Calming herbal tea & my top 3 tips for a good nights sleep

It’s almost the end of 2018 and even though the year is coming to a close and people are winding down for New Year, life seems busier than ever. My intentions for 2019 are to slow down and really practice living in the moment. Nothing says ‘slow down’ to me more than a cup of hot herbal tea. Soothing, calming and refreshing, it’s the best way for me to come back to the present moment and take stock.

I sometimes struggle to sleep all the way through the night, which can make me feel groggy the next day. This is usually due to my ever growing to do lists. I have no idea why but my body seems to wake me up at 4am to remind me of something I have to do!

I’m always looking for new ways to unwind and get into sleepy mode before bed and recently I’ve found some techniques that have really helped me to sleep the whole night through and wake up feeling ready for the day. I can’t wait to share these tips with you!

I’ve been lucky enough to work with WelleCo this year and created some delicious recipes using their Nourishing Proteins and Super Elixir powders. I adore all of their products but hadn’t tried the Sleep Welle tea yet and had no idea what to expect. I’m tea obsessed, so had high hopes before trying it. Carefully blended with skullcap, hops and valerian root, it’s a powerful combination of all-natural herbs designed to help you doze off peacefully, or have a moment of stillness during a busy day.

The flavour is fruity and light thanks to lemon balm (smells heavenly), passionflower and mango flour. The taste is delicate and soothing, with no flavour overpowering the other, it’s a real pleasure to drink. I added a drop of vanilla and maple syrup to mine for a little extra sweetness, but it’s just as delicious on its own. It’s really tasty chilled too, so you could take a bottle to work and whip it out during those high pressure moments.

These tips are the things that have helped me most, I’ve been sleeping like a baby for the last month! I’d love to hear if you have any techniques that have worked for you.

Drink tea

Drinking herbal tea before bed can help you relax before bedtime. I’ve made it a habit and part of my routine to have a cup of Sleep Welle before bed every night and now my body knows it’s time to sleep when I’m enjoying my cuppa. The herbs in this blend are really powerful for anybody suffering with insomnia or deep sleep. When hops and valerian root are combined, they create a mild sedative effect, which encourages deep sleep and helps to soothe any feelings of anxiousness or worry. Other natural, caffeine free alternatives that I love to drink before bed are chamomile tea and goji berry tea (simply pour boiling water over a tbsp of goji berries).

Hide the light

I know this can seem like an obvious one, but I’m really affected by light when I’m trying to doze off. If I’ve been up late on my phone or iPad, it takes me so much longer to get to sleep. I try and avoid using any device for half an hour before bed. The blue light that these devices emit can trick your body into thinking it’s daytime. Turning the light on my devices right down in the evening also helps. I’m a huge fan of salt lamps in the evening too, they give off a lovely warm red glow, which is said to be the best colour to aid sleep. An eye mask really changed my life – even though my bedroom is quite dark the eye mask just blocks out any light that sneaks through the blinds and I’ve slept so much better since using it!

Write it out  

My brain seems to think the last half an hour of the day is the best time to start working out my life and going over past decisions. Sound familiar? It can be really frustrating when you need to sleep but your brain is just too busy. I find writing out my worries or to do list for the next day really helps to quiet that little voice in my head. Plus you have the added benefit of being more likely to actually complete the task at hand if you write it out.

I hope these tips help you too! Please let me know if you’ve tried this tea, or if you have any favourite bed time routines you think I should try. Here’s to a peaceful, calm and happy 2019. Stay sweet, friends xoxoxo

 

*This post is sponsored by WelleCo, all opinions are my own.