This Kickstarter Fort Is a 20-Something’s Home Must-Have

Let's Talk About Your Bedroom

A clutter-free, zen-ybedroom is pretty much essential for easing into a sleepy state. Design yours for rest and relaxation (clothes in the closet, tech out of the room, and a few sleep-inducingplants doesn't hurt) and you'll start to do both. Still find yourself tossing and turning? It might be time to invest in a good mattress — seriously one of the best #adulting buys we've made so far.

And what we love about Avocado mattresses and pillows is that they're super comfortable but they're also designed to be healthier for people and the planet (think sustainable, socially responsible and toxic-chemical-free in every possible way). The company donates 1 percent of all revenue to environmental non-profits too — so you can feel good about the planet while getting a good night's sleep. Win-win.

Make An Aromatic Mist

Before you get all snug in your Avocado bed, try this sleep-inducing spritz on your face or pillow. Mix five drops of lavender essential oil and five drops of chamomile essential oil (both are really good at lulling you to sleep) into one cup of distilled or mineral water. Transfer to a spray bottle and spritz away in all your self-care glory.

Swap Your Late-Night Show For a Podcast Or Audiobook

It's so easy to stay up late binge-watching your favorite shows, getting cozy with your favorite characters, only they don't have to get up early in the morning. For a more restful sleep, move the action from your eyes to your ears. Turn on a podcast or start listening to one of your new audiobooks and let the soothing storyteller help you get some shut-eye.

Use a Salt Lamp or Gravity Blanket

Himalayan salt lamps can create an ambient light soothing for sleep. Place one on your nightstand or if you really want to sleep like a baby curl up underneath a gravity or weighted blanket. These simulate the feeling of being hugged and help calm the nervous system so you fall asleep faster and longer.

Mix Your Own Sleep Time Herbal Tea

Cozy up to a warm, calming drink by mixing four parts dried chamomile, two parts dried lavender and two parts peeled and dried ginger (add lemon and honey if you wish). Some cool things about chamomile: it triggers the release of hormones like serotonin and melatonin, which can combat stress, and it has anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce tension headaches and migraines.

Write Down Your To-Do List

Nothing keeps us more awake than our busy brains. Let that stuff loose. Grab a notebook or your phone and jot down every list item you can think of to stop that never-ending thought train. With every item on the list you'll start to feel yourself relax.

Invest In an Analog Clock

OK, so we know we should leave our phones in another room but it is SO HARD. Still, if you're struggling to get the sleep you need it might be worth investing in an analog alarm clock. The blue light emitted from our phones throws off our internal clocks, or circadian rhythm, disrupting our sleep. Texting and scrolling can go on longer than we expected too, like way past our bedtime. An old-school analog clock will wake you up bright and early without that temptation.

Ready to score some sleep tonight? Check out the nontoxic, organic mattresses from Avocado Mattress before you hit the hay. So worth it. Nothing better than feeling like you had an amazing night's sleep while feeling good about a product made with the planet in mind. Good night!

What is the Scandinavian Sleep Method?

I learned about this simple sleep method from my designer friend Mia Sandmark, who hails from Sweden. She and her husband — like many from Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Norway, and Sweden — sleep without a topsheet and two twin duvets.

“I truly dislike a flat or top sheet,” says Sandmark. “I feel like the purpose of a top sheet in America is to create your own version of an individual sleep pod. One ends up getting the sheet and the other gets the duvet. For us, we constantly have our own without needing to fight with our bed neighbor. It’s incredibly satisfying to always have a duvet edge to cool me off.”

Sleeping with two duvets, one for you and one for them, allows you to choose one that gives you the most comfort. There’s also no more tug of war, fewer unnecessary wake-up calls through the night, and you always have control of your blanket. “Don’t worry, you can still reach for your partner's body even though you use separate duvets,” adds Sandmark. It’s also a more comfortable way to welcome the kids (if you have them) in bed in the morning.

How do you make your bed for the Scandinavian Sleep Method?

To make your bed using the Scandinavian Sleep Method, simply lay out your duvets vertically, with a little bit of overlap. You can choose to fold them both down or layer a coverlet over them. You can also layer them horizontally, letting the bottom sheet peek through.

Other Scandinavian Sleep Method Tips

Here are a few more Scandi-style ways to score better sleep:

Embrace hygge: Add soft lighting, natural materials, such as organic cotton bedding, and declutter your bedroom to create a peaceful and serene space.

Unplug and unwind: Try a digital detox before bedtime. Put away smartphones, tablets, and laptops at least an hour before sleep to allow your mind to unwind.

Get in sync with nature: Natural light and fresh air are important for maintaining healthy sleep patterns. During the day, open your curtains or blinds to let in natural light, which helps regulate your body's internal clock. Go outside too as part of your daily routine, even when it’s cold, to expose yourself to fresh air and nature.

Calm the mind: Try calming activities such as reading a book, gently stretching or doing yoga, or listening to relaxing music before bedtime. Take a warm bath, practice meditation or deep breathing exercises, or try journaling too.

Eat well: Avoid heavy, greasy meals close to bedtime, which can disrupt your digestion and lead to discomfort. Instead, reach for light, healthy snacks that help you relax, such as herbal tea or a small serving of nuts or fruit.

Don't worry if you don't do these things *every* night. But when you have the time to self care before bedtime, you'll find that sleep comes more easily. Good luck, light sleepers!

Here's How Often You Should Cut Your Hair, According To Professionals

I’ll admit it — it had been eight months since my last haircut. My hair had lost its shape, my layers were nowhere to be found, and my ends were begging for mercy. Life got busy over the last few months and I was neglecting my haircare like never before.

My hairdresser could immediately see that I was beyond due for a cut and said I needed to get more taken off than I was hoping. I was definitely disappointed — I'd been working on growing out my hair for a while now, and it just felt like my hard work had completely gone to waste. He explained that getting consistent haircuts is the key to growing out healthy and strong hair, rather than letting it grow and grow until it eventually breaks. So let's dig into the top three things you can do to avoid this scenario!

1. Just Get The Dang Haircut

Also avoiding a haircut like I was? You might want to schedule one at your nearest salon. Like my stylist said, when you wait too long between trims like I did, you risk your hair becoming heavy, dull, and lifeless. When the hair is dry or even dead, it’s nearly impossible for it to hold a curl or style, essentially collapsing on you and taking on more and more heat damage all the while. I know the pain of spending time on a blowout only for it to fall minutes later — it’s the worst.

According to Jack, getting a haircut every 10-12 weeks is the best time frame or your ends will pay the price. Between blow-drying, curling, straightening, sun, and weather, our ends get dry and start to break without the proper care. Getting consistent haircuts allows hair to bounce back, shine, and perform the way we want in a healthy way.

2. Leave-In Conditioners Are Your Friend

His top piece of advice to keep your hair looking and feeling hydrated between trims? Invest in conditioning treatments. Jack swears by the Olaplex conditioning system, specifically the No 3 Hair Perfector. Made with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™, this conditioning treatment repairs and prevents damage in as little as three minutes. No 3 promises to reduce breakage and visibly strengthen hair, so it’s the perfect assistance to keep ends fresh between cuts. Another conditioning treatments I’ve used and loved for years is the Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, which is designed to restore moisture, elasticity, and shine to dry hair.

3. Switch Up Your Shampoos

Switching shampoos frequently is a pretty hot tip that I honestly hadn't thought of. Our hair gets used to the same products and grows tired of them, resulting in lackluster locks. Jack’s advice is to switch brands after finishing every bottle of shampoo to bring life back to your hair. Have two brands that you’re loyal to? Even switching back and forth between them after every bottle should make a big difference in your hair. I’m a huge fan of the R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo, which makes my hair look thick and full, as well as the Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo, which is so hydrating and gives so much shine.

In the end, navigating your back-and-forth relationship with haircuts often feels like a rollercoaster ride between wanting that fresh look and cringing at the receipt. Luckily, by using conditioning treatments and switching up your products,, you can keep your locks healthy, shiny, and full of life between trims. But take a newly learned lesson out of my book: don't let your ends pay the price for procrastination and just book the haircut.