to make it a sleep oasis. Consider getting your hands on a sleep mask or blackout curtains to promote darkness and a noise machine or earplugs to keep things quiet. We promise: You’ll never regret investing in your sleep space.

Blackout Curtains
Our nurse-turned-editor swears by blackout curtains for the deepest sleep of all time, ever. When she used to work nights as an emergency nurse, these curtains were such a life saver for making even the brightest of days feel like nighttime.

3-Pack of Sleep Masks
Because you can’t always have blackout curtains on the go, these lightweight sleep masks are the perfect solution for blocking out light when you’re traveling or away from home. Kept awake by the glow of the microwave light? Couldn’t be us.

White Noise Machine
If you’re trying to drown out external noises that might wake you from sleep (we’re looking at you, middle-of-the-night choo-choo-train), then you absolutely need a white noise machine in your life. This one from Marpac is a tried-and-true team favorite and is also portable so you can take it with you wherever you go.

Even Beyoncé Has Trouble Sleeping: 7 Expert-Backed Tips To Get the Best Sleep of Your Life

This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Equilibria, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board. More

Sleep and I are a lot like cereal and orange juice. Historically speaking, we just don’t mix. No matter how many times I’ve made attempts to be an “early to bed, early to rise” human, I tend to be the type who tosses, turns, and ends up succumbing to blue light at 2 a.m. in an attempt to distract myself from the fact that morning will soon be approaching. Because I’m not a quitter and because I’ve truly been feeling the woes of lack of sleep, I loaded up on sleep products over the past month, and dare I say it: I just woke up from the best sleep of my entire life.
I’ve dabbled with a sleep mask here and there in the past, but this time around, I really committed and went all out in the name of creating a nighttime ritual that worked for me. From a sleep supplement to a humidifier to a sound machine and beyond, my bedroom is an oasis, and I can finally say: I have my sleep routine on lock. Here are my five holy-grail products that have helped me fall asleep, stay asleep, and be annoyingly chipper over the past few weeks:

1. A sleep supplement with melatonin and vitamin B6
Source: @humnutrition

The perfect nightcap exists, and the Beauty zzZz formula from HUM is it. I’m not sure why I’ve never gone out of my way to try a sleep supplement (looking back, it definitely feels like a facepalm situation, but I digress), but this stuff seriously works. There’s something about the combination of melatonin and vitamin B6 that helps me fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling well-rested, which is truly something I don’t think I’ve been able to say since I was in the womb.

HUM Nutrition
Beauty zzZz
Contains melatonin to promote a more restful sleep, vitamin B6 to help normalize circadian rhythm, and calcium to improve sleep quality.
Use code TEG20 to get 20% off of your first HUM order over $39!

I like to take one tablet of the Beauty zzZz formula one hour before bed, set my alarm for the next day, and then lull myself to sleep with an intriguing but not-too-intense read. After about a half hour, I start to find myself feeling zen AF, and then at the 45-minute mark, I’m nodding off mid-sentence and into a seriously good slumber that I can’t stop talking about. Falling asleep was definitely my main concern, but I’d be remiss not to mention that once I’m asleep, this supplement helps me stay asleep. You heard me: no tossing, turning, or staring at the clock as it quickly approaches wake-up time. If there’s one sleep product worth investing in, it’s this stuff.

2. A white noise machine
Source: @homedics
When I was younger, my family used to be neurotic about having fans on to help block out noise during sleep. It was definitely a comfort thing that I weaned myself off of with age—mostly because traveling back and forth from college with a huge box fan was annoying as hell. I never really thought I needed anything like it until I moved into a new apartment in January that sits adjacent to Chicago’s Brown Line.
Every 15 minutes, the train comes through, and if I’m not in a super deep sleep, it definitely wakes me up. While a bit annoying, it was definitely a push to get a more legit, small-space-friendly white noise machine, and I can’t get enough of this one from Amazon. It does an incredible job drowning out outside noise and helps keep those pesky little middle-of-the-night noises from waking me up.

White Noise Machine
This white noise machine is truly such a game changer and I love how tiny but mighty it is. It fits perfectly on my nightstand and is ideal for bringing with me when I’m traveling.

3. A cooling duvet cover
Source: @buffy
I don’t know if it’s hormones or what, but in the last few years of my life as a 20-something, I am always sweating. I started setting my bedroom temperature to 65 degrees overnight, which definitely helped a bit, but I’d still often find myself having to peek out my feet and hang them over the side of my bed to help cool off. If there is one thing that I can count on to wake me up from a deep slumber overnight, it’s the uncomfortably annoying feeling that my body is engulfed in flames. Not a fan.
I came across this cooling comforter from Buffy, which is a lot cooler and more lightweight than the previous one my boyfriend and I had, and now that I’m able to enjoy a night of sleep without waking up drenched in sweat, I’m never, ever turning back.

Cooling Comforter
This cooling comforter is an absolute dream for hot sleepers everywhere (i.e., ME). I need to be completely covered when I sleep but I also don’t want to be sweating so this comforter truly allows me to have the best of both worlds.

4. A Kindle
Source: Shayna Douglas | Unsplash
OK, so as sleep experts would likely tell you, a Kindle still emits some light. But in comparison to my iPhone drowning me in blue light late at night as I scroll for hours on TikTok, trust me: Reading from my Kindle instead of scrolling on my phone is a major sleep routine upgrade. I started reading from a Kindle a few months ago, and over the past few weeks, I’ve been a lot more consistent about reading it before bed as I wait for my Beauty zzZz sleep supplement to kick in. I turn the brightness down pretty much all the way, turn on a dim lamp in the background, and opt for reads that are rather light and free of cliffhangers so that I can easily slip into sleep if it comes my way. 
In addition to reducing blue light before bed, this also serves as a welcome distraction that helps me keep my mind off of the ruminating thoughts and anxiety that I tend to fall victim to right before sleep time. The combination of my melatonin + B6 and reading really sets my mind and body up for success when it comes to winding down, and I am loving every minute of it.

Kindle Paperwhite
If you don’t already have a Kindle, seriously, what are you waiting for? I absolutely love how lightweight and simple this eReader is—it’s totally replaced my late night TikTok scroll and, since using it, I feel like I’m able to cut my wind-down time in half before bed.

5. A cool-mist humidifier
Source: @vitruvi
Next to feeling like my skin is literally on fire in the middle of the night, there’s one other ailment that’s sure to wake me up from a dead sleep against my will: a good ole tickle in the throat courtesy of my dry AF apartment. Over this past winter, I’ve definitely been noticing that my hair, skin, humor, etc. are drier than usual, but truly, the one thing that made me pull out the humidifier was the fact that I kept waking up with a dry cough that required me to thrust myself into a panic-driven alertness, drink water like my life depended on it, recover from the drama, and attempt to lull myself back to sleep. The added moisture in the air is much appreciated and has made my routine middle-of-the-night coughing fits a thing of the past.

Cool Mist Humidifier
It’s not the most glamorous humidifier but this one absolutely gets the job done. This reservoir is big enough that it lasts all night long but it’s also small enough that I can conceal it underneath my sink during the day. Since using it, I’ve definitely noticed that my nose and throat aren’t as dry overnight which is absolutely necessary if I’m trying to sleep through the night.

Sleep Is the New Self-Care: Here’s How You Should Upgrade Your Routine

This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Hum Nutrition but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board. More