Sleeping partners
Ingredients for a good night’s sleep.
Write your worries away
01 Tackle your worries with a worry journal. Divide the page vertically, then before you go to bed use the left-hand side to write down things that are bothering you and on the right write down a possible solution. It will clear worries in your head.
Natural solution
02 Naturopathic sleep and stress remedy range SleepDrops offers a variety of different sleep and stress remedies which can be mixed and matched depending on individual sleep requirements. sleepdrops.co.nz
03 Sleep support
Natural latex mattresses keep your spine aligned all night as the foam contours to your curves, providing the perfect mix of support and uplift. The latex in Natural Beds’ mattresses comes from renewable organic rubber tree sap and is enclosed in New Zealand wool then wrapped in a bamboo cover. naturalbeds.nz
04 Lavender
Research shows that the scent of lavender eases anxiety and insomnia. The Matakana Botanicals Apothecary Sleep Sniff Box, $9.90, created with aromatherapist Mary Wakefield, contains aroma beads infused with a calming blend of neroli, chamomile and lavender essential oil. matakanabotanicals.co.nz
05 Sleep tea
Artemis certified organic medicinal Deep Sleep Tea, $15.50, contains ingredients with calming and relaxing properties including hops, liquorice, passionflower, valerian and woodruff. The ideal time to enjoy a cup of this slumber wonder is 30 minutes before you plan to go to bed. Ideally, sip away then slip into sleep, says the tea’s creator and Artemis founder, Sandra Clair. artemis.co.nz
Foods that aid sleep
06 Eat foods that are high in amino acid tryptophan, says nutrition and holistic health expert Ben Warren of BePure. “Tryptophan is the precursor to melatonin, our sleepytime hormone. Foods high in tryptophan include turkey, tempeh, chicken, eggs, red meat, fish, oats, beans and lentils.” bepure.co.nz
07 Run a bath
Taking a hot bath is an age-old trick to fall asleep. Make sure you have a bath at least an hour before bedtime, advises nutritionist Sarah Sinclair of RUNtrition. “The best water temperature is over 38 degrees celsius and you need to be in it for at least 20 minutes for this to be effective.” While you’re there add Native Rituals Coconut Milk Bath, $30, to the mix. This magnesium-enriched milk bath helps restore magnesium levels within the muscle tissue, as well as helping to relax you. nativerituals.co.nz g