HOW TO GET THE BEST SLEEP EVER?

[Sushant]

Sleep is always essential—but it's especially important in the wintertime when it seems like everyone is sick.

1. Apply lavender oil to your pulse points.
Apply it in a mindful, intentional way. Dim the lights, signaling to the brain that it's time to wind down, then gently, rhythmically apply it to your inner wrists, the crease of your elbow, the sides of your throat, and the center of your chest. If you only want to do one, apply to the wrists.

Clinical studies prove this deepens and lengthens sleep compared to the control group, as published by the National Institutes of Health. If you do this every night, the soothing scent will soon signal your brain it's time to rest even before you're in bed.


2. Next, ease into this restorative yoga pose.
Place a pillow under your knees and another under your head. Make any adjustments you need to get extra comfortable. Then pull up the covers and place an eye pillow over your eyes and another bed pillow on your belly. Allow these gentle weights to help you feel grounded and centered.

3.Power down with an extended exhale pranayama (breathwork practice).

This stimulates the vagus nerve, the largest nerve in the central nervous system, and sends a "relax-rest-digest" message to your brain. Breathe in for a slow, calming count of three, and out for four, five, or six. Try a few rounds. Then gently add in the mantra, "let go." Inhale and "let," exhale, "go." Inhale and "let," exhale, "go." Let…go. Let…go of anything weighing on your mind with every cycle.

The goal here isn't to give you yet another thing to make room for in your already busy life but rather to offer easy modifications to work into your days and evenings to help you restore and rejuvenate

transfer anger and anxiety into resilience and creative energy through the practice of compassion, mindfulness, and meditation.

[Peter]

Thanks for sharing, Sushant, and welcome to the site!

[JonW]

Pretty good advice.
When I encounter people who have difficulty sleeping, I recommend a simple 10-15 minute sitting/breathing meditation before bed. Mantras optional. Seems to do the trick, so long as people stick with the practice. Which, often, they don't.
The lavender is a neat touch.
Best,
Jon