Self -Care Part 2: Sleep Well!
Adequate sleep is critical for your self-care. It affects you emotionally, mentally and physically. It affects your immune system and energy levels. Lack of sleep can cause serious health issues.
How can you improve your sleep?
Don’t drink liquids or eat before you go to bed. You don’t want to be getting up to use the bathroom throughout the night.
Create a nightly sleep routine. It programs your body that it is time for sleep. Go to bed about the same time every night. If you been rushing around all day, create a ritual to relax before going to bed. Do some stretches to release muscle tension. Listen to calming music or nature sounds.
Create a little spa ritual for your skincare to pamper you and relax.
Breathe in or diffuse calming essential oils such as Lavender, Tranquil or StressAway. Cedarwood essential oil is a good to help calm mental chatter. (See below why these help with better sleep & try the great calming recipe). Massage your feet and big toes with these essential oils. Quality Matters when it comes to Essential Oils.. Here is why I recommend these.
No electronics in the bedroom. This means TV, computers and cell phones. Charge phone in another room. Electronics interfere with your REM sleep.
Light impairs your melatonin production during your sleep. Melatonin is important for your immune system. Block out light by wearing an eye mask and have room-darkening curtains so you don’t wake up too early to morning light.
Check out these oils from Young Living:
Lavender – Put a drop on pillow or dilute a little with carrier oil and rub on temples
Valerian – Great for restless nights! Make your sheets the best things to slip into when the sun goes down. Create a slumber-supporting linen spray by combing 15 drops Valerian, 10 drops Clary Sage, 10 drops Cedarwood, and distilled water in an 8-ounce spray bottle.
Cedarwood essential oil - is your ultimate travel buddy. Use it to make a home away from home whether you’re snoozing in a new city or trying to get comfy in the great outdoors.
How to use Cedarwood for sleep
How exactly do you turn this balmy aroma into your number-one packing necessity? When you’re in a stuffy hotel room, you can diffuse it to eliminate distracting odors. When you’re in a tent, you can apply it topically for a comforting scent that makes sleeping on the ground easier.
Rutavala - A blend of Ruta, Valerian and Lavender essential oils, RutaVaLa™ is a perfect addition to any nighttime routine. Diffuse it after a hectic day to create a calming environment or dilute it with V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex and massage onto the bottoms of your feet during the evening.
Peace & Calming, StressAway & Tranquil – The names of these blends says it all. Massage on the bottoms of your feet before bed, diffuse during sleep or put a drop on back of your neck, shoulders and hands. Cup hands over your hands and breathe in for a couple of minutes to unwind for better sleep.
To breathe easier and relax to sleep better, I like to diffuse lavender, eucalyptus globulus and RC!
