I’ve been using a silk sleep mask to keep the light out and it seems to help. I also use blue light blocking glasses after 8:30 pm when I start my sleep ritual. If I read Substack, I only read the positive posts by writers I adore and I don’t have time to read during the day. I also use a low-dose Medical Cannabis edible about an hour before I intend to fall asleep. I know how to use Cannabis safely as I studied with Dr. Dustin Sulak and received a certificate as a Healer Certified Medical Cannabis Wellness Advisor. Sleep is a critical component of aging well.
Love this routine, Taru—silk mask + blue-light cutoff is a power combo. Do you have a favorite mask or blue-light glasses brand? And on nights you skip cannabis, what’s your go-to wind-down? I’d love to share a couple of your tips (with credit) in a follow-up for readers 60+.
A dear friend bought the Ra Optics Blue-Light Glasses for me as they were quite expensive. I also have a Blue-Light blocking bulb in my bedside lamp. The silk sleep mask I found on Amazon, so a search will reveal many options for others. My wind-down is cleaning and oiling my face, getting in bed, and reading uplifting things on Substack. The articles are usually from writers I love and haven’t had time to read during the day. I avoid at all costs the political ones as I prefer to sleep rather than doom scroll and worry myself awake. I’ve been taking cannabis edibles for sleep consistently for over 10 years, except when taking a tolerance break so I can lower the dose when I resume. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (since my 30’s), Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and a new Thyroid Nodule, Eosinophilic Esophagitis (4 years) and Wet Macular Degeneration (10+ years). I’m not bitching about it; that doesn’t help at all. I have learned to focus on what I CAN do, and how I can live a joyous life despite it.
I found when stressed extra, to journal my thoughts before prepping for bed. It helps the process of clearing my mind and stopping circular thinking. Reading in bed has always been my bedtime routine, but if I get into a well-written novel, it is sometimes hard to stop! Sometimes you just have to give yourself permission to read a bit longer.....😉. I have also found that stressing over how long I sleep just makes the sleep more ellusive. There are rarely things planed early enough in the morning that I cannot roll over and sleep a bit more, and telling myself that, also helps me put aside anxiety.
That’s such a nice take on it. I like the idea of journaling before bed — feels like a great way to empty the mind. And yeah, not stressing about sleep itself makes a huge difference.
All great suggestions.
Love these ideas.😊❤️
Visualizations help me relax when I am waiting for sleep to come. Scuba diving in a blue ocean is one of my favourites.
That sounds super relaxing. I love the ocean idea — feels peaceful just thinking about it.
I’ve been using a silk sleep mask to keep the light out and it seems to help. I also use blue light blocking glasses after 8:30 pm when I start my sleep ritual. If I read Substack, I only read the positive posts by writers I adore and I don’t have time to read during the day. I also use a low-dose Medical Cannabis edible about an hour before I intend to fall asleep. I know how to use Cannabis safely as I studied with Dr. Dustin Sulak and received a certificate as a Healer Certified Medical Cannabis Wellness Advisor. Sleep is a critical component of aging well.
Love this routine, Taru—silk mask + blue-light cutoff is a power combo. Do you have a favorite mask or blue-light glasses brand? And on nights you skip cannabis, what’s your go-to wind-down? I’d love to share a couple of your tips (with credit) in a follow-up for readers 60+.
A dear friend bought the Ra Optics Blue-Light Glasses for me as they were quite expensive. I also have a Blue-Light blocking bulb in my bedside lamp. The silk sleep mask I found on Amazon, so a search will reveal many options for others. My wind-down is cleaning and oiling my face, getting in bed, and reading uplifting things on Substack. The articles are usually from writers I love and haven’t had time to read during the day. I avoid at all costs the political ones as I prefer to sleep rather than doom scroll and worry myself awake. I’ve been taking cannabis edibles for sleep consistently for over 10 years, except when taking a tolerance break so I can lower the dose when I resume. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (since my 30’s), Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and a new Thyroid Nodule, Eosinophilic Esophagitis (4 years) and Wet Macular Degeneration (10+ years). I’m not bitching about it; that doesn’t help at all. I have learned to focus on what I CAN do, and how I can live a joyous life despite it.
I found when stressed extra, to journal my thoughts before prepping for bed. It helps the process of clearing my mind and stopping circular thinking. Reading in bed has always been my bedtime routine, but if I get into a well-written novel, it is sometimes hard to stop! Sometimes you just have to give yourself permission to read a bit longer.....😉. I have also found that stressing over how long I sleep just makes the sleep more ellusive. There are rarely things planed early enough in the morning that I cannot roll over and sleep a bit more, and telling myself that, also helps me put aside anxiety.
That’s such a nice take on it. I like the idea of journaling before bed — feels like a great way to empty the mind. And yeah, not stressing about sleep itself makes a huge difference.
Totally agree