My Sleep Toolkit (Or, How to Get the Best Sleep of Your Life)

As someone who’s struggled with sleep for years, I know firsthand the power of a good night’s rest.

Hey everyone, hope you’re having a cozy weekend. Yesterday was our family’s second “no-screen Saturday,” and I wanted to share how obsessed I am with this new weekly tradition. Starting on Friday at 5 p.m., we turned off our phones, TVs, computers, and video games for a 24-hour tech break, and it’s already been the most freeing and restful experience. Here’s what it’s helped me notice about my everyday phone use:

1. I constantly pick up my phone to check for texts, emails, DMs, and Slacks. It’s become a reflex. When I don’t have my phone on me, I feel more present and less overwhelmed by the constant inputs.

2. I’m in constant productivity mode. I can’t count the number of times during our screen-free Saturdays when I instinctively reached for my phone to put something on my to-do list, answer an email, or add an item to my grocery order. It felt so restorative to have 24 hours to focus more on being and less on doing.

This mini reset was especially good timing since I’ve got an action-packed week ahead. Today I’m headed to NYC to interview an incredibly inspiring woman for an upcoming issue of The EDIT (can’t wait to share who it is). Then, a quick stop back in Austin to host my mom’s 70th birthday (!!), and back on a plane to Los Angeles for the EDIT’s next cover shoot. All good things that I’m so excited about, but I’m going to be committed to getting enough sleep this week so I don’t come back from LA feeling totally destroyed at the end of it.

Before we dive into today’s post (which is appropriately all about sleep), a few good reads I wanted to share with you:

🍜 An extremely cozy vegetarian chili recipe that’s perfect for Sunday night dinner.

🙉 Are you overstimulated or overwhelmed?

🥑 24 daily wellness habits of successful women.

🎧 A great listen on what actually makes us happy.

Okay, let’s dive in.

A few years ago, I was hit with a sudden bout of insomnia. One night, I woke up around 2 a.m. and couldn’t fall back asleep. The next night, it happened again. After a few days, I felt so out of it that it was hard to function. I was running on empty—exhausted, irritable, and completely drained. I dreaded bedtime and panicked at the thought of waking up in the middle of the night. I felt like I was losing my spark, and I was desperate for answers.

In an effort to reclaim the restorative rest I craved, I went on a deep dive into the topic of sleep. I read every book, saw doctors, and experimented with everything—from supplements to sleep trackers to the tiniest tweaks in my evening routine. Over time, I cracked the code on what really works and honed my routine to a science. Fast-forward to today: I consistently get 7–8 hours of solid sleep (with Oura Ring scores to prove it). And while I wouldn’t say I’m immune to the occasional sleep disruption—life happens—I now have a toolkit that helps me get back on track fast.

The truth is, I’m pretty regimented about my sleep. I believe it’s the foundation of everything—our physical health, mental clarity, and overall well-being. And honestly? Whatever it takes to wake up feeling rested and ready is worth it.

So here’s what works for me.

1. Establish a bedtime routine

A consistent bedtime routine is the single most important thing you can do for quality sleep. It signals to your body that it’s time to wind down, making it easier to fall—and stay—asleep.

Here’s what my nightly routine looks like:

1. A warm bath to relax my muscles and signal the transition to rest.

2. Disconnecting from my phone and dimming the lights (more on my phone boundaries here).

3. A cup of herbal tea or cacao to ease into the night.

4. Closing the blinds to make the room completely dark.

5. Reading in bed until I feel sleepy.

💤 The essentials:

• My sleep cocktail: I love to drink a warm Calm Cacao Mix blended with almond milk, always in my Solstice Mug.

• My book routine: Since I banned my phone from my bedroom I’ve been reading on a Kindle Paperwhite loaded up with good books. As much as I love reading nonfiction, when it comes to helping me sleep, I need a novel that helps me get lost in the plot. Recent faves have included The God of the Woods, Ripley Under Ground, and Big Little Lies.

• The sensory cue: I light the Daybreak candle that sits next to my bed, and roll some of this Jasmine & Rose Fragrance Oil over my pulse points. Feels so luxurious.

• The light blocker: I love this Cushioned Eye Mask because it lightly weights my eyes without crushing my eyelashes during the night.

2. Keep the room cool

Temperature plays a major role in sleep quality—experts recommend setting your room to around 65°F to help your body produce melatonin. Personally, if I get even slightly hot at night, I wake up instantly, so I always turn down the thermostat before bed.

I think this point is especially relevant for women, since hormonal fluctuations cause temperature shifts (pregnant or perimenopausal women, you know).

💤 The essentials:

• The cooling pajamas: I got this washable silk pajama tee and shorts set for Christmas and I wear it almost every night. Silk is a naturally breathable material, so I feel cozy but not sweaty.

3. Shut down screens early

My brain needs at least an hour between shutting off screens and actually feeling sleepy. This means disconnecting from work, emails, news, and social media well before bedtime.

A recent game-changer for me has been charging my iPhone in another room. Instead, I use an alarm clock and read on my Kindle—this way, I’m not tempted to check notifications or mentally add things to my to-do list. I also keep a notebook on my bedside so that if I think of something I want to remember the next day, I can jot it down and let it go.

💤 The essentials:

• The alarm clock: The Hatch Restore 3 is aesthetic enough for the bedside table, and uses calming lights and sounds to mimic a natural sunrise to boost your circadian rhythm.

• The journal for nighttime thoughts: Wilde House Paper Open Journal

Your Life Called: It Wants You Back

Find the right supplements for you

Supplements aren’t one-size-fits-all, but the right mix can make a major difference. After testing just about everything, I’ve found a natural mix that helps me fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Read on for my personal “sleep stack” and why each one works—without any grogginess in the morning.