Better Baths
Being relaxed and de-stressed is essential for a good night's rest, so hop into that tub right now! "When you're in the bath, there's not much you can do," says Julie Lindh, an aesthetician in New York City. It's this nothingness that prompts your mind to unwind and ditch the worries of the day. Too busy to take a nightly bath? Lindh says that even a 15-minute soak in a tub filled with hot water, sea salts, and essential oils will deliver maximum benefits. "After five minutes your pores open up, during the next five minutes you start to absorb the ingredients, and after five more minutes you should ease off," says Lindh, adding that in a pinch a shower will do, too. Lather up with one of the new relaxing shower gels formulated with sleep-inducing essential oils.
Softer Hands and Feet
Just like on the rest of our body, the skin on our hands and feet gets dehydrated during the night, so don't forget to pamper them, too. If you have a bit more time, why not slip on a moisturizing glove or bootie? Many are lined with body heat-activated moisturizing pads. Enjoy their soothing feel for a few minutes before snuggling in.
Sleep Science
The very act of rubbing your skin with a soothing body oil can calm you. Fully inhale the scent by cupping your hands and taking a deep breath.
MSN Health: Originally published in Ladies' Home Journal, November 2007
