Sleep easy: Relaxing and unwinding with Boots Rebalancing Rest

#AD – I was sent the items included free of charge by Boots, but words and pictures are mine. This is a collaborative post in partnership with the Boots #RebalancingRest campaign, see more information here. 

It is widely known that when you become a parent, rest and relaxation becomes the unachievable holy grail. Sleep – how little you’ve had, how much you need, when you might next get some – overtakes your entire thought process. Tired becomes the new normal and the weeks, months and years pass in a sleep deprived haze.

And then, one day, you realise that the babies that screamed and kept you up ALL NIGHT are now school children who by some miracle pretty much sleep through the night – most of the time, let’s not over exaggerate – and yet somehow, you’re STILL tired with no one else to blame.

Or maybe it’s just me?!

I’ve never been that good at sleeping, if I’m honest. Ever since my uni days I’ve struggled to drop off and often spent long periods of time awake in the middle of the night with a wired brain. Kids really didn’t do much to improve this, and then when COVID hit and took its toll on family routines and my mental health, sleeping became even harder.

Now after a long summer, the kids are back fully in their back to school routine and to be honest the lot of us need help to relax and unwind. Luckily Boots have a very large range of products to aid rest, relaxation and make sleep easier to come by.

I selected products from their wellness range to see if they could help me – and, maybe, the kids too – to get into better sleep routines. Here are some tips I’ve learned to help me get a good night sleep, and hopefully they’ll work for you, too!

Tips for a good night sleep

Don’t leave it too late

As a parent, my favourite pastime is swearing I’m going to get an early night, then once the kids are asleep staying up until the wee hours reading the arguing with idiots on the internet, and then wondering why I’m shattered again the next day.

Although the older that kids get, the less and less ‘me time’ (if any) there is between them going to bed and you going to bed, staying up to grab hold of those precious quiet moments is quite simply not worth it if it means you are in a constant state of Zombie mum. Even if you could, technically, have a lie in the next day, you know in your heart of hearts you’ll probably wake up at 6am on the dot. And by you, obviously I definitely mean me.

Getting into bed in time to allow yourself to have a full eight hours before the alarm goes off – if at all possible – is the best decision you can make. Go on, I’ll try it if you will. Going to bed at a similar time each night sets a good routine and will make dropping off easier.

No caffeine (or alcohol)

An obvious one maybe, but choose caffeine-free alternatives to tea, coffee and soft drinks after tea time. I’m an absolute tea addict and turn to decaf after 5ish, but on the odd occasion that I’ve absent-mindedly picked up the wrong tea bag a few times, boy have I known about it later.

Alcohol might be great for getting you to sleep/passing out in a puddle of drool, but it isn’t good for keeping you asleep once you get there and you’re unlikely to wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day. As you, and I, well know. It’s best avoided if you really need a night of peaceful shut-eye.

So what to have instead? I find water so boring to drink in the evening, but there are good alternatives out there. Some drinks can even promote relaxation and sleep, like the Twinings Sleep Superblend which is a great drink to have before bed (and tastes great too).

Take a bath

Bath, book and bed isn’t just for toddlers and kids (although I do suggest more challenging reading material than The Gruffalo).

Apparently, raising your body’s temperature by a few degrees can bring on that sleepy feeling. Taking a bath before bed releases sleepy endorphins, and a calming bath soak can soothe your body and mind and prepare you to drift off. Or it could, if my kids hadn’t already claimed it as their own. It’s very nice.

Just remember to lock the door, or one of your kids will come in to have a poo, no matter how many other toilets there are in the house.

Read a book

Again, you know this but it needs saying: Choosing a book over endless doomscrolling on your device is preferable as blue light from screens can affect your ability to sleep, and use of social media can lead to stress and worry which affects sleep.

Books are great for helping you get in the sleep zone; a study by the University of Sussex found that reading for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by up to 68%!

I wish I could take my own advice here. I’ve been reading the same book since lockdown. It’s travelled miles in my bag and I’m still not even half way through.

Use scent

Lavender is well known to have many relaxing properties. The fragrance from the oils of the lavender plant is believed to help promote calmness and wellness, help reduce feelings of anxiousness and aid peaceful sleep, so it is not a surprise that many sleep products including Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Oils contain Lavender.

The Botanics Peaceful Night sleep bundle, pictured above, contains 100% Organic Restoring Overnight Facial Oil, Lavender Pure Essential Oil and Lavender & Sweet Marjoram Pillow Mist.

All of the products are cruelty free and vegan, and contain lavender to relax the mind and body for a good night’s sleep.

Lavender Essential Oil should be inhaled; this can be done by adding drops to a diffuser, or a large bowl of hot water. It should never applied undiluted directly to the skin.

If you wish to apply oil directly to the skin, massage oil like Tisserand Sleep Better Massage Oil which contains lavender, sandalwood and jasmine is safe for direct skin contact. If you have someone on hand to help with a massage then the combination of the relaxation and the scent can be a great sleep inducer.

Get the kids to move out

Only another 12+ years to go…