Photo by Lazarescu Alexandra on Unsplash
*Disclaimer: I am not a professional and this article is not to provide medical advice. Please seek a medical professional if you need professional advice. This is just what has been working for me and I am giving my testimony 🙂
Creating a Sleep Cycle Tips:
- Going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time. (Remember not everyone’s sleep cycle looks the same)
- Plan out the day in the morning and throughout the afternoon and evening. By practicing radical acceptance as a life application skill (and is not just limited to mental health); applying this skill can help you be prepared for the events that go on over 24 hours that might not go as expected.
- Taking a shower in the morning to refresh and awaken your mind and/or going to bed after the shower to wind down for the evening
- Use the IPhone sleep cycle tracker to create alarms to help you wake up or use a daylight time sensing light.
- Sleep in the dark or in the amount of darkness you prefer and is comfortable to you.
- Create a morning self-care routine that is detailed and create a “effortless” makeup routine that still allows you to be and feel confident!
If you’re sad, if you are disappointed in love, put on your makeup, give yourself some beauty care, put on lipstick, and attack -Coco Chanel
The Dainty Grace Routine:
- Take a warm shower Before Bed (Aromatherapy): I realized that my best sleep days involve spraying a rose scented shower spray on the curtain in the morning or using a rose scented body wash. I love perfumes and scented body wash; at night I will use a lavender or calming scent to help me settle down from the day.
- Sleep on clean bedding: I am really into different scents and another key to when I have my best sleep days are when I sleep on clean bedding. I sweat sometimes at night in the summer or in general and I don’t always shower before bed. I don’t like having the “outside” smell that I get when when being outdoors for an extended period of time. Hygiene has been a big key factor in how I get good beauty rest.
- Sleep on a Satin Pillowcase for skin and haircare: KITSCH has so many different style prints and high quality satin pillowcases; it makes it look forward to sleep. The current pattern that I have is the marble print and it washes well (I turn it inside out).
- Drink a Celsius Energy Drink midday: I have tried different energy drinks and I didn’t have a good reaction to them. I would go into a manic episode from the bipolar side of my disorder; from the caffeine or get headaches and be jittery.
- Wake up at the same time and go to bed at the same time: It took me a week to train my body to wake up at 6am. I have never felt better waking up this way. I love going outside for a moment to connect with nature. Sometimes I get lucky and a cool breeze greets me which I am blessed to have. (When I was visiting my sister in Chandler, Arizona; the mornings would look like it would be cool but it wasn’t lol)
- Create an Effortless Hairstyle that will help me to feel confident with minimal work. I like to use a hair dryer brush to create a quick and easy blowout!
- Create a minimalist makeup look: I have a makeup routine for when I want to be “polished” but still wear a professional look that uses Beautycounter products. The Beautycounter clean beauty products along with my Clinique skincare help me conquer the day when I am pressed for time.
- Do Quiet Time in the morning- not at night: this isn’t applicable for everyone but I realized that spending time with God in the morning to reflect and pray over the day makes me feel closer to the Lord and believe He is in control.
- Listen to worship music before bed: I love listening to the Calming Christian playlist on Spotify. It helps me to calm my mind and begin to slow down to prepare for sleep. I also love listening to christian ASMR by The Healing Word ASMR on YouTube. Dee is such an empowering woman and she even prays over the viewers; if you watch her channel leave her an encouraging comment on her page and show some sisterly love 🤍
Scripture References (Contentment): 2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 4:13, Psalm 118:24
Prayer: Father God,
Thank you for all that You have done and provided me with. I pray now and ask that You bless anyone praying this prayer right now, and that Your will be done in their lives. I pray that You bless their hands and touch their hearts that they may trust in You always with their day and when they sleep. I pray that if my sister is struggling with a sleep schedule she can get the rest that is needed, spiritually and physically. I pray that in her day, self-care will be available for her to do for herself.
In The Name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.