SWEET DREAMS
It’s a new year, but Harriet Pudney still n s it ar t et a ni t’s slee
We all have strengths and weaknesses, and sometimes in relationships you find you wind up complementing each other. One partner might be a terrible driver but a great navigator and DJ, or a shocking cook but an efficient and enthusiastic cleaner. Not everyone is good at everything, so it is nice to find someone who is strong where you might be lacking.
But the thing my boyfriend is great at is sleeping. I have been a low-grade insomniac all my life so, while it is nice that he gets such good rest, it’s not that transferable. I made a comment about this once as we were getting into bed, and I admit I was expressing an amount of jealousy.
“The secret is to lie on your back,” he said, sleepily and serenely. By the time I finished laughing, he was snoring. What a talent. I had to read my book for another 40 minutes.
I don’t think I will ever reach those heights, but I have managed to dramatically reduce the number of nights I spend anxiously trying to relax. In times like these, I’m taking that as a major victory.
A lot of it is really obvious stuff: exercise; don’t drink too much coffee; don’t read Stephen King at 11.45pm; and create a routine. What exactly that routine contains will be up to you, but I know I feel reasonably confident that I will drop off if I have a shower in the evening, crack a window open, then read in bed.
When I turn the light off,
I pop on a boring podcast on a sleep timer. These days,
I don’t usually need more than 15 minutes before I’m blissfully unconscious. Lately, I have been taking Eve Chill Pills, $59, evewellness.com, just as I hop into bed. Made from kava, the supplements can promote the kind of calm, easy feeling you want before sleep. I have definitely been finding it easier to drop off.
I take these capsules with a glass of water poured from my new Maison Balzac carafe, $99, adorebeauty.co.nz. You wouldn’t call it a must, but there is an elegance to these sets, and the ability to top up without getting out of bed is appreciated.
Why disrupt the peaceful vibe you have created by getting up for more water? Beauty sleep is crucial.