What’s on My Nightstand

Katie Wells Avatar

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What I keep on my nightstand from Wellness Mama
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Last week, I posted a picture on Instagram of my nightstand. I posted it because I think that the things a person has on their nightstand say a lot about that person.

Nightstands usually have limited room, so only a few things will fit, and they are usually things that a person deems important enough to need right before, during or right after sleeping.

A got a lot of questions on my Instagram post about the various items in my picture, so I decided to share here rather than try to respond to each question individually.

This is definitely one of my more random posts, (like when I shared what I keep in my purse) so if you aren’t interested, hop over here and find some good recipes for dinner, or learn how to make some lotion bars. 🙂

On the Nightstand

Wake LightA Wake Light is a natural way to wake up if an alarm clock is needed. Light and nature sounds gradually increase until bright and loud enough to wake you up. I find this much less jarring than a traditional clanging alarm.

Sleep Mask: We keep our room really dark so I don’t always have to use this, but for times that hubby comes to bed after me, I keep this around so I don’t wake up. I have an older version of this one that I’ve used since college and it still works great.

Orange Sunglasses: I wrote about them here, but orange sunglasses help minimize exposure to blue light at night, which can help keep melatonin levels in the proper range and lead to deeper sleep. Since I often am working on a computer at night, I wear these and use programs like f.lux to minimize blue light exposure.

Wet BrushThe most gentle brush I’ve found and the one I use on my daughters’ hair to avoid the drama of their tender-headedness.

Fertility Monitors: I’ve written before about why I don’t use hormonal contraceptives and the natural alternatives I use to space pregnancies. Right now, I’m trying to fully recover from my autoimmune disease before we consider another so I’m using multiple fertility monitors. The white one with the screen is the OvaCue which tests both saliva and vaginal pH and is the most accurate I’ve found. I also use the Fertile Focus Microscope which detects hormone changes from saliva and the iBasal (looks like a thermometer) which charts based on temperature.

Massage Roller Ball: Even with a standing desk, my shoulders get tense from spending time on the computer. This thing helps tremendously. I also use this thing during labor and it is wonderful. They don’t fit on the nightstand, but I also use the Rumble Roller and the Body Back Buddy to release muscle tension at home.

Hydroflask: It wasn’t there when I took this picture, but I also usually have my Hydroflask on the nightstand when I’m sleeping in case I get thirsty. I reviewed them here and my favorite is the 40-ounce insulated one with a wide-mouth straw lid.

Occasionally: An essential oil diffuser but it is on my dresser right now. Also, I occasionally keep salt lamps on there but have it on the dresser as well.

Also, the cord for my earthing sheet runs behind the nightstand and plugs into the ground outlet.

In the drawer (not pictured):

Flashlight: I’ve always keep a flashlight by the bed which has come in handy a few times when power has gone out or when we heard the dog making strange noises at night and had to check it out. I have this one in my nightstand and a similar one in my purse.

Books I’m currently reading, but I usually stick to spiritual reading or really light reading before bed. I love health books and even medical journals but find that those get my mind going and make it hard to sleep. Anyone else have this problem?

Coconut Oil and Lotion Bars: Because those are in pretty much every room of my house.

Magnesium Oil, Relaxing Essential oils, and Organic Socks: To rub magnesium oil on my feet (and my kids’ feet) at night to help improve sleep. I’ve been tracking sleep with an Oura Ring and it proves magnesium definitely improves my sleep score.

Journal: I find that sometimes journaling at night helps get projects off my mind and helps me sleep. I also keep post-it notes or a small notebook with my journal so as I think of to-do items I can write them down so I’m not thinking about them while I’m falling asleep. I love these leather journals since they are good quality and look nice on a shelf if you happen to keep them once full.

What is NOT on it:

Cell phone or charger or any electronic device.

An alarm clock with glowing letters or light of any kind.

A computer.

Sleep Environment

I take our sleep environment very seriously and try to keep our room dark, cool and with minimal noise. I don’t like having electronics near our bed (one reason I use the Oura — you can use it in airplane mode) and I definitely won’t ever have a TV in the bedroom. I write more about my sleep environment in this post.

Your turn- what items do you keep by your bed? Tell me below!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

44 responses to “What’s on My Nightstand”

  1. Rachel Avatar
    Rachel

    Hello Wellness Mama! Could you update link for wake light? I’d like to get one. Thanks for all your great posts!

  2. Amanda Avatar

    Hi Katie! I’m looking to get the wake light you recommend but Amazon says it’s unavailable. Is there another one you recommend? Thanks!

  3. Tereza Avatar

    Hi! I discovered your blog shortly ago and am so glad I did! Iam learning a lot and find everything so relevant and informative. This is a great post. I am especially curious about your earthing sheet that you keep in your nightstand. Do you have a specific post about it? I am curious to know how to use it and what for. I just very recently came across the toxicity of EMFs and am still gathering information to handle it in my house. If you have more info or a specific post about earthing sheets I would love to hear it. Thank you!!

  4. Sarah Avatar

    Im really surprised to see that you are wearing a FitBit. Aren’t you worried about the EMFs? I tried to wear one for sleeping tracking as well but I found that it kept me awake at night. Does this one not emit a signal?

  5. Amy Leroy Avatar
    Amy Leroy

    As a color & light therapist I am so delighted to see the wake light and the glasses! And especially happy to see the glasses are orange and not red as so many mistakenly think is the correct way to counter screen light.

  6. Kathy R. Avatar
    Kathy R.

    I just found you last week and I immediately went to my local whole food/health store to buy a jar of coconut oil. I love it, it has stopped my cravings and I’ve lost five lbs so far. I think a lot of it is bloat and water weight.
    Is it possible to “get too much of a good thing”? I use it(coconut oil) in my coffee in the morning and a couple times during the day. Soon I will be adding gelatin into the regime.
    I am on a soap box about this because it works but I don’t want to overdo it either.

  7. Evan Brand Avatar
    Evan Brand

    Those that laugh or don’t take the blue blocking glasses at night time seriously need to!

    I’ve done a few podcasts with Dr. Richard Hansler who founded a company helping to reduce blue light exposure at night which has been linked to a large reduction in melatonin, therefore increasing rates of cancer and weight gain as well as diabetes.

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