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Sleep, Reimagined
37
items Sleep and I had a very long, very dysfunctional relationship. For more than 35 years, falling asleep meant lying in bed for hours while my brain enthusiastically replayed every awkward moment of my life, and nighttime anxiety was a regular visitor. M...
Sections
5
My Nightly Ritual
My Body
My Pajamas
My Room
My Bed
My Nightly Ritual
Good sleep starts with the small signals you send your brain that the day is winding down. Part of it is practical because winter skin is a thing in the Godforsaken Arctic Tundra, but it’s also a cue to my brain that the day is officially over. Lapto...
I buy it out when I see it, its the BEST!
Vaseline Creme Brulee Cutie Lip Balm - .25oz
If I run out of my creme brulee stash, I will accept cocoa butter.
Vaseline Lip Therapy Mini Lip Balm - Cocoa Butter - Travel Size - 0.25oz: Aluminum-Free, Paraben-Free, Phthalate-Free
I put this on my cuticles every night.
0.5 oz Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Conditioner - CND | Ulta Beauty
I love this, it soaks in and smells IN-CRED-IBLE.
Fragrance Originale Hand Cream - Moroccanoil | Ulta Beauty
My Body
These are all the things that help my body chill tf out so I can actually sleep. Together they drag my brain out of the “let’s ruminate on everything that has ever happened in my life” spiral and into a restful place instead.
I'm convinced that most women are magnesium deficient, because it works for everything. In my case it helps with sleep, but using magnesium citrate also keeps my GI system moving!
Magnesium Citrate Dietary Supplements - 250mg Softgels - 60ct - up&up™
If I don't need the GI action from magnesium citrate, I swap it out for magnesium glycinate to still gain the sleep benefits.
Magnesium Glycinate Dietary Supplements - 200mg Capsule - 60ct - up&up™
Allegedly this is non-sedating, but I take it at night just in case! I use it for chronic urticaria, because clawing your skin off in your sleep is not restful.
Cetirizine Hydrochloride Allergy Relief Tablets - 180ct - up&up™: Contains Antihistamine, 10mg Strength
I'm still not convinced about mouth tape, but I'm using it until the evidence fully disproves benefits. This one doesn't leave sticky residue on my face!
Vitamasques Mouth Sleep Tape - 30ct
Being totally real, a big part of my sleep journey has been taking good care of my brain. Anxiety meds were a lifeline for me in grad school and the benefit on my sleep, and the rest of my life, is immeasurable. Truly life changing.
Venlafaxine XR
My Pajamas
I no longer sleep in synthetic fabrics. Waking up sweaty because you were trying to sleep in plastic is the exact opposite of restfulness. Yes natural fibers can be expensive, but over the years I’ve found great options at all price points.
Seersucker jammies are so light, great for summer.
Women's Classic Seersucker Long Pajama Set
Love poplin, and I'm a sucker for the Gap bear.
Poplin PJ Set | Gap
My Mom put my sisters and I in Hanna pajamas, and I'm still obsessed 40 years later!
Hanna Andersson - Women's Wide Leg Pajama Set
Love the shorts for summer.
Pajama Short Set In End-on-end Cotton For Women | J.Crew
Poplin for the win.
Women's Poplin 2 Piece Pajama Set - Short Sleeve Shirt and Shorts
Flannel pajamas are a winter dream! Just don't use them with flannel sheets, otherwise its like velcro. Ask me how I know…
Women's Scotch Plaid Flannel Pajamas
Bamboo is great for hot sleepers!
Bamboo Jersey Long Sleeve Pajama Set
Linen, so cooling for summer or hot sleepers.
Rhubarb & Rose Pembroke Stripe Linen Blend Pajama Set
Muslin is SO soft and cozy, but not hot.
Women's Cream Cotton Muslin Pajamas | H&M US
Jersey is a great pajama material.
Women's Light pink/striped Cotton Jersey Pajamas | H&M US
My Room
Not glamorous, but sensory management is legit. When your room is dark / quiet / boring, your brain has less reasons to stay awake! Which, after years of wrestling with sleep, turns out to be exactly the point. 😴
Never underestimate how much light is in your room at night - I use these to dim or eliminate the little lights from the TV, the power strip under my nightstand, etc.
FLANCCI LED Light Blocking Stickers 2 Sheets
I've tried a few of them, but I like the silk to be kind to my skin, and I like the wider band that can go over my ears. Be warned that if you have a dark color like navy and you sweat at night, you may end up with blue staining on your face. Ask me ...
100% Natural Silk Cooling Sleep Mask, Lotus Pink
It pisses me off that I bought this thing, and still need to pay $4.99 a month for the app…but its made such a difference for how I wake up in the morning that I'm willing to deal.
Hatch Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock Sound Machine Smart Light - Greige: Nature White, Ocean, Brown Noise
I'm so addicted to the Hatch that I bought the baby travel version for trips.
Hatch Go Portable USB Sound Machine for Babies and Kids' - Putty: White Noise, Wind, Ocean, Rain, Laundry Dryer Sounds
Ugly, yes. Effective, also yes. They're soft enough that they are easy to insert, and they don't make my ear canal sore.
Howard Leight Laser Lite Foam Earplugs, 200-Pairs
My Bed
If the room is the sleep environment, the bed is the control center. Comfort matters more than people think, because if your body is even slightly uncomfortable, your brain will ignore sleep in order to fixate on it.
Cotton from the foundation up!
Mattress Pad
Spendy yes, but they will last FOREVER.
Comfy Super Soft Cotton Flannel Plaid Bed Sheet Set - 5oz
Flannel sheets for the winter, there is nothing cozier.
Botanical Floral Flannel Sheet Collection
Linen sheets are so cool in the summer, makes a huge difference if you run hot at night!
100% Linen Fitted Sheet Stone Washed King
Etsy has been a great source of linen sheets, often coming from Europe.
Stonewashed Linen Fitted Sheet: Natural Bedding, Custom Size
The heaviest weighted blanket I could find in a smaller size. If I need heavier, I'll just have my husband hit me over the head with a shovel.
Quility 25 LB Queen Weighted Blanket 60x80
I have the medium in the color Peachy Piglet (now discontinued). This under my weighted blanket is the perfect combo for winter.
Marshmallow Blanket
A muslin blanket for the summer is perfect!
100% Organic Cotton Gauze Blanket in Olive
I consider these my anti-sweat pillowcases, cool no matter the temperature.
100% French Linen Pillow Shams - Pack of 2
I'm stupid enough to pay $200+ for a pillow…but I would panic-rebuy in a New York minute if anything happened to it! I don't know why this works, I don't know why there isn't a cheaper dupe out there, but it is worth its weight in GOLD.
Classic Sleep Crown Pillow
It took a lot of trial and error, and going through 8 pillows until I finally found the perfect pillow. This one is amazing, adjustable, and doesn't feel overly hot at night.
The S&S Adjustable Pillow - Silk & Snow
I change my pillowcases a little more frequently than sheets, so I like to have replacements - these are cool and smooth, and great quality!
Threshold™ Cotton Sateen Standard Solid Performance 400 Thread Count
Doesn't suck up my face products and (allegedly) won't give me wrinkles.
Initial Collection White Queen Zippered Pillowcase