Ever had a night where you just can’t turn your brain off? You’re definitely tired, your body practically begging your mind to stop it’s endless chatter, but just can’t seem to fall asleep. I’ve had TONS on my mind lately, and my brain gets louder and louder the more I try to sleep. During the day it’s easy to ignore all those annoying thoughts and worries, but come time to sleep the brain uses the lack of distraction as a time to fill us in on all the junk anxieties that we’ve been ignoring. The result? Insomnia, stress, and exhaustion. 

Though there are many “natural” ways to combat insomnia, like melatonin and Valerian Root Tea, I prefer to stick to methods that can’t create any sort of dependence in my body. That’s when I started playing with Lavender Essential Oil. Lavender is an adaptogen, meaning it can help your body adapt to stress or imbalance. Its scent is calming and can help with nervousness, restlessness, and insomnia. Research shows that inhaling lavender before sleep does not only increase slow-wave sleep, but increases mental activity during the day. 

I absolutely LOVE the smell of lavender, and I can’t think of a better way to fall asleep than surrounded by its calming aroma. I started making a lavender linen spray and spritzing my pillows with it before getting into bed. In my new favorite rendition, I added a few drops of orange essential oil as well. Orange is a radiant and brightening oil and can make people feel happy, relaxed, and loved. Combining orange and lavender makes one of my favorite blends: a spray that not only makes you feel relaxed and promotes sleep, but fills that sleep with sweet, happy dreams. The best part is it’s super easy to make!

Lavender Linen Spray

1 spray bottle

15 drops Lavender Essential Oil

5 drops Orange Essential Oil

2 tablespoons witch hazel*

6 tablespoons water

Mix ingredients together and use a funnel to pour into the spray bottle. Spritz pillows and linens before sleeping, or whenever you want to give your room a relaxing vibe. 

*Essential oils aren’t water-soluable, so you need to use something that can dissolve the oil and mixes with water. If you don’t have witch hazel, you can use vodka or rubbing alcohol. 

Do you have insomnia? What are some ways you fall asleep?