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Sleep. For some, it may come as naturally as breathing. But for others, it could be a constant game of tug-o-war. When poor sleep quality affects our daily life, we may be tempted to reach out to over-the-counter solutions. Instead of taking the easy way out and heading to a pharmacy, sometimes, all we need is to make a few minor lifestyle adjustments to enjoy better quality sleep.

TikTok’s sleep hack

Has your mum ever told you to keep your feet warm when you go to bed? I believe I'm not the only one who brushed it off as another old wives' tale. It turns out that this old wives’ tale actually has some scientific backing to it.

Dr Jess Andrade went on TikTok advocating how wearing socks can actually help people fall asleep faster. She explains, "Wearing socks makes your feet warm, and this opens up the blood vessels that cools the body down. The body being cool tells the brain that it's time for bed. So actually, people that wear socks tend to fall asleep faster." The video has already garnered 3.6 million views and 58.1k comments. Check it out.

 

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For those of us who have experienced the unenjoyable act of tossing and turning in bed at night, there’s really no harm in giving this sleep hack a try. Get into these super fluffy socks made of premium microfiber, Merino wool socks or slimming ones which, according to Japanese scientists, promises to ease muscle ache while you sleep. It doesn't hurt to try, right?

Women's Warm Super Soft Slipper Socks Microfiber Fuzzy Fluffy Cozy

PHOTO: Amazon. Women's Warm Super Soft Slipper Socks Microfiber
 
PHOTO: Amazon. Women's Warm Super Soft Slipper Socks Microfiber

Foot spa before sleep

Establish a sleep routine such as a warm foot spa before sleep. This affordable foot tub comes with rollers to stimulate acupressure points and ease away the knots on your feet. And because it is collapsible, it doesn't take up much space. 

Bubble Mate Foot Spa, Toe Touch Controlled with Removable Pumice Stone

PHOTO: Amazon. Bubble Mate Foot Spa, Toe Touch Controlled with Removable Pumice Stone
 
PHOTO: Amazon. Bubble Mate Foot Spa, Toe Touch Controlled with Removable Pumice Stone

Coffee, tea or sleep?

We all know that the caffeine in coffee can disrupt a good night’s sleep. Many opt for tea instead. However, tea does contain caffeine, as well. According to Mayo Clinic, a cup of black tea contains 47mg of caffeine, about half the amount in coffee at 96mg. But take note, not all coffee (and tea) are created equal. Caffeine amounts differ based on the coffee beans (or tea leaves) and other factors like the roasting process.

A Starbucks venti Pike Place Roast coffee, for example, contains a whopping 310mg of caffeine. Besides tea, be aware of the cumulative consumption of food and drinks such as chocolates, soda and energy drinks, which contain a substantial amount of the culprit that's keeping you up way past your bedtime. Here's looking at you, coke!

Why not set a cut-off time for consumption of such liquids and snacks? Or adopt a turn-down routine by consuming caffeine-free night-time beverages with ingredients like lavender, chamomile or valerian that are known to relax the mind and body.

Sleep Tight Teabag

PHOTO: T2 Tea. Sleep Tight Teabag
 
PHOTO: T2 Tea. Sleep Tight Teabag

Organic Smooth Move, Senna Chamomile, Caffeine Free, 16 Tea Bags

PHOTO: iHerb. Chamomile, Caffeine Free, 16 Wrapped Tea Bags
 
PHOTO: iHerb. Chamomile, Caffeine Free, 16 Wrapped Tea Bags

Love coffee too much to give it up? Try these full-bodied coffee flavoured dandelion beverages with zero caffeine. This could be the game-changer in your sleep routine.

Instant Herbal Beverage with Dandelion, Caffeine-Free, Organic, 100g,

PHOTO: iHerb. Dandy Blend, Instant Herbal Beverage with Dandelion, Caffeine-Free, Organic
 
PHOTO: iHerb. Dandy Blend, Instant Herbal Beverage with Dandelion, Caffeine-Free, Organic

Prefer teabags? Here's another dandelion beverage option.

Monitor your sleep 

Make full use of your handphone features or get yourself a handy fitness watch like the new Apple Watch Series 7 or Fitbit and monitor your activity and sleep patterns. 

Apple Watch Series 7

PHOTO: Amazon. The new Apple Watch Series 7
 
PHOTO: Amazon. The new Apple Watch Series 7

Fitbit Charge 5

PHOTO: Amazon. Fitbit Charge 5
 
PHOTO: Amazon. Fitbit Charge 5

Fitbit Versa 3 Health & Fitness Smartwatch with GPS

PHOTO: Amazon. Fitbit Versa 3 Health & Fitness Smartwatch with GPS, 24/7 Heart Rate, 6+ Days Battery, Midnight Blue/Gold
 
PHOTO: Amazon. Fitbit Versa 3 Health & Fitness Smartwatch with GPS, 24/7 Heart Rate, 6+ Days Battery, Midnight Blue/Gold

Create the best sleep environment

Invest in high-quality cooling pillows and bedsheets

Having the right conditions such as the right temperature, comfortable pillow and bedsheets do wonders for a restful night. Try Tempur’s cooling pillow and bedsheets made of mulberry silk that will lull you into dreamland. Add a spritz of lavender mist for relaxation. 

Snowdown Premier Super Soft 100% Down Pillow

PHOTO: Robinsons. Snowdown Premier Super Soft 100% Down Pillow.
 
PHOTO: Robinsons. Snowdown Premier Super Soft 100% Down Pillow.

Tempur-Pedic Cloud + Cooling Neck Pillow

PHOTO: Amazon. Tempur-Pedic Cloud + Cooling Neck Pillow, Medium, Blue
 
PHOTO: Amazon. Tempur-Pedic Cloud + Cooling Neck Pillow, Medium, Blue

100% Mulberry Silk Bed Sheet 4 pieces set, assorted colours

PHOTO: Amazon. 100% Mulberry Silk Bed Sheet 4 pieces set, assorted colours
 
PHOTO: Amazon. 100% Mulberry Silk Bed Sheet 4 pieces set, assorted colours

Pure Lavender Essential Oil and Chamomile Pillow Spray, Linen Mist, and Fabric Spray

PHOTO: Amazon. Pure Lavender Essential Oil and Chamomile Pillow Spray, Linen Mist, and Fabric Spray
 
PHOTO: Amazon. Pure Lavender Essential Oil and Chamomile Pillow Spray, Linen Mist, and Fabric Spray

Whether you are staying up way beyond your bedtime due to anxiety, bright room conditions, or noisy neighbours, these sleep aids – from diffuser, aromatherapy oils, Himalayan salt lamp, night sleeping mask, noise-cancelling gadgets to a white noise machine – will work for you.

Himalayan Salt Lamp Healthy Ionizer

PHOTO: Amazon. Himalayan Salt Lamp Healthy Ionizer
 
PHOTO: Amazon. Himalayan Salt Lamp Healthy Ionizer

Bluetooth Handsfree Sleep Eye Shades Built-in Speakers Microphone Washable

PHOTO: Amazon. Sleeping Headset 4.2 Bluetooth Handsfree Sleep Eye Shades Built-in Speakers Microphone Washable
 
PHOTO: Amazon. Sleeping Headset 4.2 Bluetooth Handsfree Sleep Eye Shades Built-in Speakers Microphone Washable

Headphones Sleep Mask, Noise Cancelling Headphones

PHOTO: Amazon. Bluetooth Headband Sleeping Headphones Sleep Mask, Noise Cancelling
 
PHOTO: Amazon. Bluetooth Headband Sleeping Headphones Sleep Mask, Noise Cancelling

White Noise Machine Baby for Sleeping, Night Light/Starry Ambient Light, USB

PHOTO: Amazon. White Noise Machine Baby for Sleeping with Night Light/Starry Ambient Light, USB Portable
 
PHOTO: Amazon. White Noise Machine Baby for Sleeping with Night Light/Starry Ambient Light, USB Portable

Establish a sleep ritual

First up, start with a warm bath using the Lavender Scented Premium Epsom Bath Salt and hydrate with the Aveeno Stress Relief Moisturizing Lotion infused with the calming scents of lavender and chamomile and ylang-ylang essential oils. Lavender is your best sleeping buddy. Its' aromatherapy oil calms the nervous system by lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature. Brain waves also go into a more relaxed state.

Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light, App-Enabled

The app-enabled Philips wake-up lights are clinically proven by physicians in establishing healthy sleep and wake-up routine. According to Philips, it's been proven to enhance your mood in the morning. Wake up happy? Bring it on!

PHOTO: Amazon. Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light, Personalized Sunrise and Sunset, SleepMapper App-Enabled
 
PHOTO: Amazon. Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light, Personalized Sunrise and Sunset, SleepMapper App-Enabled

Journal away your worries

Plagued by worries even during bedtime? Establish good sleep hygiene with the help of this 66-day guided journal that will help you enjoy an intentional evening routine before bed.

#1 Wellness Journal for Evening Habits, Self-Care Journal with Prompts

PHOTO: Amazon. #1 Wellness Journal for Evening Habits, Daily Journal with Prompts, Guided Journal, Self-Care Journal
 
PHOTO: Amazon. #1 Wellness Journal for Evening Habits, Daily Journal with Prompts, Guided Journal, Self-Care Journal

Try meditation and mindfulness

So much more than a sleep app, Headspace includes meditations, breathing exercises, wellness articles and more. Now you can get it for free. Try the 14-day trial now.

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https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/cut-down-on-coffee-grinder-mess-with-drop-of-water-article

 

the Ross Droplet Technique (a.k.a. RDT), which sounds very technical, but amounts to this: Add a single drop of water to your unground beans, stir it around with your finger or the handle of a spoon, and grind. Not to get too into the science of it, but static electricity is caused by an imbalance in positive and negative charges; a cold environment or one with low humidity can make those opposing forces worse. Adding a small amount of moisture increases the humidity in the grinder. This idea was allegedly first proposed in a 2005 online coffee forum by one David Ross, although the original thread appears to have been lost to the sands of time. While the origins of the technique are somewhat hazy, the results are undeniable. After my first round using the RDT, the ground coffee came out in a tidy pile with no wisps anywhere in sight. In fact, the method was so simple, I figured I must be missing something, so I reached out to a couple of experts to make sure I wasn’t doing any damage to the machine (or to the beans).

 

“Every situation is different,” says Sahra Nguyen, founder of Nguyen Coffee Supply. When you factor in conditions like “weather, heat, and humidity in the home,” you may need a little more or a little less water for the method to work properly. Both Nguyen and Nick Terzulli, the director of mechanical engineering at Fellow, agree, however, that any amount of water you use should be minute.

 

Terzulli likes to use the spoon method: Run the handle of a spoon under water—he says “you only need one or two drops of water.” Then stir a single dose (15 to 80 grams) of whole coffee beans with the handle. He’s also a proponent of the spray method: Using a miniature spray bottle, spritz a single dose of beans once or twice, then stir or shake beans to distribute before grinding.

Nguyen favors the finger method: Dip one finger into a cup of water, wave your finger over a single dose of beans three times, and then use a dry finger to mix the beans and water droplets together. She says “this finger-waving technique adds about 0.1 gram of water to the beans” and that “if there is still static, you may need a fourth wave.”

 

You’ll love iced coffee even more when you don’t have to vacuum up after it.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle

The type of water you use doesn’t matter much, but Terzulli usually opts for filtered. You should aim for tepid water, however, or water that’s the same temperature (ideally room temperature) as the beans you’re using.

Neither expert recommends using this method for a larger batch of beans, or for beans you don’t plan on grinding right away. “Any water contact is technically beginning the extraction process,” Nguyen says. “If you’re not brewing [the beans] and drinking [the coffee] right away, then you’ll be missing out on some part of the experience. Will you notice the difference in flavor and taste? That’s a personal determination.”

Terzulli notes that “because water evaporates over time, using this method may work great on day one for [a larger stash of] beans in your hopper, but by the next day, your results will not be the same. Plus, keeping coffee wet for extended periods of time is not recommended.”

Edited by The_King
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