Sleep Essentials for Overall Wellness

March is National Sleep Awareness Month and sleep is critical for overall well-being, from your immune system and brain health to weight management, and even your skin. Overnight is the time when your whole body rejuvenates itself, so it's important to get your Z's. You should really be getting at least 6-8 hours a night and kids about 10-12. And it's important to establish good sleep patterns, just like we put babies on a sleep schedule we have to do the same things as adults. So try to stay consistent with bedtimes. Studies suggest something like a little handful of pistachios before bed, can contribute to better sleep. Also, a little bit of healthy protein is good to keep your metabolism moving, which is working its hardest at about 4 am. Or try a relaxing bath and wash your face to get your makeup off before bed. For sensitive skin, especially, nighttime is already a time for skin microbiome disruption - so it's even more essential to have soothing products on hand when our routines are changing. We love WaterWipes Soothing Clean Wipes to use all day long for everything. They're made with 99% water and two organic botanical fruit extracts, while other calming wipes may have ten plus ingredients. Use them to take off all your makeup, to unclog pores without stripping your skin's natural oils. They help soothe skin by about 26%, especially great if you have eczema or skin irritation which tend to flare up at night. Plus, they feel like a gentle wet cushion, really relaxing, and they support a healthy nighttime routine and help sleep's natural processes work even better. And of course, they're perfect to build into your baby's nighttime diaper changes. Soothing them before bedtime. Great for kids' skin to pick up dirt, oil and pollutants collected during the day. It's a good, quick nighttime cleanse that can help them get a better night's sleep too. Other tips to settle in for the night? Turn off the TV and keep your phone at bay because blue light and noise is not conducive to a good night's rest. Also make sure the blinds are strong to block premature morning light from entering. Don't drink caffeine before bed, same for alcohol, giving yourself a cut off of a few hours at least. It is also not a great idea to work out right before bed, instead try for earlier in the day. And don't forget this Sunday, March 9 we lose an hour when we change our clocks ahead for Daylight saving time. So, if you haven't already, try going to bed 15 minutes earlier starting tonight to ease into that time change.