March 17th is World’s Sleep Day and we at NK IMODE are all about promoting the benefits of a good night’s sleep. How much sleep a person needs depends on the individual but, at the end of the day, getting the right amount for you unlocks many benefits. Mental and physical health is greatly improved when you get enough sleep. From hormone regulation and a more alert mind to even appearing more youthful (a lack of sleep ages you), the benefits of sleep are second to none. Our wish for you is to make this year the year of self-care which starts with your sleep routine. Discover our top 5 nighttime rituals for better sleep that you can easily integrate into your sleep routine for the best night’s sleep.
Stretch Away Your Stress
After a long day, it’s good to get in a nice, deep stretch to relax your body and mind. Taking a yoga class can help your mind and body to ease tensions and anxiety that build up throughout the day. Guided poses and meditations allow you to be fully present and increase your sense of well-being, which ultimately helps prepare you for a night of restful sleep. One of our favourite local studios is The Yoga Root in North Vancouver because it’s perfect for everyone, whether you’re an amateur yogi or just starting out. All you need to attend a class is comfortable clothing and a willingness to try something new. Gently stretch and strengthen your body and mind with the welcoming community at The Yoga Root and get ready to reap the benefits of a regular yoga practice.
Wind Down for the Night Earlier
Rather than scrolling endlessly through your phone until it’s time to turn out the light for bed, set some time aside to curl up with a nice cup of tea and a book. In addition to helping cut down that seemingly endless pile of books waiting to be read (let’s be honest, we all have one), you won’t be shining harsh lights into your eyes which have been shown to interrupt your sleep cycle. A soothing warm tea helps relax your body and prepare it for sleep. Try a calming herbal tea from Granville Island Tea Company to help send you to sleep. Lavender and chamomile teas are typically the best, and we love that Granville Island Tea Company offers a selection of both together or separately, including their Lavender Mint Chamomile and Henry’s Blend. Once this ritual is integrated into your nightly routine, your brain will start signalling your body to wind down for bed as soon as you put the kettle on and open your book.
Scent the Scene
You may have heard that sleep sprays are effective in aiding better sleep. Just like with tea, lavender essential oils promote feelings of calm and relaxation while chamomile acts as a mild sedative to help you fall asleep faster. From roll-on scents for your pulse points to pillow sprays, there are many different options to choose from that best suit your preferences. We really love using Settle Down calming spray from k’pure Naturals because it works as both a body spray and a facial toner, allowing us to double down on soothing scents that include witch hazel and lavender. One ticket to Slumberland, please.
Get Snug as a Bug
One of the best additions to your sleep routine that we feel doesn’t get mentioned enough is a weighted blanket. There’s a lot of science behind weighted blankets and their effectiveness in aiding sleep that you can look into. We love it for the feeling of being cocooned in an embrace all night long. What we love even more is Hush, a Canadian weighted blanket company that offers a few options for weighted blankets. Our favourite is the Hush Iced 2.0 because it is perfect for keeping you at your optimal temperature all night long. Think of being cuddled all night long without the additional body heat—that’s how this blanket feels. Being gently weighed down for sleep has a calm, relaxing effect on anxiety and even helps with insomnia as you’ll tend to move around less in your sleep. Get ready to wake up feeling rested, if you can extract yourself from how comfortable your bed is about to be.
Swathe Yourself in Silks
The finishing touch to your new sleep routine is sustainable silk sleepwear. Much like the weighted blankets we mentioned before, silk is temperature regulating to keep you at your optimal temperature all night long. It’s also soft and soothing on sensitive skin to keep you comfy and cosy all night long. From silk and lace chemises to full pajama sets, we have a wide variety of styles, cuts, and colours for you to find the piece or pieces that suit you best. Get your evening started while wrapped in one of our short kimonos or long robes, sipping your tea and reading another chapter of your book. Select your sleepwear while breathing in a calming sleep spray to relax your body and cue your mind to prepare for sleep.
We hope these rituals will help assist you in obtaining a restful night’s sleep. Sweet dreams, from all of us at NK IMODE.
