5 Amazing Teas & Herbs for Tea

We all know how delicious tea tastes, but did you know that you could add Hawthorn, Lavender, Passion Flower, Valerian or Chamomile to your tea? They have great health benefits!

1. Hawthorn tea has some cardioprotective properties

Hawthorn is a Chinese herb with cardioprotective-ness which means that it has anti-inflammatory effects on your gastrointestinal region! Not only that, but Hawthorn can be used as a digestive aid. It’s a versatile herb that also has good antioxidant effects.

2. Lavender tea reduces headaches and fatigue

Lavender is a beautiful herb, that is native African and the Mediterranean regions and is grown all over the world especially in France and North America where there are fields and fields of beautiful lavender.

The health effects are many, with lavender being used to treat anxiety and fatigue. It can also help if your stomach is hurting or if you’re feeling a headache coming on.

3. Passion Flower tea has anxiolytic properties (it can help you relax!)

Passion flower can be found in the U.S. and Asia and other regions; it has been used as a sedative, a healthful sedative that can be put into tea to help you relax and sleep better.

4. Valerian works wonders to counter insomnia

Valerian is probably one of the most popular ways to counter insomnia. If you cannot get to sleep and you’ve tried everything, Valerian is a sure-way to get tired enough to fall asleep. One of the hidden secrets of Valerian is that it can be used to treat anxiety too!

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5. Chamomile reduces stress

Chamomile is one of our favorite teas at SleepyRead and it’s because it absolutely does reduce stress. If you’re feeling like today is hectic, brew some chamomile tea and enjoy a cup and your worries will start to dissipate. The day will feel less chaotic and you will feel less stressed!

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Why You Need a White Noise Generator

Whether you are working in an open office or in a cafe, or perhaps you are relaxing at home with a book, you may need a white noise generator. They are devices or apps for your iPhone/Android that generate a slight shuffling kind of noise that can block out other noises.

White noise generators are great for office work coupled with headphones. It can help block out conversations that are happening in the background so that you can concentrate.

While a white noise generator will not get you into the sleepy zone, it is great for your day.

Hawthorn tea has some cardioprotective properties

5 Steps to Support Good Habits and Improve Your Circadian Rhythm

At SleepyRead we bring you the calm and natural sounds of storytelling to help you find your [sleepy zone], enter [deep sleep], and balance your [melatonin]. Use our

[20 minutes] of [tranquil narration] to locate that sleepy tipping point and make the circadian rhythm work for you. Research suggest that to make this process easier some good habits can be invaluable:

Develop Regular Sleeping Habits

Your circadian rhythm works better when you develop regular sleeping habits. Try going to bed in the evening and waking up in the morning at around the same time.

Get Extra Sleep

Be kind to yourself and get extra sleep when your schedule is affected by daylight savings time, jet lag, binge watching, or late nights out.

Limit Your Caffeine, Yes! That Means No Coffee After 3pm!

Limit the intake of caffeine in the afternoon. Studies show that drinking coffee 6 hours before bedtime can reduce your total sleep time by at least 1 hour and can make it difficult to experience deep sleep.

Sleep-proof Your Room

Sleep-proof your room. Make sure your bedroom is cool and dark to limit environmental factors that can add stressors to your sleeping space.

Deal With Any Stress & Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can be a serious obstacle when it comes to first falling asleep and then staying asleep. Taking a conscious step towards stress management and giving yourself sufficient time to rest and experience deep sleep is essential for a healthy circadian rhythm.

What is Circadian Rhythm and How It Affects Our Mood, Energy, and Stress Levels

Can you fall asleep easily? How restful is your sleep? How long does it take your mind and body to relax and find that sleepy tipping point?

All of these questions are connected to our circadian rhythm or the sleep-wake cycle. The circadian rhythm is our 24-hour internal clock that exists in the background of our brain and marks the regular cyclical periods between sleepiness and alertness at regular intervals.

For the majority of adults there are two specific times when their energy levels are lower, marking the periods of sleepiness:

The period during the night, between 2:00 am and 4:00 am. This is the crucial time for deep sleep and the production of melatonin. It is also a unique opportunity for your body to regain energy and help reduce stress.
The period during the day, between 1:00pm to 3:00pm. This period is less relevant to production of melatonin, but it can contribute to improved mood and energy levels.

By helping you get to the [sleepy zone], experience [deep sleep], and balance your melatonin levels, SleepyRead can also help you develop better habits with circadian rhythm in mind.

How To Set a Sleep Timer On Your Phone

After you download a SleepyRead Sleepy Sounds Pack, you will need to set up your phone with a sleep timer. A sleep timer will turn off your phone automatically. For more instructions on setting up a sleep timer, check out how-to geek’s great article.

Sleep Timer For iPhone/iPad

For iPhone and iPad, there is an easy way to set a sleep timer.

Just open the Clock app and create a new timer. Set the timer to 30 minutes.

Tap the musical notes icon and scroll through to find “Stop Playing”.

After 30 minutes, the timer will turn off all sounds on your iPhone (or iPad).

Enjoy! (Download a SleepyRead Sleepy Sounds Pack and load it on your phone to really enjoy the sleep timer)