In Good Health // When Focus On Sleep Becomes An Obsession

Finally, we are living in a time where there is a renewed focus on sleep. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its extended periods of indoor living, prompted many of us to refocus on wellness. I remember learning yoga, reading good books, cooking healthy meals, and concentrating on my own well-being during those isolation periods. Many people picked up journaling, took long walks outside, and valued interpersonal relationships once more. It felt like the world finally understood that sleep is a crucial part of wellness. The wellness triangle of sleep, nutrition, and exercise became a hot topic again, and I realised that sleep supports the other two. Without adequate sleep, nutrition and exercise fail to fit into our day-to-day regimen. As someone in the sleep industry, this renewed focus on sleep health is music to my ears!

We all know it’s essential to have an adequate amount of sleep: a daily 7-9 hours is ideal for adults. To reach this optimal level of sleep, many of us have started to buy into gimmicks like sleep trackers and readiness scores through wearables such as watches and rings. However, what do you do when this becomes just another item on your to-do list and actually adds to your stress? What do you do when your entire day is wrecked by a bad “readiness score” on your OURA ring sleep tracker?

I believe in this fast-paced world, stress and anxiety are common companions, often pushing us towards sleep aids for a good night’s rest. These aids, from over-the-counter medications to elaborate gadgets, come with their own set of environmental costs.

Reducing Environmental Impact

It is widely known that the production and disposal of sleep aids, such as medications and electronic devices, contribute to environmental pollution. Pharmaceuticals can contaminate water supplies, and electronic devices often end up in landfills, adding to e-waste. By adopting mindfulness practices, I believe we can reduce our reliance on these aids and, consequently, our environmental footprint.

At Heveya®, our customers value their sleep dearly and are willing to invest in a natural sleeping environment. Many have read books on sleep health and are very much into wellness, often using sleep trackers. When speaking to them, I urge Heveya® customers to go back to basics. Of course, reading about your sleep and checking your REM sleep is fascinating. But what do you do with all that data? Instead of relying too heavily on sleep trackers and other aids, I prefer to focus on the ultimate mindfulness before sleep: becoming aware of your surroundings and allowing your body to fully rest.

The Connection between Mindfulness and Sleep

Mindfulness practices, such as meditation and yoga, have long been celebrated for their numerous health benefits. When integrated into a bedtime routine, these practices can significantly enhance the quality of sleep. Meditation helps calm the mind, reducing the mental chatter that often keeps us awake at night. Yoga, on the other hand, relaxes the body, easing tension and promoting physical comfort.

I think that by focusing on the present moment and letting go of daily stresses, mindfulness practices create a peaceful transition from wakefulness to sleep. This natural approach not only improves sleep quality but also reduces the need for sleep aids, which often come with various side effects and environmental impacts.

At Heveya®, our mission is to help the world sleep peacefully and sustainably. We provide high-quality, long-lasting products made from eco-friendly materials, promoting responsible production and recyclability. By combining our green sleep solutions with mindfulness practices, we believe we can achieve a truly sustainable sleep experience. Our products, free from synthetic materials and harmful chemicals, ensure a healthy sleep environment, further enhancing the benefits of mindfulness practices.

Integrating Mindfulness into Your Bedtime Routine

In order to restore good sleep habits, I encourage customers to incorporate mindfulness into their bedtime routine. Here are a few simple practices that I find helpful:

1. Evening Meditation: I suggest spending 10-15 minutes before bed practising meditation. Focus on your breath, letting go of the day’s worries and preparing your mind for restful sleep.

2. Gentle Yoga: Engage in gentle yoga stretches to relax your muscles and release tension. Poses such as the child’s pose and legs-up-the-wall can be particularly calming.

3. Mindful Breathing: Practise deep, mindful breathing exercises while lying in bed. This can help slow your heart rate and promote a sense of calm.

4. Gratitude Journaling: Spend a few minutes writing down things you are grateful for. This positive reflection can help shift your focus away from stress and towards a peaceful state of mind.

5. Creating a Dark Sleep Environment: Ensuring your sleep environment is dark is crucial for maintaining your body’s natural circadian rhythm. Exposure to blue light from screens can interfere with melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep. Using an eye mask can help block out light and create a soothing atmosphere for sleep. Indulge in luxurious relaxation with our Heveya® Bamboo Eye Mask, crafted for unparalleled comfort and rejuvenation. Made with non-irritating and naturally hypoallergenic bamboo lyocell fibres, this eco-friendly eye mask is not only gentle on the delicate skin around your eyes but also promotes a soothing and breathable sleep experience.

Sleep is one of the hot topics in 2024. But what do you do when the pursuit of rest actually leads to stress? When sleep no longer equates to genuine rest, it’s time to rethink our approach. While occasionally checking your sleep data or using a melatonin pill or magnesium oil can be effective, I believe in a back-to-basics approach. By incorporating mindfulness into your sleep habits—through yoga, journaling, or breathing exercises—you can achieve a truly restful night. Instead of endlessly scrolling on your phone or meticulously tracking your sleep, focus on calming down and allowing your body to find its natural rhythm.

// Thijs Veyfeyken, Managing Director at Heveya