Stop counting sheep and start getting your beauty sleep!
You hear other brides describing their wackiest wedding dreams
with horror—her dress went missing; the groom had lobster claws for
hands; they cut into the cake and it was filled with bumble bees—and
you wish you could have an equally outrageous nightmare. But ever since you started planning, your circadian rhythm has been, well, rhythm-less, and sleep itself seems like a dream.
If you're suffering from bridal insomnia, you're not alone. In fact,
up to 20% of adults suffer from short-term insomnia, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
That's sleeplessness that lasts less than three months and can be
caused by the stress of an event, such as planning a wedding. Luckily,
we've got some suggestions and six sleep-saving products to help you get all the pre-wedding winks you deserve.
Take a bath.
A key component of a healthy sleep life is a regular routine—and what better ritual than a stress-relieving soak each night? Add some bath salts in a calming variety and you'll get the added benefit of snooze-inducing aromatherapy.
Tuck yourself in.
Just because you've grown up, doesn't mean you no longer need to sleep tight. A weighted blanket, like this one available at Brookstone, gives you that snug feeling you loved so much as a kid. Add it to your shower registry
(if you can wait 'till then) and tell anyone who asks that it's like
swaddling for adults. Then, prepare to truly sleep like a baby.
Turn off the lights…completely.
Here's an obvious tip, but a crucial one: Create a completely dark
environment to get your best Zs. A sleeping mask is ideal, especially if
your significant other is up putzing around after you've gone to bed.
As a bonus, grab one that's made of pure silk, which helps prevent sleep
creases on your skin.
Make more melatonin.
And speaking of your lighting situation, did you know your light
bulbs may be inhibiting your levels of melatonin, the hormone that
controls your sleep-wake cycles? A sleep-friendly bulb, like the GoodNight LED,
emits less blue light—those disruptive rays that radiate from cell
phones and TVs and limit the body's natural melatonin production. How
many light bulbs does it take to get a good night's sleep? Just one,
apparently!
Tune in before you tune out.
These days, you can take relaxation and meditation classes at studios like Inscape in New York and Unplug in LA to learn to fall asleep more easily. But if you prefer to stay home for your slumber remedy, there are podcasts like "Sleep with Me."
This podcast is, admittedly, boring—and that's the point. Let the
lulling sounds and dull bedtime stories put you right to sleep.
