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For a year now, I’ve been after the answer to one question: How do you decompress after busy days of deadlines and meetings and maybe even a dinner party? I’ve interviewed more than 25 women about their strategies for squeezing in some R&R—no matter how busy their schedules may be. Some recommend journaling, while others prefer to go down a YouTube rabbit hole. One suggests indulging in a bit of stargazing—with a telescope, if you happen to have one. All of these rituals can be found in our wellness series, The Wind Down.
The way you de-stress is personal, but as I’ve talked to more and more women about their methods of getting much-needed shut-eye, I’ve found some tips so great that multiple people swear by them—and so I’ve started adding them to my own routine. Here are just 10 of the best ideas I’ve picked up throughout 2019. You might even consider trying them, too.
Most people I talked to prefer nice pajamas over old sweats, but there’s one sleepwear brand that stood out: Lunya. The Nue Co. founder Jules Miller recommends its silk set in warmer months, and makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes loves her robe: “It makes me feel like a diva in the best way.”
There might be a better way than lighting a candle to set the mood for sleep in your home: Cohen, Outdoor Voices founder Ty Haney, Object Limited cofounder Anna Z. Gray, and brand marketing pro Babba C. Rivera all attest to this fragrant wood’s soothing powers.
Feeling off? Your messy bedroom could be the culprit. A quick tidying session will help—at least, Hughes and Love Wellness founder Lo Bosworth seem to think so.
The time in between getting out of the shower and into your pajamas can be made much more enjoyable with the help of a robe. If it seems like a luxury, that’s because it is—a luxury that Golde cofounder Trinity Mouzon Wofford and Girls’ Night In founder Alisha Ramos both say improve their nights.
Forget cookies and milk. The most satisfying (and easy) after-dinner snack is popcorn, according to chef Sophia Roe and Diaspora Spice Co. founder Sana Javeri Kadri, who makes a batch with tons of turmeric and ghee. She’s even released her own popcorn kit since.
Way before you hit the hay, the right lighting can help ease you into a calm frame of mind. Sezane founder Morgane Sezalory eschews overheads for warm-toned lamps, and actress Zazie Beetz lights a candle or two—which she picks up at the Rite-Aid around the corner from her apartment.
Sometimes the best product is also the most accessible. And since The Class founder Taryn Toomey and makeup artist Hughesboth love Weleda’s Skin Food, you know it has to be good.
If you’re feeling chilled, all you need is a little bit of spice—ideally in the form of a hot turmeric tea. Kadri and activist and vegan chef Haile Thomas make their own golden brew on the stove top. It’s cozy and it reduces inflammation.
Showers may win when it comes to convenience, but bath time is highly underrated; many of our subjects, including Maude founder Éva Goicochea, Lavine, and Cohen, turn to the tub when they need to chill out. According to Bubble founder Jessica Young, it’s the best place to prepare for the next day: “I do a lot of thinking and write a lot of notes in the bath—anything from lightbulbs I need to buy to investors I need to talk to,” she says. “I take a bath probably four times a week—more than I shower.”
