While it’s become popular to ask the question, "Why do people like Beyoncé’s music?" I’ve always wondered why some people don’t. With a catalog nearly 30 years deep, a distinctive voice so exquisitely mastered that it is as fluid as it is dextrous, a master of mystique and musical reinvention, countless awards for her craft, and the uncanny ability to surprise and awe, the reason behind her longevity in her decades-spanning career should be obvious.
When I think about Beyoncé and her music, there’s no question that she is the reigning Queen of Pop (if you disagree, argue wit yo mama). However, for me, and other Beyoncé fans alike, the love for the icon’s music goes far beyond that title, the accolades, and the global reach it brings. It’s the passion, the relentless drive that undercuts her strive to push past previous iterations of herself as an artist, her dedication to curating classic bodies of work that rival meme-able earworms on today’s music charts, and the “That Girl” energy she can’t help but emit in everything she touches.
I don’t care what anyone says, there is an innate confidence that washes over you the instant you play a Beyoncé song.
Whether you’re channeling your female rage ("Don't Hurt Yourself"), celebrating the unapologetic love of your Blackness ("BLACK PARADE"), kissing the scars from a cruel world that sought to turn you cold ("MY POWER"), twerking just because ("ENERGY"), making love to the person in your world who makes you see stars ("Rocket"), conveying the love you have as a mother to your daughter ("PROTECTOR"), learning to forgive who you once were in the face of love ("Resentment"), or you just want to feel yourself ("Diva") - Beyoncé has quite literally has a song to bless your eardrums and your spirit with.
No matter the track, you feel her and whatever the vocalist is trying to convey. Full stop. Even if her sonic explorations into the forays of country, Afrobeats, disco, house, trap, pop, and R&B still have you puzzled about why girls love Beyoncé, put some respect on her name today and every day.
In honor of Beyoncé Giselle Knowles Carter’s 43rd lap around the sun, some members of the xoNecole team take a beat to show love to a woman whose love for music has touched something within us all.
An introduction to Bey:
"I was in my early teens when I knew I loved Destiny's Child, but my favorites back then were LeToya (Luckett) and Kelly (Rowland). I could relate to their unique style and sassiness the most at that age. (I had the Kelly haircut back then and rocked it to my prom). After Beyoncé went solo in 2003, it wasn't until the Dangerously in Love album that I'd truly fall in love with her voice and artistry. I had the CD and played it until it would skip due to the scratches from it being on repeat too much.
"The cover reminded me of one of my favorite icons, Diana Ross, and when it debuted, that was a time of heartbreak for me. I really needed songs like 'Me, Myself and I,' 'Gift From Virgo,' and 'Signs' (with one of my all-time faves, Missy Elliott). The harmonies, the riffs, and the videos were everything. It's still my favorite album of hers to date."
What Beyoncé's music means to her:
"For me, Beyoncé's musical journey represents an empowered one of progression and self-actualization. I've been around since the days of Girls Tyme, so I saw her go from kiddie on the come-up, to playing the background with that big voice as part of Destiny's Child, to the powerhouse actress, entrepreneur, culture-shifter, mom, and global iconic brand she is today. She has really unapologetically grown into her womanhood and unique God-given purpose---both via the music and in the bits of her personal life she shares---right in front of us.
"She seems to be savvy in owning her narrative and not letting anybody tell her who she is, even as a multimillion-dollar brand with a lot at stake. That's revolutionary. I like that she uses her celebrity to do good---though it can get a bit contentious and dangerous due to the machine that is the superfan element among her fan base. Overall, for me, she represents what can be manifested through resilient hard work, full expression and development of self, strategy, and Black excellence."
Her Beyoncé Big Three:
1. "Drunk in Love"
"Drunk In Love," from Beyoncé:
"In mid-December 2013, Beyoncé surprised everyone with a striking and provocative social media marketing campaign for the album. The campaign was ahead of its time and has become a 'norm' nowadays, but she and her team were pioneers, of sorts. My 'drunk in love' early-January birthday weekend the following year included a beach, a few casinos, and more than a few wild public 'surfboard' nights with my guy at the time, a Brooklyn dude who I still chuckle about whenever I hear the song today.
"The DJs were still playing it on repeat around that time, and the song would shut the clubs down, especially if you'd had one too many glasses of Nuvo (remember that pink sparkling liqueur?! Ha!), D'usse, Dom, or that Hpnotiq-Henny combo. There are probably many saucy-sex babies conceived off of this song."
2. "BREAK MY SOUL"
"Break My Soul" from Renaissance:
"I adore that this powerfully liberating song features Big Freedia and a bounce culture I've loved for years. I also love the empowering lyrics, especially in these post-pandemic days where it just seems like everyone is stressed out, embracing doom mentalities, and forgetting that life is indeed a privilege and we should be empowered by that God-given privilege to take charge of our own joy, build our own tables, and go for our dreams in a way that is radically courageous and hopeful.
"She sings, 'I'm looking for motivation, and I'm on that new vibration. I'm building my own foundation,' while Big Freedia repeats 'Release ya anger, release ya mind... release ya love, forget the rest.'"
3. "Me, Myself and I"
"Me, Myself and I" from Dangerously in Love:
"I'd always lean on this song in hard times, especially when I felt very alone. I'd replace the word 'I' with 'God' and it really got me through some dark times in my life. The simple but self-affirming lyrics and her bold voice on this track make it an all-time winner for me that's timeless."
THE Beyoncé that changed everything:
"B'Day, her second solo album, is a soundtrack of life-changing memories for me. It was released the summer of 2006, and at that time, I'd just officially moved to New York full-time to advance my career after working at a small New York Times Co. publication in the South. I'd moved to New York with only my car and clothes and didn't really have a confirmed job at the time. A former friend's mom let me sleep on a blow-up bed in a tiny guest room that she was using for storage at the time, and by God's grace and the recommendations of a mentor, I actually landed a job at The New York Times shortly after.
"I started making a nice amount of money after that and would blow it on bottle service, parking tickets, and clothes! Ha! It was an exciting time both for New York entertainment and media culture, and for my personal life as a 20-something living and working there. That whole album features songs associated with my first New York City job, spending many of my after-work hours at rooftop parties, industry events, on dates in bars and over-indulging in VIP sections at Meatpacking District clubs, my first big-girl post-college situationships, my relocations all over New York (from the Bronx to Harlem, and finally to Brooklyn), and the new groups of friends I made that were a mix of born-and-raised New Yorkers and transplants."
What Beyoncé's journey has taught her:
"I think that Beyoncé's journey just inspires me to keep taking every day, one by one, to thrive in my lane, to unapologetically hold dear things private, and to mature more into fulfilling God's purpose for my adult life. I think her journey---the bit that she has shown us publicly--is simply empowerment in using whatever talent you have to fulfill the ultimate parameters of purpose in whatever multifaceted ways you can. Live life with boldness and purpose."
Chantal Gainous
Client Services & Campaign Manager, xoNecole
An introduction to Bey:
"I was definitely there from the start. Destiny's Child's 'Survivor' running on MTV/VH1 every morning before school was definitely a huge moment for me. It was 6 a.m. and I was trying to nail down those moves! She was 'that girl' then and she's still 'that girl' now."
What Beyoncé's music means to her:
"It's a direct result of hard work. Every body of work she has gifted us with is laced with inspiration and motivation. Whenever I'm trying to hype myself up - I think of what Beyoncé album could get me there."
Her Beyoncé Big Three:
1. "Smash Into You"
"Smash Into You" from I Am... Sasha Fierce:
"We still don't give I Am... Sasha Fierce enough credit!"
2. "Upgrade U"
"Upgrade U" from B'Day:
"A classic!"
3. "ALIEN SUPERSTAR"
"ALIEN SUPERSTAR" from Renaissance:
"THE ONLY ONE!"
"It would have to be Beyoncé self-titled [Beyoncé]. I always find myself going back to that album - it motivated me to get work done, it's helped pick me off the floor when I'm in a puddle of tears, I sing it with my girlfriends - there's a song for every moment of life on that album."
What Beyoncé's journey has taught her:
"Never think there isn't a new part of yourself you can't explore."
London Whitson
Contributing Editor, xoNecole
Her introduction to Bey:
"I was first introduced to Beyoncé when she was in Destiny's Child. My first memory of her was through their song 'No, No, No Pt. 2,' which I would listen to all the time."
What Beyoncé's music means to her:
"Beyoncé is such a powerful figure in music and also as a woman. She is a great representation of everything we can be: powerful, sexy, beautiful, smart, creative, and more."
Her Beyoncé Big Three:
1. "Drunk in Love"
"Drunk in Love," from Beyoncé:
"'Drunk in Love' is such a fun, sexy song and arguably one of her best songs."
2. "I Care"
"I Care," from 4:
"'I Care,' especially the Homecoming: The Live version is such a beautiful and emotional song that always gives me all the feels."
3. "Dangerously in Love 2"
"Dangerously in Love 2" from Dangerously in Love:
"'Dangerously in Love 2'" is a Beyoncé classic, so I had to include it."
THE Beyoncé album that changed everything:
"I will have to say B'Day was the album that did it for me. I've always felt like that era was quintessential Beyoncé, and it was the soundtrack to my 10th grade."
What Beyonce's journey has taught her:
"A lesson I've learned from Beyoncé is that we are unstoppable, limitless, and can create all that we can imagine."
An introduction to Bey:
"Definitely Destiny's Child. From the vocals to her center position to the signature blonde hair, I was just entranced with her from minute one. The first album I ever heard by them was The Writing's on the Wall and I was a fan from that point on. As kids in summer camp, my friends and I even did a performance where we created choreography for 'Say My Name.' I was Kelly (Rowland). I think I was 10 or 11. I have been a self-proclaimed Beyoncé enthusiast ever since."
What Beyoncé's music means to her:
"Oh, wow. The layers. I can tap into my most powerful self whenever I listen to Beyonce. Her music has been transformative for me in many ways. I have been able to literally grow with her over the years and it has been beautiful to see her growth as an artist. I've seen her become more sure of herself, her become more herself with each album, and I feel that in her music and what she chooses to say in her projects. Her music acts as an anthem for me and the multifaceted woman I want to be, but also the fullness of who I want to be.
"She transports me into different emotions, and when I am not feeling like myself, I turn something of hers on and am instantly reminded of this personal power that is always accessible to me at my fingertips. I can be so many things. I can do so many things. Her music reminds me of the magic of living and loving loudly for its highs and its lows. Different albums of hers have acted as soundtracks of different seasons of my life."
Her Beyoncé Big Three:
1. "FIND YOUR WAY BACK"
"FIND YOUR WAY BACK" from The Lion King: The Gift:
"Y'all, if there is one Beyoncé song that has seen its fair share of replay, it's 'FIND YOUR WAY BACK.' The message that resounds for me is that you are never lost, even when you think you are, you are finding your way, and because you're finding your way, you are where you're supposed to be. I know it's about Simba and The Lion King, and more specifically Black Is King, but how could that message not find me?
"Whenever I am in a state of overwhelm or uncertainty, or having a bad day and I feel like, 'Where do I begin?' Turning on this song, swaying my hips, and singing this song like a mantra feels like I'm grounded again. It puts me back into my body, and back into a state of knowing that I'll always find my way."
2. "Love Drought"
"Love Drought" from LEMONADE:
"Those first few seconds get me every single time. It's such a dreamy and airy listen. Honestly, the song as a whole reminds me of how delicate of a thing vulnerability is but also how powerful. To me, the song is about a relationship on the rocks and she is trying to bend without breaking while her lover does the same. She pleads for them to help her end the 'love drought' so that their love can heal.
"'All the loving I've been giving goes unnoticed, it's just floating in the air,' the lyrics are so beautiful in their simplicity but are somehow able to capture so much. Her vocal choices in the song makes them hit that much more. This song is one of my all-time favorites by her."
3. "FLAMENCO"
"FLAMENCO" from COWBOY CARTER:
"The harmonies! From the very start, the harmonies that start the song off pull you in. I loved a lot about COWBOY CARTER but by the time I got to this track, it was just something special about how haunting it sounds. I had to stop whatever I was doing to allow myself to fully take it in. I am not sure of its meaning, but I think it is a song about the sometimes heavy yet always ephemeral nature of life. This lyric 'I hope that God knows that I'm in need of help right now' feels like a call to that fact.
"And when she goes off at the end with her runs? The melody, the lyricism, I was blown away and continue to be whenever I hear it. At one minute, 40 seconds, it feels criminally short, but I also think that's what's really sweet about this listen."
THE Beyoncé album that changed everything:
"4. As far as I'm concerned, 4 is one of Beyoncé's most slept-on albums to date, but that's okay because I love it. I think this album shifted how I felt about her as an artist. Even though I loved her singles as a solo artist for years predating 4, I never revisited them to listen from beginning to end like I did with this one. I know we had 'Love On Top' and 'Countdown,' but there are truly so many gems like 'I Care,' 'I Miss You' and one of my all-time Beyoncé favorites, 'End of Time.'
"It grew my appreciation for her as an album artist. I love that she had a certain vision for an R&B album and she stuck to it. I feel like I've seen her dedication to crafting bodies of work as a throughline in much of her later work but 4 was that introduction for me. Also, if you haven't seen her perform this while pregnant with baby Blue at her Live at Roseland: Elements of 4 concert, you haven't lived."
What Beyoncé's journey has taught her:
"Don't let other people's comfort level dictate the life you see for yourself. If you can see it, you can be it. Sometimes even if you can't see it, you can be it. Dare to take up space as a Black woman and as a creative. Dare to be more yourself."
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RELATED
So, we handpicked one hundred It Girls who embody that palpable It Factor moving through us as young Black women, the kind of motion lighting up the world both IRL and across the internet.
It Girl 100 became xoNecole’s most successful program, with the hashtag organically reaching more than forty million impressions on Instagram in just twenty-four hours. Yes, it caught on like wildfire because we celebrated some of the most brilliant and influential GenZennial women of color setting trends and shaping culture. But more than that, it resonated because the women we celebrated felt seen.
Many were already known in their industries for keeping this generation fly and lit, but rarely received recognition or flowers. It Girl 100 became a safe space to be uplifted, and for us as Black women to bask in what felt like an era of our brilliance, beauty, and boundless influence on full display.
And then, almost overnight, it was as if the rug was pulled from under us as Black women, as the It Girls of the world.
Our much-needed, much-deserved season of ease and soft living quickly metamorphosed into a time of self-preservation and survival. Our motion and economic progression seemed strategically slowed, our light under siege.
The air feels heavier now. The headlines colder. Our Black girl magic is being picked apart and politicized for simply existing.
With that climate shift, as we prepare to launch our second annual It Girl 100 honoree list, our team has had to dig deep on the purpose and intention behind this year’s list. Knowing the spirit of It Girl 100 is about motion, sauce, strides, and progression, how do we celebrate amid uncertainty and collective grief when the juice feels like it is being squeezed out of us?
As we wrestled with that question, we were reminded that this tension isn’t new. Black women have always had to find joy in the midst of struggle, to create light even in the darkest corners. We have carried the weight of scrutiny for generations, expected to be strong, to serve, to smile through the sting. But this moment feels different. It feels deeply personal.
We are living at the intersection of liberation and backlash. We are learning to take off our capes, to say no when we are tired, to embrace softness without apology.
And somehow, the world has found new ways to punish us for it.
In lifestyle, women like Kayla Nicole and Ayesha Curry have been ridiculed for daring to choose themselves. Tracee Ellis Ross was labeled bitter for speaking her truth about love. Meghan Markle, still, cannot breathe without critique.
In politics, Kamala Harris, Letitia James, and Jasmine Crockett are dragged through the mud for standing tall in rooms not built for them.
In sports, Angel Reese, Coco Gauff, and Taylor Townsend have been reminded that even excellence will not shield you from racism or judgment.
In business, visionaries like Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye and Melissa Butler are fighting to keep their dreams alive in an economy that too often forgets us first.
Even our icons, Beyoncé, Serena, and SZA, have faced criticism simply for evolving beyond the boxes society tried to keep them in.
From everyday women to cultural phenoms, the pattern is the same. Our light is being tested.
And yet, somehow, through it all, we are still showing up as that girl, and that deserves to be celebrated.
Because while the world debates our worth, we keep raising our value. And that proof is all around us.
This year alone, Naomi Osaka returned from motherhood and mental health challenges to reach the semifinals of the US Open. A’ja Wilson claimed another MVP, reminding us that beauty and dominance can coexist. Brandy and Monica are snatching our edges on tour. Kahlana Barfield Brown sold out her new line in the face of a retailer that had been canceled. And Melissa Butler’s company, The Lip Bar, is projecting a forty percent surge in sales.
We are no longer defining strength by how much pain we can endure. We are defining it by the unbreakable light we continue to radiate.
We are the women walking our daily steps and also continuing to run solid businesses. We are growing in love, taking solo trips, laughing until it hurts, raising babies and ideas, drinking our green juice, and praying our peace back into existence.
We are rediscovering the joy of rest and realizing that softness is not weakness, it is strategy.
And through it all, we continue to lift one another. Emma Grede is creating seats at the table. Valeisha Butterfield has started a fund for jobless Black women. Arian Simone is leading in media with fearless conviction. We are pouring into each other in ways the world rarely sees but always feels.
So yes, we are in the midst of societal warfare. Yes, we are being tested. Yes, we are facing economic strain, political targeting, and public scrutiny. But even war cannot dim a light that is divinely ours.
And we are still shining.
And we are still softening.
And we are still creating.
And we are still It.
That is the quiet magic of Black womanhood, our ability to hold both truth and triumph in the same breath, to say yes, and to life’s contradictions.
It is no coincidence that this year, as SheaMoisture embraces the message “Yes, And,” they stand beside us as partners in celebrating this class of It Girls. Because that phrase, those two simple words, capture the very essence of this moment.
Yes, we are tired. And we are still rising.
Yes, we are questioned. And we are the answer.
Yes, we are bruised. And we are still beautiful.
This year’s It Girl 100 is more than a list. It is a love letter to every Black woman who dares to live out loud in a world that would rather she whisper. This year’s class is living proof of “Yes, And,” women who are finding ways to thrive and to heal, to build and to rest, to lead and to love, all at once.
It is proof that our joy is not naive, our success not accidental. It is the reminder that our light has never needed permission.
So without further ado, we celebrate the It Girl 100 Class of 2025–2026.
We celebrate the millions of us who keep doing it with grace, grit, and glory.
Because despite it all, we still shine.
Because we are still her.
Because we are still IT, girl.
Meet all 100 women shaping culture in the It Girl 100 Class of 2025. View the complete list of honorees here.
Featured image by xoStaff
So, what causes us to have moments when we’re not experiencing the sound sleep that we so desire? While I wish that I had a black and white answer for you, the reality is that several different factors (sometimes working together) may be the cause. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that if you check out the 10 leading causes below, by process of elimination, you might be able to get to the root of your own restless evenings — so that you can finally get the kind of quality rest that you well deserve.
1. Eating (Too) Late
GiphyLet’s start off with one that has a couple of layers to it. Although it is a good idea to not have a large meal less than two hours before turning in, some experts do say that a light snack that consists of natural melanin, serotonin or tryptophan could be helpful.
The reason why eating too much before bedtime isn’t a good idea is because the digestive process can be a pretty active one. Plus, it increases your chances of experiencing acid reflux and heartburn. On the other hand, snacking on almonds or tart cherries (melatonin), cheese or pumpkin seeds (serotonin) or yogurt or peanut butter (tryptophan) can be just what you need to lull your system to sleep.
Bottom line here: It’s not if you eat but what you eat…and when.
2. Junk Food
GiphySpeaking of foods, if junk food is totally your thing, first check out “Why You Should Consider Leaving Fast Food Alone” — and then at least try avoiding that stuff if you’re heading off to bed. Fried foods are hard to digest. Sugary foods (and carbs) can raise your blood sugar levels. Processed foods contain a lot of salt and salt can raise your blood pressure which can result in sleep disturbances. So, if you’re in the habit of going through a drive-thru at night, here’s a good reason to rethink doing so in the future.
3. Your Bedroom Is Too Hot
GiphyThis one right here, I can absolutely attest to — because when I am hot in a room, I can pretty much kiss sound sleeping goodbye. SMDH. The problem here is that when your body temperature is high, that can mess with your REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Not only that but, in order for your system to produce the melatonin that it needs to keep you sleeping soundly, your body needs to be at a cooler temperature. And that is why your room sitting at somewhere around 65 degrees is ideal.
4. Your Bedding
GiphyI have a friend who just bought a house and I’m getting him a comforter for a housewarming present. Listen, don’t sleep on the power of amazing bedding because it, too, plays a role in how well you rest. Of course, you need to invest in a good mattress (you can read more about that here and here); however, when it comes to things like your sheets and your comforter, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Your sheets need to be made out of breathable fabrics like cotton, not ones like nylon, polyester or even silk. The reason why is because the latter traps in heat and we’ve already discussed what an elevated body temperature can do to you. Oh, and if you’re someone who enjoys flannel sheets during the fall and winter season, it’s probably better to get some blankets that you can “layer your bed” with instead; flannel can get mighty hot in the midnight hour too.
It’s also important that your sheets aren’t too small or too big for your mattress because that can make your bed feel uncomfortable. And comforter-wise, try and go with a color that doesn’t overstimulate you — neutrals and shades of blues, greens and yellows can accomplish this for you. And P.S., one of the best comforter brands around? Coma Inducer. I’ve been rocking with them for several years at this point and I don’t have not one regret.
5. Java and/or Alcohol
GiphyI’m not much of a coffee drinker (although I do adore coffee ice cream; go figure). I didn’t grow up with it (tea was in abundance in my home) and so it’s not something that I ever really think about. I do have friends who will drink coffee before bedtime, though, and that baffles me because coffee (due to the caffeine that is in it) is a stimulant — and that for that reason alone, you’d be better off having it in the morning instead of at night.
As far as alcohol goes, although it technically it’s a depressant, for the first couple of hours that it is in your system, it acts like a stimulant — which means that it tends to put your system on quite the roller coaster ride; one that you should want to avoid if you’re trying to get a good night’s rest.
My recommendation? Go the tea route and sip on some chamomile, lavender, ginseng, green or passionflower tea. All contain properties that are proven to relax your mind, body and spirit, so that you can fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer.
6. Stress and Anxiety
GiphyListen, the summer of 2025 for me? Whew, chile (check out “I've Been Estranged From My Mom For Years. She Died Last Week.” and “I Was Hired To Be An Online Life Coach. Then Got Scammed For $4K. Here's How To Avoid This.”). Other than the couple of weeks when my mother was on a swift decline (and I was concerned about her physical suffering), thankfully, I didn’t lose much sleep, though — and praise the Lord for that because stress (and anxiety) definitely have a way of jacking up sleep patterns.
That’s because when you are stressed out, your cortisol (which is your stress hormone) spikes and that can hinder sound sleep — which can result in you feeling fatigued and irritable throughout the day. So, if you are stressed out — exercise, journal, meditate, spend quality time with fun and supportive people…oh, and have sex. All of these things are proven ways to calm and relax you — on a few different levels.
7. Late Day Naps
GiphyI adore sleep — always have. So, I can’t even say that it’s my age that has a sistah out here excited about taking a nap in the middle of the day (I work from home). And what I have to watch is not napping for too long or taking a nap that is too late in the day. Why? Because it can totally jack up my sleep patterns because it ends up throwing off my sleep schedule.
According to sleep experts, the way to avoid this is by scheduling your nap out about eight hours before your bedtime and also making sure that your nap doesn’t last any longer than 30 minutes (set an alarm, if you have to). If you do both of these things, you can get the benefits of a nap and the benefits of 6-8 hours of sleep without having to compromise either one.
8. Not Having a Sleep Schedule
GiphyAs humans, we really are creatures of habit. In fact, if you do something consistently enough, it can become automatic to you — it can end up being something that you do without really thinking about it at all. And that’s why it’s a good idea to at least consider coming up with some sort of a sleep schedule; that way, you can train your mind and body to have a pattern of rest.
The beauty of this is a sleep schedule can help you to reduce your stress levels, strengthen your brain, maintain a healthy weight, put you in a better mood and make you more productive throughout the day. On the other hand, not having a sleep schedule can make it really challenging for you to get quality rest at night. It only takes a few minutes to come up with a schedule and it’s well worth your time.
9. Too Much Stuff on Your Bed
GiphyEver heard that a cluttered desk reveals a cluttered mind? If you believe that, how in the world could this not translate to a bed as well? Hell, I even read an article which said that having a lot of stuff underneath your bed can wreck your sleep because it can trigger feelings of anxiety and restlessness and that’s because clutter can overstimulate you and keep you from being at peace.
Look, there’s no telling how many times I’ve said that bedrooms are for sex and sleep only (many interior designers feel the same way) — which means that your bed shouldn’t look like a makeshift office, it shouldn’t have clothes all over it and, even if you are an avid reader, it shouldn’t look like a horizontal bookshelf (where’s your nightstand at?).
You need to feel free to move comfortably about on your bed throughout the night — which ALSO means that, although I personally call pillows “stuffed animals for adults,” you still don’t need a ton of those on your bed either; two for sleeping and 2-3 more for décor purposes are typically ideal.
10. Your Damn Cell Phone
GiphyYou’ve probably heard this before and yet, since reportedly most of us check our phones somewhere around 205 times a day — I’m willing to bet that at least 10 of those times are while you’re in bed or when you’re up to make a bathroom run in the middle of the night. Yeah, as tempting as that might be, try to break that habit because the blue light that emits from your phone can disrupt how your system processes melatonin — and that is another way that you can find yourself really struggling to fall asleep again.
Whatever is on your phone, it can’t wait. It’s not worth your beauty sleep, chile.
BONUS: Imbalanced Hormones
GiphyHormonal imbalance is absolutely something that can have you tossing and turning all night long. If it’s due to all that is going on with you the week before your period, try exercising earlier in the day in order to help you sleep more soundly at night. If it’s because you are in the latter stages of perimenopause, consuming foods that are rich in phytoestrogens (plant-based estrogen) could help to level things out. Some of those foods include sesame seeds, garlic, peaches, berries and cabbage.
____
YOU NEED SLEEP. Yes, I am yelling it because nothing is worth compromising it.
So, if you see yourself in anything that I just said, try making some adjustments tonight.
Within a week or so, you should find yourself sleeping more and tossin’ and turnin’ a heck of a lot less.
Beautiful.
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