Lights Out With Ten and Co
Sleep, wake, repeat. Read all about how our friends optimize their surroundings, unwind, and relax the mind for a good night—every night.
We sat down with Christen Irwin, the founder of Ten and Co, a premium, Eco-conscious home goods company, to talk about her nightly bedtime rituals.
Double, Queen, or King?
California King! My husband is tall and has this crazy thing about his feet feeling trapped (I am rolling my eyes), so he wanted the longest bed possible.
Why is a good night’s sleep important to you?
It actually took me many years to figure out that it all starts with a good sleep- my mood, my mind, my energy, my effectiveness. All of it. Pushing through lack of sleep isn’t worth it for me anymore, it's not a badge of “toughness”, frankly I prioritize it over a lot of things now.
How many hours of sleep do you get a night—or at least dream of getting?
The goal for me is 8, no more, no less. I can survive on 7, but only for a few days in a row. More than 8 hours and I’m groggy.
Are you a dreamer?
I’m more of a morning dreamer. If I snooze my alarm I will dream VERY odd dreams when I fall back asleep for a few minutes and then remember them only fleetingly.
What’s currently on your bedside table?
A bazillion books that I am vowing to make more time to read!
Do you partake in any nightly routine before settling into bed?
I am religious with washing my face and doing my skincare routine every night right before bed. It takes me about 10 minutes.
Tell us about where the magic happens—and by magic, we mean sleep. How do you optimize your sleep environment?
Lol. A cool room is #1, I’m lucky in that my husband and I have very similar sleep requirements and a cool, verging on cold room is a must. We will typically open our window, even in the winter! Super soft sheets made of natural fibres are also a must, manmade materials don’t breathe and can’t sleep when I get hot!
I never read or watch tv in bed as a rule, we have a comfy chair in our room and I'll sit there to wind down for 30-40 minutes before bed. I’ll watch a cooking show or read. I find if I read in bed I can never fall asleep when I turn out my light.
Dave and I are also pretty hardcore about our bedtime as well. Lights are typically out by 9:30pm so we can be up at 5am to work out.
If you feel a restless night coming on, is there anything you do to help get you through the night without waking?
I often struggle to fall asleep at night, my mind is just too busy sometimes. So I do deep breaths while counting my inhales and exhales, making my exhales longer than my inhales to slow my heart rate. It helps to remind myself that “I can’t do anything about X right now, and it's time to rest so I can handle it in the morning.” I also have a notebook beside my bed if an idea comes to me that I don’t want to forget, which will also help me to clear my mind.
What kind of pillows do you use to keep your head in the clouds?
I recently switched to a Purple Pillow and I am obsessed. I struggle with neck and jaw tightness and this has been a game changer. It took a couple of nights to get used to and now I bring it everywhere with me. It has this crazy “hyper-elastic polymer grid” inside that allows it to feel soft but maintain support and control temperature. I love it.
Last but not least, what is your number one piece of can’t-sleep-without advice?
YOU NEED SLEEP. It took me way too long to figure this out. After reading Robin Sharma’s, 5 AM Club it finally clicked and I have been pretty religious about it ever since. I have found that prioritizing good sleep has changed not only my business but my life.