From guided meditations to bedtime stories, you’re bound to find something you love in this list of podcasts for your bedtime routine. So, take a moment to give each one a listen. Find the voice, stories, or meditations that soothe your soul and help you gently drift off to sleep. Sleep Meditations and Stories –…
In our fast-paced, cellphone, laptop, always-on-the-go world, finding moments of relaxation and rejuvenation can be quite challenging. And while the traditional power nap is the perfect solution for some, it may not suit everyone’s needs. What if we told you there’s a way to feel refreshed without falling asleep? It’s a deep relaxation technique called…
Sleep is a precious commodity that we all crave, and desperately need to give our minds and bodies the rest they need to function properly. But, as many couples will tell you, sharing a bed with a partner can sometimes turn it into a nightly battle. She hogs the covers, he snores, he comes in…
One of the cardinal rules of sleep hygiene is to turn your sleeping environment into a space that’s comfortable, dark and conducive to sleep. So, once you’ve turned off your devices, eliminated the sources of blue light that surround you, performed your favorite bedtime ritual (like taking a hot bath and journaling), there’s nothing quite…
Our pandemic puppy will be three years old next month. If you’ve been following Can’t Sleep at Nite for a while, you may remember me sleeping with the dog when we first brought her home that first night because I was worried she’d be scared and lonely. After that first night in our home, she…
In today’s fast-paced world, the struggle to achieve restful sleep has become all too familiar for many. Countless individuals find themselves seeking reliable information and effective solutions to combat the relentless grip of insomnia. However, with the abundance of information available online, it can be overwhelming to sift through countless resources on insomnia, wondering which…
After a long and hectic day, there’s nothing quite like a soothing bath to help you relax and unwind before bedtime. By creating your own DIY relaxation bath recipes, you can transform your bathroom into a tranquil oasis and indulge in some well-deserved self-care. In this article, we’ll explore five delightful homemade soaks and bombs…
Are you struggling with insomnia and looking for natural ways to improve your sleep quality? Incorporating regular physical activity into your routine can be a game-changer. Exercise not only benefits your physical health but it also has a profound impact on your sleep patterns. In this article, we will explore the top 7 exercises for…
Wait what? Yes. I said ‘bed of nails’. Okay, not a bed covered in steel nails exactly. But rather a mat covered in hard plastic spikes. Intrigued? Read on. Are you tired of feeling restless and constantly tossing and turning at night? Do you suffer from muscle tension and back pain that keeps you from…
One of the cardinal rules of sleep hygiene is to ‘avoid caffeine, alcohol, large meals, foods that induce heartburn, and drinking a lot of fluid for several hours before bedtime.’ The key to that last bit about fluid intake is the words “a lot”. In fact, having a warm drink before bed can help relax…
Do you find yourself doodling on every scrap of paper around the house? Do your notebooks margins have more drawings than notes? If so, you might just be the perfect candidate for the meditative and relaxing practice of zen doodling. Whether you’re a lifelong doodler or just looking for a new way to unwind, zen…
Wearing socks to bed might sound like something only your granny does, or that’s acceptable only in extreme cold, but it can have a big impact on your overall health and well-being at any age and any temperature. While some people might find it uncomfortable, or unsexy, the benefits of wearing socks to bed are…
Middle-of-the-night insomnia is a common sleep disorder experienced by people of all ages. But, according to the National Sleep Foundation, insomnia is more common in middle-aged and older adults. Approximately 40% of older adults in the United States have reported symptoms of insomnia. It’s a known fact that sleeplessness affects more women than men. More…
Yoga is a practice that has been used for thousands of years to promote physical and mental well-being. One of the many benefits of yoga is its ability to help us sleep better. Here are the top 5 yoga poses that can promote sleep: 1. Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani) Sitting with your legs…
Coffee naps can help reduce the effects of sleep deprivation, making them a great option for shift workers or anyone who needs to stay alert during the day.
There’s no denying it, 2022 left with a bang. From the bomb cyclone that slammed much of the US bringing snow, high winds, and frigid temperatures to the atmospheric river that brought widespread heavy rain, mountain snow and strong winds to both coasts, the last two weeks of the year were definitely exciting, or downright…
Your phone’s wake-up alarm chimes. You chose the one called “Sunny” because you thought it would be the least annoying of the lot. But right now you may as well be listening to nails on a chalkboard or to the device’s default “Radar” tone which is code for “cruel reminder that your day has begun.”…
You’ve probably heard about detoxes for weight loss, bloating, gut health, allergies, and a clearer complexion. You may even have tried a few. But have you tried a sleep detox? A sleep detox is a simple way to detox your body without starving yourself or embarking on a crazy cleansing diet. Deep sleep is…
From boosting athletic performance to helping you sleep more soundly, magnesium is essential for your brain and your body. The mineral helps carry out various chemical and enzyme reactions in the body such as building proteins and strong bones, regulating blood sugar, blood pressure, and muscle and nerve functions. Magnesium also acts an electrical conductor…
There’s a crazy heatwave going on. And it’s been going on for months. According to NASA, and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) the summer 2022 ranks as one of the top 10 warmest summers worldwide on record (records dating back to 1880). In the United States, more than 7000 daily temperature records were broken…
In an average week, I write one to three blogs on sleep health, research, copy edit, or translate for a client or two, spend about 20 hours driving my daughter to and from school and her dance studio, hike 3 miles, walk 8 to 10,000 steps a day, clean, cook (okay, nuking stuff in the…
Sleep is vital for our physical and mental wellbeing, and getting good quality sleep can reduce some of the risk factors associated with serious health problems. The following questionnaire was put together by Dr. Jeremy Sutton, prominent Positive Psychology practitioner, writer and researcher studying the human capacity to push physical and mental limits. Are You…
The cardinal rules of sleep hygiene apply to children and adults alike. Create a regular bedtime routine for yourself and your loved ones, turn off all devices an hour before bed, turn your bedroom into an inviting and comfortable sleep oasis, avoid caffeinated drinks, read a few pages of your favorite book or grab a…
The smell of patchouli brings me back to my childhood. The rich, earthy scent reminds me of my grandmother’s house. She wore Y by Yves Saint-Laurent perfume, a fragrance that combined floral scents of honeysuckle and gardenia, with base notes of sandalwood, and patchouli. Sadly, Y perfume for women has been discontinued, but on the…
At the end of a long day, there are few things quite as rewarding as a hot shower, slipping into clean sheets, and letting your mind drift off. And while we could all benefit from a nice, calming bedtime ritual, a third of American adults get less than 7 hours of sleep a night and…
There’s no doubt 2020 was a difficult and challenging year for everyone. We lost loved ones, suffered major financial losses and went from one lockdown to the next never knowing when we would be allowed to see our nearest and dearest, again. Our children stopped going to in-person school. We stopped traveling, eating out or…
With Canadian Thanksgiving already us and American Thanksgiving right around the corner, many of us are turning our attention to the holidays – or simply procrastinating and doing a little shopping instead of toiling away in front of our computers. Looking for the perfect gift for the insomniac in your life? These top 10 sleep…
In the past ten years, there’s been a huge push to normalize talking about mental health as openly as we talk about our physical health. Canada’s Bell Let’s Talk campaign put a spotlight on mental health and aimed to combat the stigma surrounding mental illness. Since then, the campaign has committed $100 million to mental…
At some time or another, we’ve all heard someone say, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”. Heck, I’m sure I’ve been guilty of saying it myself in the past. When something as simple as getting a good night’s sleep seems completely out of reach, it’s tempting to tell yourself you don’t need it. After all, thousands…
Some years back I noticed my parents didn’t share a bed anymore. My initial reaction was concern. Did they no longer love each other? Was this some telltale sign a late-in-life split was imminent? When I broached the subject with my maman, she dismissed my concerns with a few funny and sarcastic comments. “Your dad…
Dreams help us process the emotions attached to our experiences – good or bad. January 2020 – Pre-Pandemic Dream I’m walking through a large room, so large it might have been a ballroom at some point. Dark mahogany floors are flanked on either side by walls covered in large paintings, featuring beautiful Dali-esque images of…
These besties share a bed.
There’s no doubt 2020 was a difficult and challenging year for everyone. We lost loved ones, suffered major financial losses and went from one lockdown to the next never knowing when we would be allowed to see our nearest and dearest, again. Our children stopped going to in-person school. We stopped traveling, eating out or…
CBD works with receptors in the body linked to feelings of well-being. Sleepless? CBD products can help with anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain.
I slept through the night last night. I still can’t believe it. I slept all night long. Without waking or getting up. Not even once. I slept for a solid eight hours. That never happens. Not even when I was a child. In all my life, I honestly don’t remember not waking up at least…
“It’s not one hour twice a year. It’s a misalignment of our biologic clocks for eight months of the year.” ~ Beth Ann Malow, MD
Coffee is one of the healthiest drinks around. It’s loaded with antioxidants and can reduce the risk of many serious diseases.
When’s the last time someone read you a bedtime story?
When I was a little girl, I would often wake up in the wee hours of the night, to find my father sitting, reading or studying at the large wooden table in our kitchen. He was endlessly curious, and over the years, his many interests included sailing, photography, Japanese gardens and the study of foreign…
Updated October 19, 2021 The alarm on my phone is chiming. Time to get up! The tone I picked because it seemed like the best, least annoying one, now reminds me of nails on a chalk board. “Okay, okay, okay! I’m up!” I mutter under my breath. It was a restless night of tossing and…
It’s 4 a.m. and the sky is pitch black. It’s a moonless night. I listen to my husband and daughter’s soft even breathing. She still occasionally crawls into our bed in the early hours of the morning and cuddles up to us. I don’t mind. In fact, I like it. Some day soon she’ll decide…
My ears are ringing. Again. Still. Always. Tonight the pitch is high and steady. A high E, about four octaves above middle C. The sound reminds me of my waitressing days. When I was at Ottawa U, I worked in a neighborhood resto-bar that was only slightly classier than a tavern. We served pitchers of…