Help Getting to Sleep: Catching Elusive Zs After the Christmas Break!

So we did it, we managed to survive the first official working week back of 2019. Or did we? Hands up if you looked at the clock every hour on the hour, hands up if you found yourself scrolling Instagram at 4am, while sleep eluded you... Hands up if a bleary eyed google search brought you here.. Luckily, I got you, a good night's rest is just on the horizon with my 5 top tips on how to beat insomnia and have you sleeping again in no time at all. 

1. A Long Soak 

Molton Brown Ylang Ylang: €12 HERE

There's a reason every Mama incorporates baths into babies' bed time routines and I'm a firm believer that the instant relaxation a long soak evokes never really leaves us. Whether it's a mental recognition of the routine or the hot water itself. It works. 

If you're not a bath lover, a hot shower is just as effective. I've been relying heavily on the Molton Brown smellies as part of my nod off routine, this Ylang-Ylang body wash in particular, though anything fragranced for relaxation will be just as effective. A long soak and fresh pjs. Heaven. 

2. Lavender Based Body Oil

Waxperts Body Oil: €12.95 from Cloud 10 HERE

Originally marketed as a nourishing and smoothing post wax treatment, it was a while before I tried my Waxperts Beautiful Body Oil when the ladies sent it. I'm just not a waxer you see, tried it once, it was grand, never felt the urge to do it again. As with the Waxperts Wonder Pads (that I've recommended until blue in the visage) though, this oil is multi-functional and relaxation is just one of those functions. 

I slather this on, post soak and after my moisturiser and it gives a double whammy. Not only do I sleep easier thanks to the lavender base, but my skin sings hallelujahs come morning because the oil has upped the efficacy of my body moisturiser by a multitude. When I shared this oil on Snapchat this weekend I had a deluge of Snappers extolling its virtues too, that's not for nothing.  

3. This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray: €19.50 HERE

Hints and tips aside, wouldn't it be nice to have a product that guarantees zeds in minutes? Let me introduce you to the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray from This Works - this actually works. I'll go one further and tell you that this should be labelled as chloroform in a bottle because within minutes of spraying its relaxing scent onto my pillow, I'm sound asleep. Every. Single. Time. 

Infused with essential oils of Lavender, Vetivert and Wild Camomile to soothe the body and mind, the pillow spray is completely natural so safe for use with restless kiddies too (proven by my nephew Séamus (9)). I thought originally that it might be a placebo effect, sheer coincidence that every time I spray this, I sleep, but then I bought it for friends. It works for everyone, every time. Wouldn't it be nice to buy sleep? Well tan-spankle-ah-dah - now you can.

4. Ban the Screens from the Bedroom

Let's be realistic, you've probably pressed YES to the next episode on Netflix from a horizontal position more times than you care to admit during the break, I mean you HAD to see just how screwed up Black Mirror could get; but there's nothing that disturbs sleep more than the lure of screens when we should be sleeping. For me it's a vicious cycle, I think I'll drift off if I scroll a little or watch one more, but it has exactly the opposite effect. No matter how relaxed you are, when your brain is taking in information, it's awake. 

It took a while for me to part with my phone at bedtime, fooling myself with the 'but I need it for the alarm' excuse. Last weekend I bought a little battery alarm for €2 in Mr. Price and have made a concerted effort to leave the phone in my handbag and well away from the bedroom. 

The difference was almost instant. That and upon waking, instead of rolling over and scrolling notifications before checking every platform known to man, I now have a full stretch, and consider what I'll be inhaling for breakfast in the next twenty minutes. I can't tell you the difference that one little change has made. 

5. The 4-7-8 Sleep Technique 

Much like the pillow spray above, I was hugely skeptical about the 4-7-8 Technique until I tried it. Also like the spray above, the simple fact of the matter is This Works. The method is the brainchild of Dr Andrew Weil and uses mindfulness to not only slow your heart and lower your blood pressure but it stops your mind racing as you concentrate on your breaths. A natural tranquilizer. It might take a little getting used to at first but it's guaranteed to make you nod off in as little as 60 seconds - I KNOW! It's been a god send for me during bouts of insomnia and especially this past week. 

Now that we know that disrupted sleep patterns disrupt our hormones, leading to a slow down in metabolism and increased feelings of stabbiness during the following day, it's well worth taking a little time getting our sleeping patterns back on track. Especially if we're using January as a fresh start, fitness wise and trying not to flip office tables.  

Tell us, how was your first day back? Or are you home with little ones and living for schools to reopen? 

Any hints or tips for nodding off that you'd care to share? 

We'd LOVE to hear 'em!