Looking for a better night’s sleep? What is lack of sleep costing you? Did you know, drowsy driving is responsible for over 100,000 automobile accidents, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 fatalities a year according to The National Highway Traffic Administration? Not only is lack of sleep questioning your safety, it is also negatively affects every organ of your body. 

Sleep influences many functions within your body including:

• weight management
• hormone regulation
• emotions
• ability to learn
• behavior
• immune system
• reaction time
• cardiovascular health
• overall sense of wellbeing

As a busy toddler mom and successful entrepreneur, it is imperative for me to prioritize sleep. Once I started implementing these 5 sleep habits, I began to have deeper and longer sleep which led me to become a more patient mom, expereince increased stamina, received a flood of creative ideas to grow our business (goodbye brain fog), and improved my overall sense of wellbeing. I even started dreaming again!

How can you experience the benefits of improved sleep quality? Start by establishing a healthy sleep routine which begins at least 30 minutes prior to getting into bed. Here are some ideas to incorporate into your sleep routine.

1) Ditch the screens (at least 30 minutes before bed). TV’s, iPads, and phones all produce a light that mimics sunlight. This light can trigger your brain to produce hormones that signal it’s time to wake.  Don’t be tempted to set your iPhone alarm while crawling into bed. Instead, set your alarm and “do not disturb” setting before starting your sleep routine or better yet, use an old school alarm clock and leave your cell phone outside of your bedroom. Some experts believe that EMFs created by cell phones can disrupt sleep.  If you are worried about EMFs you can purchase an EMF blocker for your phone.

2) Serenity NOW! Diffusing doTERRA’s Serenity essential oil blend during sleep and taking an herbal Serenity Restful Complex Softgels 30 minutes before bed has been shown to significantly improve an individuals ability to fall asleep more easily, wake with increased alertness, improve sleep quality, and reduces stress.  You can read more about Serenity Restful Complex Softgels HERE and Serenity essential oil HERE.  You can purchase both and get discount wholesale pricing HERE.

Diffusing Serenity essential oil is safe for babies and children as well.  The first night I diffused Serenity in my daughter’s nursery she slept an additional 2 hours before waking to nurse! Haven't missed a night of diffusing since! Serenity + Sleep Sheep sound machine = one happy (and rested mama).

2)  Skip the afternoon shot of caffiene.  Did you know caffeine can stay in your body for 12-16 hours? Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and increases alertness.  While you may no longer notice these effects, caffeine is still stimulating your nervous system 12-16 hours after your last dose. As your sleep improves, you will have less of a desire for an afternoon cup of joe.  In the meantime, use a natural, caffiene-free energy and stamina complex like Mito2Max. Mito2Max is a blend of metabolic cofactors and plant extracts that support mitochondrial energy in the body. I love taking this blend when I need an extra energy boost, am traveling, or prior to a speaking engagement.  It also provides support to your adrenals. You can read more about the benefits of Mito2Max HERE or purchase at a wholesale discount HERE. 

3) Brain dump and reflect.  Spend 10 minutes jotting down 10 things you are grateful for from your day, send good vibes to 3 people who are challenging you, and review your calendar for the coming day. Identify your 3 priorities you want to accomplish tomorrow and ensure they are scheduled into your day. Pro tip: Keep an ongoing action or idea list in your journal.  Brain dump all of your ideas here so your mind doesn’t have to stay up all night remembering your brilliant ideas.  They will all be there when you wake.

4) Quiet the mind. Spend the last 10 minutes before you drift off into dreamland in prayer or meditation. Meditation is a way to quiet and release the mind. This stillness is where the magic happens! When your mind is quite, you can more easily connect with your higher self and receive guidance for your day. This stillness has transformed my personal, business, and spiritual life. If you don't have time to meditate or if you want to learn how but don't know where to start, check out the book,Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simpleby Russell Simons.

Once you incorporate these sleep habits, you will be sleeping like a baby in no time.....a GOOD baby that sleeps through the night. 

Strive for progress not perfection with your sleep routine.  If your best efforts are interrupted by a wide-eyed munchkin, grab an extra dose of Mito2Max and diffuse a couple drops of wild orange and peppermint to start your day energized! You can read more about how I use essential oils HERE. 

Wondering about other ways to use essential oils? 

You can download this free eBook that includes 100 Uses for Essential Oils.

* This article contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support! Purchase your doterra products & essential oils at wholesale pricing here. Contact me with questions.

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