This post is sponsored in partnership with Beautyrest Brand. Opinions and tips are my own.
The most common question I get from my followers is ‘how do you do it? Followed by some reference on how they feel exhausted just from watching my life on Instagram. Albeit I have an active life, filled with events and tons of travel but the go-go-go lifestyle does take its toll; which is why balance is so important. In fact whenever I’ve interviewed a famous athlete, celebrity or someone whose lifestyle seems crazier than mine by ten fold, I always ask their best tips on how to de-stress and stay centered and consistently the answer is sleep. Having enough quality sleep is the first step to any healthy lifestyle and feeling well rested and ready for the day to come. It’s vital to your mental and physical health, yet sadly enough, one third of Americans (33%) say it’s been 6 months or longer since they last woke up feeling energized. I for one am more likely to be short fused and off center if I’m sleep deprived. It’s like suddenly the glass is half empty instead of full and I’m dragging instead looking forward to the day.
With Daylight Savings (November 6th) just around the corner, I’m so excited to be partnering with my friends at Beautyrest Brand to share my best tips on how you can take steps towards a healthier lifestyle and feel more rested in one hour or less.
The first step, whether it’s feeling restless, inactive or that you’re not sleeping well is acknowledging the issue. Just ignoring it spirals into bad routines that become a challenge to break. Once you’re ready to try something new, I have a whole list of easy tips to incorporate – try them all or just one at a time to see if they make a difference. And what better time for a change than Fall Daylight Savings? It’s the only day of the year when the universe is giving you a free hour.
What you can do in an hour:
- Meditate and/or breathing exercise– there are loads of guided meditation apps, podcasts and videos on YouTube ranging from 5-30 minutes a day. Meditation is an effective way to relax and can help with many conditions including depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and chronic pain.
- Clear Your Space – Taking 10-15 minutes to clean your room so you have an inviting space to come into can make a world of difference. Making your bed, putting away your clothes and clearing off any general clutter is a quick fix. Also investing in your décor, even the small things like having a color scheme between your curtains and bedspread so your room is inviting. Adding candles and aromatherapy can also help you relax and add to the ambiance.
- Clear your mind – When we have things weighing on us it can disrupt our sleep. For me, clearing my mind usually involves making a to do list the night before so I’m not worried about forgetting something and getting myself organized for the morning if I have an early meeting. Usually I set out all my purse essentials (keys, wallet, phone, makeup bag) so I’m not running around looking for them in the morning. I also plan and steam my outfit the night before so I’m saving time the next day.
- Give yourself 20 minutes of “me” time to relax. This can be when you meditate or read a book or magazine (I like to with decaffeinated tea – usually mint or chamomile) or taking a walk with Charlie (my dog), before bed also helps relax me. We also snuggle and play a little before bed, which always puts me in a good mood and helps me decompress.
Some additional tips that are an investment in quality sleep, that you should also consider if you’re having trouble sleeping and/or waking up in the morning.
- Minimize your caffeine intake at least 3-6 hours before going to bed.
- Take electronic devices out of the bedroom and shut everything off an hour before bed. Reading emails or watching movies on your tablets will keep your brain active when it should be relaxing. The blue light from our screens mimics that of daylight, which also stimulates you. I like to keep a book next to my bed, whether or not I’m in the habit of reading as a reminder that this is what I should be doing when I’m tempted to check my email. If you’re working, go into the living room. Your bed should be a place for sleeping and not a substitute for your desk or couch.
- Budget your sleep (and get rid of your alarm clock) – granted some of us don’t have the luxury of throwing out our alarm clocks, but on average we need 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Where you fall on that spectrum you can figure out based on how many hours you naturally sleep nightly without an alarm clock, then try to stay consistent everyday. If you’re sleep deprived during the week and then crashing harder on the weekend this isn’t an accurate count of how much sleep you actually need. There shouldn’t be a disparity between the two. Listening to your body and being able to wake up everyday without an alarm clock disrupting your sleep is one of the best things you can do for your health.
- Invest in a good mattress – People struggle with sleep for a variety of reasons, but it could be the mattress that’s keeping you from getting a good night’s rest. Approximately half (49%) of Americans have had their mattress for 5 years or more. Generally speaking a quality mattress should last you 8 – 10 years. Beautyrest mattresses allow you to Get Your Beautyrest and wake up energized. In fact, 18 out of 20 of the top hotel brands in the world including The St. Regis, W Hotels, Four Seasons and Westin use Beautyrest Brand products. They have a great buyers guide video, which breaks down the different types of mattress available and helps you pick your ideal one based on your lifestyle and needs. I’ve been sleeping on the Beautyrest Recharge Hybrid Mattress for 3 years and love it.
- Pillow talk – Love your bed, love your pillows! For me, nothing tops a memory foam pillow! It’s so comfortable and I feel so supported while sleeping. The Diamond Luxe pillows from Beautyrest have been the most luxurious addition to my bedroom. Considering you spend a third of your day laying on one, finding a quality pillow is a worthy investment. Especially if you consider memory foam pillows last longer then other types at up to 3 years— six times longer than the average inexpensive, polyester pillows that many opt for because of the price.
For additional information, to find the mattress that is right for you and to find a retailer near you, visit Beautyrest.com
Have an awesome Daylight Savings everyone. I hope you spoil yourself!