What if I told you a perfect nighttime routine isn’t about being perfect at all, but it’s about doing what feels right and what will help you relax. Yes, the perfect moisturizer for your skin will do great things, but if you apply it and never disconnect from Insta, are you setting yourself up for your best night’s sleep? If you are so focused on a schedule and what steps to take, does it make it even more stressful? Today I’m sharing some of my favorite ways to get yourself ready and prepped to aim for that 7 – 8 hours of sleep, which in turn will have numerous benefits on your lifestyle and relationships with others.

1. MYK Silk Pajamas and Pillowcase

I once asked someone older than me if as we become older, do we become more sensitive to the heat (it was smack dab in the middle of a Houston summer and I was miserable.) The response, “It’s not that we become more sensitive to heat, it’s that our level of expectation of comfort changes,” has really stuck with me. Think about it, back in college, you probably slept in a free promo t-shirt and Nike running shorts (I know I did.) Now, more than 10 years later, I feel like my comfort expectations have changed and I’ve upgraded a lot of things in my life, including my pajamas.

MYK Silk, which stands for My Kind of Silk, is passionate about creating mulberry silk here in the USA that is not only luxurious, but affordable as well. As I mentioned earlier, my expectations around comfort have drastically changed, and I truly believe I sleep my best when I have gone through my nighttime routine and wearing these silk pajamas. They are truly that amazing.

Use code TOASTTOPOST15 for 15% off your purchase!

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Whether you are wanting to sleep in luxury yourself or looking for a great gift for you Mom, sister, bestie, you cannot go wrong with a pair of silk pajamas.

And why a silk pillowcase you ask? Here are a few key words: anti-aging, moisturizing, and hypoallergenic. Click here to read more.

2. A Warm Bath

I always sleep better after taking a warm bath. I pour a cup of this epsom salt in, gently ease my way in, and before I know it, I’m relaxed, feel calm, and the stresses of the day are drifting away with the steam. Getting older (usually) comes with more responsibilities, which often times leads to restless and unsettled evenings. Taking 20 minutes out of your evening to soak in a warm bath can help relieve stress and allow you to relax before bed.

3. Diffuser with Essential Oils

I’ve recently gotten into diffusing essential oils and am absolutely hooked. What I’ve learned is that there is no right and wrong way to do it – you just have to do what feels right in that moment. I start my diffuser, drop some oils in, put on a playlist (really into Chilled Hits, Mediation, and Classical Piano,) and allow myself to relax and truly disconnect from my phone.

4. Mask & Exfoliate

I like to do either a clay or sheet mask 2 – 3 times a week and exfoliate another 2 – 3 times a week. Exfoliating gets rid of the dead and dull skin, while masking gives you that spa like experience in the comfort of your own home.

5. Disconnect

This one is VERY important. This is my 10 – 15 minute quiet time with no tv, phone, or any distractions to just gather my thoughts. I do tend to do my best thinking in the middle of the night, so I try really hard to get all of my thoughts out before the lights go out. I write the most random things down – work to-do’s, grocery lists, blog ideas – and it helps calm my mind before bed.