A good night's sleep seems hard to come by these days. Our days are jam-packed with never-ending to-do lists, school, work, extra-curriculars and of course, ending the day with some doom scrolling, which actually really effects our sleep.

Sleep Hygiene — What is it?

Sleep hygiene refers to the habits and environment that contribute to restful sleep. This includes your bedtime rituals, maintaining a consistent sleep and wake up time (yes, even on weekends), and creating a calm and comfortable bedroom environment. Maintaining good sleep hygiene helps to combat insomnia and encourage consistent, restful sleep. 

A consistent bedtime ritual also helps to build bed-to-brain connections, signalling to your brain that bedtime is approaching and it's time to quiet down. We have a few tips and favourites to share so you can elevate your own bedtime rituals and improve your sleep this year.

Aromatherapy For Sleep

Aromatherapy and sleep go hand-in-hand. It can help set the tone for the evening, calm your mind, and signal to your brain and body that it's time to wind down.

Here are a few of our essentials that you can add to your home apothecary:

• Bath time: A good bubble bath is a fool-proof way to wind down after a long day. Our Sweet Dreams Bubble Bath is formulated with a good night's sleep in mind: lavender, chamomile, and sweet marjoram come together to relax the mind and body, while also nourishing the skin. Pair with some Lavender Bath Salts and a good book for an at-home spa night.
  • ps. It's great for kids, too!
• No bath? No problem: You can still soak in the benefits of the powerful essential oils mentioned above with our Organic Sleepy Balm. This soothing balm is perfect for a bedtime massage — we recommend applying it to your chest, back, soles of your feet, wrists, or even under your nose. The aromatherapy combined with a relaxing massage will send you off to dreamland in no time. You can experience a similar effect with our Relax Roll-On, and this one is great for on-the-go if you're having a particularly overwhelming day.
• Set the mood: Setting up your sleep environment is an extremely important part of your bedtime ritual. Keeping the room cool, dark, and quiet are the basics, but sprinkling in some aromatherapy always helps. Our Sweet Dreams essential oil blend   is great to use in a bedroom diffuser. Keep it on your bedside table, and have it start diffusing about an hour before you go to sleep. If you're feeling extra fancy, a Lavender Aromatherapy Mist is a great addition for keeping your bed linens smelling fresh, and helping you sleep soundly through the night. 

Consistent, restful sleep is incredibly important for our overall health, immunity, brain function, and mood. Finding a bedtime ritual that works for your lifestyle is key to developing healthy sleep habits and maintaining good sleep hygiene. 

For more of our favourites,  explore our Home Apothecary Sleep Collection ☁️