If you don’t already have any, pick up some lavender oil this week. Aside from it being a wonderful oil that heals burns and wounds, soothes dandruff, brightens your complexion and

alleviates headaches, it can also reduce stress. If you put a couple of drops into the palms of your hands and inhale, it will immediately calm and relax you.

It also has

the greatest reputation around for improving sleep patterns. Put some in your bathwater before turning in or put a couple of drops on your pillowcase. You’ll be sleeping like a

baby in minutes.

You’ve probably heard that a glass of milk will help you to sleep. There is scientific proof to support that, although we recommend almond milk instead. It contains Vitamins B6,

C and E, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and folate. It also keeps your heart healthy, your bones strong and it doesn’t mess with your blood sugar levels. And, unlike milk for

so many people, almond milk is easier to digest. It’s a great drink before bedtime due to the amount of calcium that’s in it. Calcium is what helps our brains

to produce melatonin, and melatonin is what helps to give us sound sleep.

Not too many things in life are sweeter than honey. Honey is antibacterial and anti-fungal, so it keeps viruses and infections at bay. If you get local raw honey, it

will put allergens into your system that will actually combat allergy-related symptoms. Honey is a humectant, so it's an ingredient in hair conditioner, it can keep it nice and soft.

Got a zit? Put some honey on it at night. It will reduce inflammation by morning. Honey also increases athletic performance because it will give you a burst of energy.

So,

how does it help you sleep? Interestingly enough, a lot of us wake up in the middle of the night because our brain runs out of enough fuel to remain

in a sleeping state (crazy, huh?). Honey is what gives you enough energy to not wake up throughout the night.

Your body temperature fluctuates at night. If you’re hot, you’re going to be uncomfortable and that is going to make you want to wake up. You can avoid this by turning

your thermostat down to around 65 degrees and cracking open a window. The fresh air will help to get pollutants out of your room.

You probably always thought that going to bed after taking a hot bath or shower was an excellent idea. Yes and no. You can take one, but it needs to

be a couple of hours before retiring. Otherwise, your body may overheat and you’ll be in that hot situation that we already talked about. You need at least 45 minutes

for your body to cool down before saying “Good night.”

Do you and the person you’re sharing a bed with a favor and sleep naked. It gives ALL of your body an opportunity to breathe. It reduces sweating, which means

less chance of bacterial infections or even athlete’s foot. It lowers your cortisol (stress) levels. It makes you feel safer and more protected. And, it significantly ups the chances of

a romp before snoring. Sex boosts your endorphins levels, helps you to feel good and relaxed and that’s the perfect combo for a good night’s sleep.