by Mollie Millington | Jun 24, 2020 | product review, sleep
Sleep is something I always need more of. Getting a puppy at the start of lockdown has meant that my sleep the last few months has been of poor quality. Many people are also telling me they haven’t been also to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night as of late. If we acknowledge the puppy is my main issue with lack of sleep, other factors could include stress due to the pandemic, warmer weather (at least in London, the weather during lockdown has been unusually sunny and dry), and most recently, longer days which makes my bedroom stay bright as I tuck myself into bed.
Back in 2017, I made a list of ideas to help with clean sleeping. I still do a few of these things, including wearing eye mask (see last point above), using an electric blanket on cold nights, and listening to my Thinking Slimmer recordings.* Desperate for sleep, yet unable to get rid of the dog, I have tried a few new tactics over the lat two months in an effort to fall asleep faster and remain asleep rather than waking every few hours. The first thing I did was to invest in a weighted blanket. As a child, I used to sleep with ten or more blankets on my bed. I remember missing the literal weight on me when I went off to university and only having one duvet. When I was researching which one to buy, Mela Comfort was the #1 pick for the Telegraph but sadly the adult singles were sold out (I guess many people were also trying to achieve better sleep during this time). I have been really happy with the one I ended up purchasing by Snug as a Bug. It weighs seven kilograms and on warm evenings, it does make me a little bit too hot to sleep. Although it is best to have a blanket that covers your entire bed, my husband is always much warmer than me when he sleeps, so I went with a single (but he still senses it and it tends to pull the duvet towards me). It has definitely made a difference to me as I now fall asleep faster. Amazon is now showing bamboo weighted blankets in my feed, saying these help keep you cool. I don’t know if that is true or not though (or what makes it heavy).
A new rouinte I have been trying is having a glass of milk before bed. Sleep Milk* is a nutritious bedtime drink made with whole Jersey milk (which has 20% more protein in than other milk), honey and valerian – the natural herb that’s proven to help you relax and sleep. You simply drink it hot or cold 30 minutes before bed as part of your bedtime routine. Chocolate milk is one of my favourites so how could I resist? I have enjoy trying both the vanilla and chocolate flavors before bed with much success (If only the puppy didn’t wake me up at 4am.). Their website has a load of tips on how to sleep better too if you are looking to learn more.
Wild Nutrition’s ashwaganda root supplement capsules* were included in the FourFive CBD immunity box. Ashwaganga relieves stress, helps with recovery from fitness fatigue, and supports improved immunity. I have been taking these alongside my vitamin D3 supplements every morning for the last three weeks. Unfortunately, my life is so up and down lately, I cannot tell you how much of an effect the root has had on me (the reviews on Amazon are quite positive though). When I have finished the bottle, I will update this post with my final thoughts.
Reactive Plus CBD drops* worked for me last year and I plan on starting to take them again once I have finished the root capsules to systematically check what works for me and what doesn’t. When I used the CBD drops last autumn, I also started using This Works pillow spray and I fell asleep almost instantly. I even got my fitness mojo back at the time (maybe because I felt more rested?). I was working out four to five times a week and feeling great. Not sure if I should credit the CBD or the sleep spray for the change but I was very happy about it. I stopped both in January and here we are. After I get through my first bottle of CBD, I will try the pillow spray again.
Part of my bedtime routine is reading before bed. I try to put the phone away and switch off for a while before lights out. Which brings me to the last tip I want to share, which is (I can’t remember where I saw this) to enjoy fiction before you go to sleep rather than non-fiction. This makes total sense to me as I would often lay awake after the lights go out, ruminating over what I had learned. Plus sometimes the reading would influence my dreams, so it was a nice surprise when Jamie from Outlander would make an appearance.
Ironically, I was supposed to share these tips last week. However, Maple has been up in the middle of each night for an hour (we think due to teething pains). Here she is, fast asleep, during the day! If you have any tips on how to sleep better at night (or how to get your puppy to sleep), please leave a comment below.
*This product was given to me in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Please note this post included affiliate links, which cost the buyer nothing extra and help cover the costs of running this blog.
by Mollie Millington | Nov 15, 2017 | product review, self care, sleep
Central London has a new place to recharge and relax.
Pop & Rest is a new boutique studio in central London near Monument. When they first contacted me, I was intrigued about the concept. A place where I can nap? During the day? I was in. At my new work building, I have yet to discover a secret place to nap on the rare occasion where I overcommit myself and sacrifice my sleep.
On Thursday morning, I made my way down to their building. Unfortunately, I got a bit lost in Bank Station which made me arrive right at noon. The building has a reception desk, so I suggest that you arrive five minutes before your appointment in order for the Pop & Rest team to collect you.
I was escorted to their space, which was dimly light with electric tea light “candles”. The room is kept at 20 degrees Celsius as that has been proven to be the best temperature to fall asleep to, according to the Pop & Rest team. I was shown to my ‘pod’ which was made of cubicle walls enclosing a bed, nightstand with lamp, and a place to hang my jacket. The door was an accordion door for privacy. The walls did not go all the way up to the ceiling, but I was told this would be happening soon. There was also a little booklet on the nightstand, giving some tips on how to make the most out of your time in the pod, whether it be for napping, mediation, or relaxing.
The host explained that he would wake me up in 30 minutes, all I needed to do was get into bed. I took off my shoes and curled into the “half crawl” position recommended by the booklet. I opted not to use the blindfold or ear plugs. The bed was super comfortable, as were the pillows. Even though I was in jeans and a hoodie, I was still comfortable. My FitBit didn’t record me as sleeping, and I don’t think I did either. I was too worried about whether I would indeed fall asleep, how the host would wake me up, and all the crap I had to do when I got back to work.
Even though I didn’t officially sleep, I felt very chilled out when the host gently knocked on my door to wake me up. I took a minute to stretch out and put my shoes back on. I admit, my main concern was whether or not they change the sheets! I learned that it takes only two minutes to do so and yes, they change them after every booking.
Another service Pop & Rest offers is a shower facility. There are four shower cubicles and lockers to store your items. Towels and toiletries are provided by Pop & Rest, which means you don’t need to carry around extra things with you.
The business model for Pop & Rest has does very well in Spain, and I think will do in London too. Not only can freelancers or athletes use the space for catching 40 winks or cleaning up, but people travelling into and out of London can too. I was thrilled to learn that Pop & Rest are looking to open another site near my work at St. Pancras station due to the proximity to the Eurostar station.
I cannot wait to return to Pop & Rest the next time I have a long day of work booked in. If you are going to try, my top tips would be:
- Arrive 5-10 minutes early to check in with reception.
- Wear comfy clothes if you plan on sleeping or pack some pj’s.
- Book in for 60 minutes rather than 30. It just didn’t seem like long enough, even though a 20 minute nap can improve performance by 34% (according to Pop & Rest).
- They offer free coffee, tea and fruit. Place an order before your nap for a pick-me-up on the way out.
If you decide to book in, please let Pop & Rest know you heard about them through me. I really hope this model takes off because I love a good nap and you should too. Having a place to rest without having to travel all the way back home is a great way to recharge without loosing time on a commute. It is also much more economical than renting a hotel bed for a few hours. People who work multiple jobs, students, freelancers, those headed for a night out and more will soon be seeking out a pod. Hopefully, Pop & Rest start offering monthly memberships or multi-packs soon. A 30 minute nap is only £9 and worth every pence.
Thanks to Pop & Rest for inviting me along for a complimentary experience. All opinions are honest and my own.
by thinkmarsh | Nov 15, 2017 | product review, self care, sleep
Central London has a new place to recharge and relax.
Pop & Rest is a new boutique studio in central London near Monument. When they first contacted me, I was intrigued about the concept. A place where I can nap? During the day? I was in. At my new work building, I have yet to discover a secret place to nap on the rare occasion where I overcommit myself and sacrifice my sleep.
On Thursday morning, I made my way down to their building. Unfortunately, I got a bit lost in Bank Station which made me arrive right at noon. The building has a reception desk, so I suggest that you arrive five minutes before your appointment in order for the Pop & Rest team to collect you.
I was escorted to their space, which was dimly light with electric tea light “candles”. The room is kept at 20 degrees Celsius as that has been proven to be the best temperature to fall asleep to, according to the Pop & Rest team. I was shown to my ‘pod’ which was made of cubicle walls enclosing a bed, nightstand with lamp, and a place to hang my jacket. The door was an accordion door for privacy. The walls did not go all the way up to the ceiling, but I was told this would be happening soon. There was also a little booklet on the nightstand, giving some tips on how to make the most out of your time in the pod, whether it be for napping, mediation, or relaxing.
The host explained that he would wake me up in 30 minutes, all I needed to do was get into bed. I took off my shoes and curled into the “half crawl” position recommended by the booklet. I opted not to use the blindfold or ear plugs. The bed was super comfortable, as were the pillows. Even though I was in jeans and a hoodie, I was still comfortable. My FitBit didn’t record me as sleeping, and I don’t think I did either. I was too worried about whether I would indeed fall asleep, how the host would wake me up, and all the crap I had to do when I got back to work.
Even though I didn’t officially sleep, I felt very chilled out when the host gently knocked on my door to wake me up. I took a minute to stretch out and put my shoes back on. I admit, my main concern was whether or not they change the sheets! I learned that it takes only two minutes to do so and yes, they change them after every booking.
Another service Pop & Rest offers is a shower facility. There are four shower cubicles and lockers to store your items. Towels and toiletries are provided by Pop & Rest, which means you don’t need to carry around extra things with you.
The business model for Pop & Rest has does very well in Spain, and I think will do in London too. Not only can freelancers or athletes use the space for catching 40 winks or cleaning up, but people travelling into and out of London can too. I was thrilled to learn that Pop & Rest are looking to open another site near my work at St. Pancras station due to the proximity to the Eurostar station.
I cannot wait to return to Pop & Rest the next time I have a long day of work booked in. If you are going to try, my top tips would be:
- Arrive 5-10 minutes early to check in with reception.
- Wear comfy clothes if you plan on sleeping or pack some pj’s.
- Book in for 60 minutes rather than 30. It just didn’t seem like long enough, even though a 20 minute nap can improve performance by 34% (according to Pop & Rest).
- They offer free coffee, tea and fruit. Place an order before your nap for a pick-me-up on the way out.
If you decide to book in, please let Pop & Rest know you heard about them through me. I really hope this model takes off because I love a good nap and you should too. Having a place to rest without having to travel all the way back home is a great way to recharge without loosing time on a commute. It is also much more economical than renting a hotel bed for a few hours. People who work multiple jobs, students, freelancers, those headed for a night out and more will soon be seeking out a pod. Hopefully, Pop & Rest start offering monthly memberships or multi-packs soon. A 30 minute nap is only £9 and worth every pence.
Thanks to Pop & Rest for inviting me along for a complimentary experience. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Jan 26, 2017 | recovery, sleep
|
| My nightstand needed to be decluttered for better feng shui. This is the result. |
One of my goals of 2017 is to get more sleep. My husband would probably say I get too much as it is, but sleep seems to be the thing that most people cut out when their ‘to do’ list lengthens. But we need sleep to function and help our bodies repair from training so why do we not make it a priority?
I am a light sleeper and I think that is why I always need more. When I do sleep, I am not getting quality shut eye. It has been really interesting since I started wearing my Fit Bit Surge to bed seeing the total sleep I get and how much of it is restless or awake. It has also been handy to show my husband how often the dog wakes me up in the middle of the night. I always aim for 8 hours but rarely do I hit my target.
Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep. If you are well rested, you will have less sugar cravings, be more alert, and your body will recover more quickly from training sessions. Your stress levels will also reduce which could help you loose abdominal fat. The Bed Guru recently posted some suggestions on how to get a better night’s sleep as part of a new trend in 2017 of clean sleeping. The idea is that making a conscious effort to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night can lead to a healthier and happier life where you are more focused and productive during the day too. I have tried out a few of the suggestions and added some of my own as part of their #CleanSleepingGuru campaign. Hopefully, you will be able to incorporate a few of these into your night time routine.
1. App – Everyone says to leave your electronics out of the room but as many of us use our phone as an alarm clock, the temptation is too great not to check Facebook one more time before bed. I have installed the Twilight app on my phone, which removes the blue light emitted from your screen based on when the sun sets and rises in your location. Sure everything looks a bit yellow when it is activated, but if it helps me sleep better, who cares?
2. Hypnotherapy – Sometimes I will listen to my Thinking Slimmer Chillpod to help me drift off if I am really wound up due to a late exercise session or an upcoming deadline. It is a bit of hypnotherapy that helps you relax a bit. I have also been known to listen to it on the commute to work and on my lunch break if I am having a stressful week. It is less than 10 minutes long, so I should really make an effort to listen to it every day.
 |
| Fresh lavendar makes me happy |
3. Lavendar – On my nightstand, I have a lavendar sachet. Lavendar oil is often recomended to sprinkle on your pillow case but we bought several sachets at the Brussels Christmas market (we got a great deal!). We have a few away as Christmas presents but there a few hanging about the house still.
4. Technology – My Fitbit also sends me a notification when it is time to start getting ready for bed. That is my cue to unplug from social media or watching TV and put my pjs on. I try not to go back online after the alert except to set my alarm. I can set the time that fits in with my evening plans. The only downside is that it is the same time every day. You cannot have a different time for each day of the week.
5. Electric blanket – The electric blanket has been an essential for me this winter. I know most resources say to have the room a few degrees colder for sleeping, but I am a ‘warm happy’ person- meaning I would always rather be a bit warm than cold. I plug it in about 30 minutes before I go to bed and then shut it off when the lights go out. It is heaven for me to get into warm sheets. Otherwise, if I am too cold, I just lay there nearly shivering and getting anxious that I won’t fall asleep soon. In fact, my husband used to warm up my side of the bed for me when we lived in snowy Michigan (without an electric blanket). You need to find a temperature that works for you, that helps you fall asleep easily and stay asleep. If it is a few degrees warmer, or with the window open all year round, so be it.
6. Blindfold – Typically I use a snood as an eye mask in the summer to block out the late sunlight. But the excess fabric usually puts a bit of pressure on my eyes and the whole thing somehow falls off in the middle of the night. While in Berlin, my friend Sabine of My Life My Challenges, introduced me to
Bucky 40 Blinks eye masks. They are soft fabric but the eye cover is a little cup, meaning you can fully open your eyes while wearing it. I picked one up for her when I was in America but should have got one for myself too.
7. Melatonin – Normally, I am not one to push supplements but my step-mom sent me joint care pills that contain melatonin, a hormone that helps with sleep and wake patterns. I have a few friends who swear that melatonin helped them get improve the quality of their sleep. Even if it is a placebo effect, if you sleep better, it is worth it.
These are just a few of the things I have tried. Leave a comment below if you have any other unique ways to easily fall asleep or to have a good night’s sleep.
This post is in collaboration with Bed Guru. It also contains affiliate links, which adds no additional cost to you but helps fund this website.
by thinkmarsh | Jan 26, 2017 | recovery, sleep
|
| My nightstand needed to be decluttered for better feng shui. This is the result. |
One of my goals of 2017 is to get more sleep. My husband would probably say I get too much as it is, but sleep seems to be the thing that most people cut out when their ‘to do’ list lengthens. But we need sleep to function and help our bodies repair from training so why do we not make it a priority?
I am a light sleeper and I think that is why I always need more. When I do sleep, I am not getting quality shut eye. It has been really interesting since I started wearing my Fit Bit Surge to bed seeing the total sleep I get and how much of it is restless or awake. It has also been handy to show my husband how often the dog wakes me up in the middle of the night. I always aim for 8 hours but rarely do I hit my target.
Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep. If you are well rested, you will have less sugar cravings, be more alert, and your body will recover more quickly from training sessions. Your stress levels will also reduce which could help you loose abdominal fat. The Bed Guru recently posted some suggestions on how to get a better night’s sleep as part of a new trend in 2017 of clean sleeping. The idea is that making a conscious effort to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night can lead to a healthier and happier life where you are more focused and productive during the day too. I have tried out a few of the suggestions and added some of my own as part of their #CleanSleepingGuru campaign. Hopefully, you will be able to incorporate a few of these into your night time routine.
1. App – Everyone says to leave your electronics out of the room but as many of us use our phone as an alarm clock, the temptation is too great not to check Facebook one more time before bed. I have installed the Twilight app on my phone, which removes the blue light emitted from your screen based on when the sun sets and rises in your location. Sure everything looks a bit yellow when it is activated, but if it helps me sleep better, who cares?
2. Hypnotherapy – Sometimes I will listen to my Thinking Slimmer Chillpod to help me drift off if I am really wound up due to a late exercise session or an upcoming deadline. It is a bit of hypnotherapy that helps you relax a bit. I have also been known to listen to it on the commute to work and on my lunch break if I am having a stressful week. It is less than 10 minutes long, so I should really make an effort to listen to it every day.
|
| Fresh lavendar makes me happy |
3. Lavendar – On my nightstand, I have a lavendar sachet. Lavendar oil is often recomended to sprinkle on your pillow case but we bought several sachets at the Brussels Christmas market (we got a great deal!). We have a few away as Christmas presents but there a few hanging about the house still.
4. Technology – My Fitbit also sends me a notification when it is time to start getting ready for bed. That is my cue to unplug from social media or watching TV and put my pjs on. I try not to go back online after the alert except to set my alarm. I can set the time that fits in with my evening plans. The only downside is that it is the same time every day. You cannot have a different time for each day of the week.
5. Electric blanket – The electric blanket has been an essential for me this winter. I know most resources say to have the room a few degrees colder for sleeping, but I am a ‘warm happy’ person- meaning I would always rather be a bit warm than cold. I plug it in about 30 minutes before I go to bed and then shut it off when the lights go out. It is heaven for me to get into warm sheets. Otherwise, if I am too cold, I just lay there nearly shivering and getting anxious that I won’t fall asleep soon. In fact, my husband used to warm up my side of the bed for me when we lived in snowy Michigan (without an electric blanket). You need to find a temperature that works for you, that helps you fall asleep easily and stay asleep. If it is a few degrees warmer, or with the window open all year round, so be it.
6. Blindfold – Typically I use a snood as an eye mask in the summer to block out the late sunlight. But the excess fabric usually puts a bit of pressure on my eyes and the whole thing somehow falls off in the middle of the night. While in Berlin, my friend Sabine of My Life My Challenges, introduced me to
Bucky 40 Blinks eye masks. They are soft fabric but the eye cover is a little cup, meaning you can fully open your eyes while wearing it. I picked one up for her when I was in America but should have got one for myself too.
7. Melatonin – Normally, I am not one to push supplements but my step-mom sent me joint care pills that contain melatonin, a hormone that helps with sleep and wake patterns. I have a few friends who swear that melatonin helped them get improve the quality of their sleep. Even if it is a placebo effect, if you sleep better, it is worth it.
These are just a few of the things I have tried. Leave a comment below if you have any other unique ways to easily fall asleep or to have a good night’s sleep.
This post is in collaboration with Bed Guru. It also contains affiliate links, which adds no additional cost to you but helps fund this website.
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