Meditation

Even just five minutes of meditation before going to sleep can be an extremely effective practise in order to quieten the mind and relax the body before rest. There are a number of fantastic apps that are free including Insight Timer and Headspace that provide an endless variety of meditations to cater for what you love listening to.

Essential Oils

There are a number of gorgeous varieties of essential oils that are sure to help you to relax and promote quality sleep. Some particularly effective oils include lavender, Ylang Ylang, chamomile and bergamot. All of which promote relaxation, clarity and healing. Make sure to purchase pure oils and you can either diffuse them in your room or apply them topically to chest, wrist, neck, hands or feet once mixed with a carrier oil such as coconut or olive oil for a peaceful sleep.

Tea

It can be extremely effective to have a night routine in order to prepare the body and mind for a restful sleep. Tea can be the perfect vessel for a moment to pause each night before going to bed. At The Tea Collective, we have some beautiful blends created to assist in relaxation and restful sleep. These include Lullaby and Yoga, containing ingredients such as chamomile and hawthorn berry that are perfect for promoting a great night sleep.

Sex

There is nothing like getting freaky in the sheets in order to reduce stress before rest! So, whether this is with your lover or a delicious self love session, it has been proven that sexual activity increases hormones including oxytocin and prolactin. These hormones make you feel lovely and relaxed- perfect for a good nights sleep.

Massage

In the ancient Indian medicine of Ayurveda, there is a practise called Abhyanga which is a beautiful ritual of massaging the body with warm oil mindfully from head to toe. You can do this on yourself and is a wonderful practise that not only to promotes relaxation, circulation and reduce muscle stiffness but for self love and care. It can be suggested that thanking and showing gratitude to each of the body parts as you massage them can be a beautiful addition to this practise.