Between my day job, blogging, and just…life, there isn’t as much time for sleep as I always hope. I don’t love to load up on caffeine, because it makes me hyper and jittery. Plus, I swore off energy drinks like RedBull and 5 Hour Energy because they freak me out.
I’ve figured out some tips and tricks to looking and feeling energized, regardless of how crazy my schedule is.
1.Use A Gel Eye Mask. My favorite are the VIIcode Oxygen Gel eye masks. These masks are so legit. They are unique because instead of just leaving them on for 20 minutes like most masks, you put them on before you go to sleep and leave them on for 8 hours. For the best results, you’re supposed to apply them 2-3 times a week, but I typically see a result after just one treatment. I love that you can get it on Amazon prime, and there are multiple treatments in each box so you really get the best bang for your buck.
Here’s how I like to use them. After I wash off all my makeup for the day, I apply the gel masks under my eyes maybe and hour before I go to sleep. I put them on an hour before sleep because I typically don’t sleep for 8 hours, and I want to get the most mileage out of the masks. I’ll lay in bed and read for a bit, and sleep in them. They stay on all night, even though I’m a pretty restless sleeper! Then in the morning I take them off and do my regular morning skincare routine. I like that I don’t have to spend any time sitting with a clay or slippery mask on, only to have to wash it off 20 minutes later. The VIIcode masks kind of sneak into my routine seamlessly.
Like I mentioned, these eye masks are gel rather than sheet masks that have goopy product on them. The gel is particularly soothing! I like to store my VIIcode masks in the fridge for a little extra soothing action.
Some of the differences I notice are less puffiness and my dark circles are noticeably brighter. I typically forget to put on concealer the next morning, probably because it looks like I’m already wearing it, haha! The masks are also good for reducing fine lines around your eyes. Peace out under eye fatigue!
2.Sleep Cycle App. This app is so cool! My cousin told me about it. Do you ever wake up at 3am and you’re cheery and ready to go? Or conversely, you’re having a rad dream about your pet unicorn and WOMP goes the alarm…you wake up super groggy and pissed.
The 3am scenario is most likely because you were in a high point in your sleep cycle. You tell this app when you want to wake up (let’s say 6:00 am), and it gives you a range of time (5:30-6) when the alarm will go off based on how deep you are in you sleep cycle. You place your phone on your nightstand, and a sensor can tell if you’re rolling around at 5:47, which means you are ready to wake up, and the alarm will go off. Every time I do this I wake up more refreshed.
3.Learn to Live Without Caffeine After 2pm. I’ve more or less lived by this rule since I was in high school. Most of us have a caffeine cut off time. Mine is around 2pm. And if I’ve had too much caffeine after then, I will be dead tired but still can’t sleep. Find your caffeine cut off time and try to stick to it.
4.Shut Off An Hour Before Bed. I am the biggest offender of this one. I like to scroll through my Instagram and check my emails while I’m laying in bed, but that just makes my mind race. Whenever I read a book or a magazine instead and take the time to pet Jake and Elwood, even if it is just for a half hour before bed, I always feel more rested the next day.
5.Throw a handful of spinach into your morning smoothie. I sometimes like to make smoothies in the mornings. A handful of spinach tends to make my eyes brighter and skin clearer, in effect making me look more awake and energized. I typically use a scoop of this protein (the plant-based kind is easiest on my stomach), half a banana, a handful of baby spinach, a scoop of collagen, and either water or coconut water.
Thank you to VIICode for sponsoring this post.
–Roxanne
I need to try eye masks! I’ve never been a coffee drinker and I’m still always tired lol!
Alissa
http://www.naturallymeblog.com
The sleep cycle app sounds awesome! I’m also guilty of scrolling through instagram at night. ? I need to change that.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Veronica! I know I do that too. But putting the phone away before bed has helped me a lot.
I don’t know if eye masks like that will help my dark circles. Hahaha sleep I need sleep so bad. Awesome review!! And wonderful tips. I think the hardest thing are people disconnecting from the tech at bedtime. I started to leave my phone in the other room.
Haha, I know sometimes I am so foregone that nothing will help – except like a 20 hour sleep coma. I should leave my phone in the other room too! Its a disease!
the Gel eye mask sounds refreshing and i like the sleep cycle app waking you up when u r ready!
The sleep cycle app is really good! You should give it a try. I think they have it for Samsung.
These are great tips. I’m like you, I never really get the sleep I hope for and I know it’s so bad. I will definitely have to look into these eye masks. I too have a hard time shutting off before bed and usually get lost in a social media black hole lol. Thanks for sharing! Beautifully Candid
The social media black hole is REAL! I guess we just have to be more disciplined!