Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Nope, this not a bootycall but come,
come join me in bed…
Exactly last month ago I officially survived an all-nighter, my first in a very very long time.
I got stuck in Johor Bahru immigration customs because the officer forgot to put an exit stamp on my passport (I could’ve sworn I saw her doing it!! Argh!), so The Beautiful Boy and I had to drive back and get it done before the traffic gets any worse. My apologies… no in fact they should, it was the eve of Hari Raya! We reached his house at 6:00 AM and I had an important work meeting as early as 9 AM – plus I had to stay until 8 PM that day. “YOLO!” the 17-forever me would’ve thought; nonetheless, my body failed me. I would’ve guessed that my brain went on a trance when I submitted a totally nonsensical piece for an upcoming website editorial. Seriously, how does ‘red carpet velvet wedding planner’ have anything to do with a McQueen Demanta clutch?
I was not even on drugs, then what the fuck was I dreaming?
Many of us often try to sleep as little as possible—or feel like we are still ‘young’ enough to afford to. Facebook, Whatsapp, 9Gag, Youtube, Skype, TV, porn, DIY manicure, supper, clubbing, the list is endless. There are so many things that seem more interesting or important than getting a few more hours of sleep, but just as exercise and good diet are essential for optimal health and happiness, so is to catch enough Zs. The quality of your sleep directly affects the quality of our waking life, and that includes mental sharpness, productivity, emotional balance, creativity, physical vitality, and metabolism. I get it, we’re all busy people. Six hours of sleep may sound enough but actually NINE HOURS is the optimum sleep duration for 18 year-old adults and above.
Let’s embrace our inner pandas for once. Whenever the guilt of many neglected precious hours of slumber starts to pile up, I turn to the ultimate rescue: hibernation. I try to do this at least once a month to restore and reset my body clock altogether. Let’s begin:
PICK A DATE
Duh, obviously you can’t hibernate when you have something on the next day, like work or other important appointment. Either fake an MC (not recommended), cancel them or postpone this altogether! I usually pick the eve of my off-days, then I’ll go for a night yoga class before proceeding to the next step. Breakfast can wait, business emails can wait, worried lovers and mothers can wait, if you just plan carefully.
RUB-A-DUB-DUB
Sorry I am not fortunate enough to have a bathtub in my apartment (which will totally elevate this post to a whole new level, oh well…), but a hot shower will do. Start with dry scrubbing with a cactus brush to exfoliate dead skin and firm problem areas. Start with long strokes from your limbs, then in circles clockwise towards the heart. I like to lather on equal parts of scrub and shower gel for a bespoke texture and scent – DIRTY WORKS Buff Your Stuff Body Scrub and JOHNSON & JOHNSON’S Baby Bedtime Bubble Bath and Wash. An extra indulgent step I usually include for nonpareil suppleness: LUSH Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner! Rinse, pat dry and revel in your supremely fresh and fragrant skin. Yum!
NIGHT SKINCARE ROUTINE PLUS+
For some after-dark skin pampering, here is an enhanced PM skincare routine that I save up for special occasions such as this hibernation night: BIODERMA Sensibio H20 to cleanse and soothe any redness followed by a a facemask – ORIGIN’S Active Charcoal Mask works wonders to mattify skin and minimise pores. A magic veil of ORIGIN’s Make A Difference Plus+ then lastly, I dab on LA ROCHE POSAY Effaclar AI for spot treatment. Upon waking up the next morning, I like to swipe on toner then smooth three precious drops of RENEW Rose Hip Oil for that feel-good morning-after glow.
The night is never complete without some intense body moisturising. I swear by EARTH BOTANICS Gardeners Nourishing Hand & Body Lotion for its super-hydrating formula, which is a cocktail of manuka oil, manuka honey, lemongrass, orange, and rosemary, leaving my limbs supple and nourished despite the blasting air conditioner. It has the most soothing scent ever, I think catching a whiff of my skin post-moisturising itself sticks my eyelids shut together in delight.
SLINKY-P-JAMMY
Go luxe or go bare, that’s my ultimate PJ philosophy. Leave your stained boyfriend tee for ordinary nights. I would recommend either nothing less than a feel-good onesie (Featured lace slip from H&M, SIMILAR HERE from PERK by KATE), or nothing more than your naked flesh.
Just make sure – if you opt for the latter – to lock the door, yeah?
YOUR BED IS YOUR NEST
I used to like wherever I was sleeping to feel like a rock ‘n roll brothel – not that I’ve ever stepped into one, FYI – dark velvet, spilt Cabernet Sauvignon, Marlboros, shoegaze guitar riffs and heady colognes was the perfect hedonistic haven as I’d imagine a latter-day nympho Anais Nin would live in. For now, I’m all about hotel white linen, big matching towels, silk kimonos, and self-rewarding expensive candles that will burn for hours whilst I bask in Kundera. Is it because I have been doing yoga or perhaps a part of growing up process altogether? Hmm…
On most nights, I would spritz the pillows and duvet with THE BODY SHOP Deep Sleep Pillow Mist. I believe its calming jujube date and camomile extract makes me sleep tighter.
Plus, it lingers like a dream with my Earth Botanics body lotion earlier.
Romantic dim-lighting effects aside, I dare call myself a votive enthusiast. In fact, 90% of my 21st birthday presents were candles alone. But nothing beats DIPTIQUE Baies Candle from my parents, leaving my room and everything in it smelling like a glorious bouquet of ripened roses and bruised blackcurrant leaves ala Neo-Renaissance still life. Alternatively on most depressing Mondays, I burn my THANN Oriental Essence Candle which smells like lemongrass and kaffir lime, something similar to Ion Orchard (yes, the shopping mall), luxe Thai hotel spas, and a much-needed beach vacation. I couldn’t ask for more psychedelic effect than that.
WARM AND FUZZY
This time it’s not the red marks on your thighs from an overheating laptop or burnt ears from a 2-hour phone call. TURN OFF ALL gadgets and learn to say fuck you to the world; you have worked hard, played hard, and now you deserve some pampering.
They say a cup of hot chocolate makes everything seem alright, but for the calorie-conscious type, there are always alternatives. M&S has quite an awesome tea selection with chic packaging – as if Pokemon, I literally gotta collect them all. My go-to is the Earl Grey, it tastes and smells beautiful, kinda foggy – almost like being in a lover’s embrace.
Another (unexpected!) favourite of mine, is actually miso soup spammed with dried seaweed just because it reminds me of impromptu suppers in the Beautiful Boy’s kitchen. But that’s just my recipe for sweet dreams…
Oh, and here’s a cherry on top; sleeping socks!
…AND LASTLY, TOTAL DARKNESS.
Turn off the bedside lamp, blow off the candle, take deep breaths through the nose and close your eyes in surrender. Who cares if they may never open again, because we just made hibernation itself
such a beautiful ritual…
Spot the Trudon candle. This looks a lot like me on a Saturday afternoon, lounging in a messy room with a book, sans the roses because no one ever gave me – ah, or maybe I AM her reincarnation(?!) #delusional
I AM NOT A VOYEUR 