6 things I learned from following Arianna Huffington's elaborate bedtime routine for a week
But lately, she's been making a name for herself as a sleep evangelist.
She recently wrote a book, "The Sleep Revolution," and regularly speaks about the importance of sleep to general health and well-being, as well its role in improving productivity and career success.
Huffington's obsession with sleep began when she collapsed in her home office and "found herself in a pool of blood."
Since then, she has been an outspoken advocate for prioritizing sleep and has developed a detailed bedtime ritual.
Her routine consists of clearing her electronic devices from her bedroom, taking a hot bath with Epsom salts, and writing down what she is grateful for that day. She also wears clothes specifically designated for sleeping, and, most days, doesn't set a morning alarm. Instead, she opts for waking up naturally after getting her eight hours.
As someone who loves sleep but doesn't prioritize it as much as I should, I was curious to see whether Huffington's evening ritual would affect my sleep quality, productivity, and wellbeing.
During my weeklong experiment, I also followed her morning ritual, which consists of meditation, exercise, and yoga.
Prioritizing sleep and dutifully following Huffington's routine - with my own tweaks where appropriate - proved to be a game changer. That said, there were aspects I struggled with, as well.
Here are my six takeaways from Huffington's method for getting a good night's sleep, every night: