How I'm Sleeping Better at 57 - Friday Favorites

This may be a weird Friday Favorites but I’m doing it anyway. For several years a good night’s sleep has been tough to get. Perimenopause followed by menopause meant night after night of waking up and never really sleeping more than a few hours at a time. Recently the stars have aligned and I had to share how I’m sleeping better at 57!

How I’m Sleeping Better at 57

Let me start by saying that I have been begging doctors for help in this department. Started with my GP back in 2018. She gave me a prescription but it did nothing. Did I go back and ask for something else? No. No I did not. Shame on me.

Then I complained to my gynecologist. He told me that at the time there was nothing I could take (since I was still perimenopausal)- oh wait, he suggested Black Cohosh to help with night sweats. That did nothing.

Eventually, I ended up with a prescription for generic Ambien. It definitely put me to sleep but I didn’t like the idea of taking it all the time. Long story short, I started HRT along with the magnesium I was already taking. Sounded like a great recipe for a good night’s sleep but it wasn’t.

What I’ve Changed

I’ve learned over the last few years that alcohol is in fact the enemy so I avoid it. Unless it’s a special occasion, I’ve all but stopped drinking alcohol. I feel like a grown up but I am really prioritizing my sleep. I also stop eating several hours before my bedtime.

Three things have recently made a big difference. I had to negotiate with my husband to turn the A/C down. We agreed on 70 degrees – I would love for it to be cooler actually but this was a big move for him.

The next thing I did was start taking Magnesium & Ashwagandha. I like this one from New Chapter because it’s the first time I’ve actually noticed a difference. I take it about 20 minutes before bed. To be completely honest here (I always am BTW) I had a paid collab with New Chapter. Even though I was gifted their product I bought it again myself because I like it so much. It’s one thing to love something you get for free but if I am willing to buy it with my own money? That speaks volumes. Also? They are on sale right now at Target.

Finally, I broke down and bought a cooling blanket. I honestly thought it was a gimmick but I am here to tell you that I LOVE my cooling blanket. As a matter of fact I sometimes sit on it during the day as I work from home on my couch. I’m thinking of getting another one and my son felt it and wants one too! Have you ever used one?

Other Ways to Ensure a Good Night’s Sleep

As with most things, consistency is key so going to bed at the same time each night is helpful. Since I get up so early, I go to bed by 9:30 most weeknights. I try to limit my water intake too – that is very hard to do since I take so many supplements but I try to manage that as best I can.

I have yet to find a sleep mask that stays on my face because I sleep on my stomach but I make sure that my bedroom is as dark as possible because that helps too! My nighttime routine is pretty low key – I try not to get on my laptop after dinner and I don’t scroll social media after dinner. I don’t mind reading a few minutes before bed but I don’t turn the tv on in our room. These things seem to have helped somewhat but the biggest change really came from being cooler and lowering my core body temperature.

I asked on my Instagram stories for ideas on sleep aids. Some of those suggestions included spraying pillows with lavender spray. I think there was a time when I did that but then stopped – I am thinking I might try it again though. Why not make my bed time experience even better, right?

Bottom line: SLEEP IS IMPORTANT. At this point in my life, it has become more important than ever for some reason. I realized just how important it became when I started finding myself making different decisions like not having a cocktail when we go out for dinner and holding firm on my bed time during the week.

I’d love to know if you have any thoughts to share on sleep! Tell me in the comments below!

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How I’m Sleeping Better at 57 - Friday Favorites