CALMING COMPANIONS
Add these into your wind-down routine
Words by Bridget Barnett
While we all know one’s environment plays a large part in better sleep and restful, restorative moments, a lot of us don’t quite know how to nail it.
The experts will tell you that your space should feel like a sanctuary, and to achieve that you need to ensure that it engages all five of your senses: touch, taste, sight, smell and sound.
The good news — it’s not as daunting as it sounds. Tick off one essential from each of the five categories below and you’ll be well on your way to creating your own blissful bubble.
1. TOUCH
From crisp, cooling sheets to soft, textured textiles and silky pyjamas – engage your sense of touch with delicate fabrics.
2. TASTE
3. SMELL
While scents of vanilla, lavender and rosemary are proven to reduce stress, most lightly scented aromatherapy candles and diffusers are infused with calming notes. Avoid citrus, peppermint and jasmine which have stimulatory effects.
4. SIGHT
Bright lights, be gone — it’s all about gentle “mood” lighting (if any at all) to set the scene for sleep. When it comes to colour, calming shades of sky blue, sage grey and crisp white should do the trick.
5. SOUND
Whether you’re in the camp of cancelling out noise completely, or prefer using an app to recreate the soothing crackle of fire, tapping into your sense of sound in the modern age is all about tech gadgets.
