Jillian Michaels Shares Her Exact Bedtime Routine
Welcome to Sleep Diaries, where interesting people share a week’s worth of late-night habits. They’ll tell you, the reader, how they wrap up their day, how they get to sleep, stay asleep or fall back asleep, and how they feel when they wake up in the morning. Why? Because sleep is America’s Most Wanted thing. We chase after it like an elusive elixir that'll make us look younger and feel less stressed. (Maybe because it will.) We thought by getting people to share what works for them-and doesn’t-it might help you find better ZZZs. Or at least give you something entertaining to read. This week we have Jillian Michaels, who needs no introduction.
Sleep is a massive priority for me. It’s a huge contributor to health and wellness, affecting everything from heart health and blood pressure to metabolism and mood. For these reasons I always aim to get 7-8 hours per night.
Monday: A Hot Bath
After my kids went to bed somewhere between 8:30 and 9 p.m., I headed upstairs to my room and started getting ready for bed physically and mentally. I took a bath because the hot water relaxes me and helps me feel like I am literally rinsing away some of the day's stressors, which makes it easier to sleep.
Tuesday: PM Calorie Burn
If I workout it usually helps me sleep at night. So today I did one of the 20-minute HIIT workouts on my app (appropriately called My Fitness) to help me get my daily calorie burn and abate some of the extra adrenaline from a crazy day. Not only does it burn off some of my excess energy, but it helps release those feed-good brain chemicals to manage any anxiety I might be feeling over something in my life that is stressing me out. Afterward, I switch off all screens and fall asleep.
Wednesday: Inbox Zero
I had some loose ends from work hanging over my head today, so I spent about an hour, from 9-10 p.m., clearing out my email inbox and going over my to do list for the next day. While many are advised not to work in bed or before bed, for me it has the opposite effect. It prevents an anxious feeling that things could be piling up and it helps me feel organized and prepared for the next day, all of which help me mentally de-stress and sleep.
Thursday: Nightly Tea
I had a lemon ginger tea (which I have almost every night) to chill myself out and I always slip my evening supplements into it (Alaya Naturals Multi Collagen with MSM Glucosamine Chondroitin) and caught the premier of Handmaid's Tale to help me take my mind off work stuff that can wait till the next day.
Friday: Bedtime Stories
I often listen to an audiobook or a podcast as I’m falling asleep. Sorta like a bedtime story for adulthood. If I have a lot going on-and my mind was spinning tonight-this helps me focus on something other than obsessing over work or whatever might be stressing me out. I love non-fiction and my book of the moment is When Einstein Walked With Godel.
Saturday: Kid Cuddles
I cuddled in bed with my kids and watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. A classic, of course, and they hand’t seen it. When my kids don’t have school the next day or any reason to get up early we get nighttime cuddles in either by reading a book they are into or watching a movie together. This always helps me settle in and relax. Kids have a way of forcing you to be present and get out of your head. Plus, studies show us that cuddle time releases our feel-good hormone oxytocin, which can help us feel relaxed, peaceful, and happy.
Sunday: Mini Meditation
I practiced a 10-minute meditation to clear my head and help me sleep. I often use an app that takes me through some breathing exercises to help me find my chill. I never eat before bed. In fact, I try to create a 12-hour period between dinner and breakfast the next day, but I do take some of my supplements before bed. I usually take my multi-collagen and my krill oil at night right before I head upstairs. To make sure your supplements are the highest quality, make sure they are ethically-sourced ingredients from organic, whole foods with no cheap fillers and crap. Alaya Naturals is my go-to brand for this reason.
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