Between the Sheets: Kirby Vann of Moresleep.co

At The Good Sheet we take our sleep seriously. That's why we jumped at the chance to chat with Kirby Vann of Moresleep.co, who knows a thing or two about sleeping right. Like us, Kirby believes that getting good sleep has the power to improve your daily wellbeing and by extension, your life. Passionate about helping others feel their best, she created a range of beautiful and effective products to make sleep easier and more restorative. She shares with us her insights and daily routines for better sleep.

Tell us about why you created Moresleep.co.

Like most women, I had become all too familiar with the feeling of being burnt out. This steered my anxiety and overthinking mind into overdrive, affecting my sleep and general wellbeing. I began researching and testing all sorts of remedies, products and tools. Failing to find any powerful and natural products that worked, I set out to create my own.

I also started approaching sleep in a holistic sense and began trialling lifestyle changes and rituals to help promote quality sleep and a calmer lifestyle. The product range was designed in support of this, using the proven properties of aromatherapy and magnesium to calm the nervous system.

I wanted to highlight the importance of sleep in the world we live in today by starting a sleep movement in the hope I could help other women that struggled to wind down at night. Making sleep something to look forward to – a comfy and luxurious experience to restore ourselves. So we can all wake up to good mornings.

Where's the most memorable place you've woken up?

I was lucky enough to wake up to the soft sound of waves in Tahiti on an overwater bungalow next to my favourite human. I was always looking down at the clear floor in our room mesmerised by the colourful fish swimming. Two steps and a jump away from joining them in the peaceful ocean. I loved the quiet pace of island life and friendly smiles that greet you every morning. Ah...take me back!

Describe the best sleep you've ever had.

I stayed at a hotel with a bed that honestly felt like you were floating on a soft cloud, so dreamy! I was literally having separation anxiety when it was time to leave. When checking out, I interrogated the reception lady with 101 questions on the mattress type, pillows, mattress topper, down to the detail of the thread count. She looked at me weirdly whilst writing down the list of ingredients to recreate this dream sleep. For the first time in my adult life, I invested in my bed and never regretted a cent. Can you believe we spend on average more than 25 years of our life in bed, time to up your sleep game!

What's the first thing you do when you open your eyes in the morning?

Ok, heads up...this answer may sound a bit corny and overstated to some, but it has drastically improved my wellbeing. My mornings begin with gratitude as soon as I open my peepers, I think of 3 things that I am grateful for.

This is followed by a morning routine that I have carefully tailored over the last couple of years. It includes exercise, meditation, affirmations and EFT tapping (Amazing! Google it), warm lemon water and a high protein breakfast. All this, whilst resisting the urge to check my phone.

You see, in the past, my mornings began by habitually reaching for the phone and spending 30mins scrolling the infinite feed of visuals on Insta and checking emails, it put me in a reactive state instead of proactive. I was stressed, anxious and late all before 9am and it continued into the day, eeek! I feel it's important to be mindful of what we do first thing in the morning, it has the power to impact not just your day but your overall wellbeing.

What's the last thing you do before you go to sleep?

I try to wind down at least 1 hour before bed to aid sleep quality and get the most from my sleep cycles. The rituals don't stop at mornings! The last part of my nighttime ritual is to spray Dream Drops on my pillowcase and pressure points. I breathe in the essential oils and read whilst it absorbs into my skin to calm my nervous system. It only takes 6 minutes of reading to reduce stress levels and bring on those heavy eyes. As a habitual ritual the scent of the Dream Drops and reading become a cue to my body that it's time for sleep.

If you could choose anywhere in the world to sleep, where would it be?

Super boring, but I actually love my own bed. I bloody recreated a cloud, remember?! However, I did hear about this conservation wildlife lodge where you can sleep surrounded by all the beautiful animals outside your window. Think Giraffe tree houses, jungle bungalows, shark suites. I mean, how cool does that sound?! (edit: cool. That sounds very, very cool!)

What would we find on your bedside table?

The essentials that I can't sleep without! The latest book I'm reading, Dream Drops, a lamp and my snake plant 'Stripes'. I know...I know, but surely I'm not the first person to name their plant! It also serves a pretty good purpose. Did you know the snake plant also known as ‘Mother-In-Law’s Tongue' is a natural air purifier? Emitting oxygen at night and improving the air quality around you, so you sleep better. It's low maintenance and tolerates 'neglect' well for any of you that struggle with keeping things alive!

What's one thing that makes you Sleep Good?

Soaking in a magnesium salt bath before bed works a treat every time, it’s a luxury because I don’t always have the time, but when I do I get quality sleep and feel so refreshed with that extra bit of ‘happy’ when I wake up. It was what inspired the creation of the Deep Sleep Soak. The premium blend of high-strength magnesium minerals mixed with essential oils that calm the nervous system. A powerful winning combo for promoting sleep and relaxation for all those busy babes, Mumma’s and women that need support getting to sleep and staying asleep.

What's one thing that makes you Feel Good?

Hmmm…Just kidding, no need to think on this one. A good night’s sleep of course!

What's one thing that makes you Live Good?

One of the rituals I adopted in my morning routine is meditation. I know how many people bang on about this and I’m going to join them, settle in. I honestly think it’s the secret to living a content life, which to me is a good life. It took me a while to get into this practice because sitting silently with your anxious thoughts sounded like my idea of hell. I stuck with it though and can say it has had a profound effect on my well-being. I am less reactive towards challengers and my thoughts, instead of putting more fire on them, I can set them free and enjoy a calmer state of mind on a frequent basis. It doesn’t mean I don’t have anxious thoughts, I just have the tools to handle them better.

The modern world is no place for a hyper-vigilant mind, so I needed to find a natural way of working around this. Meditation has this magical ability to change the wiring of your brain over time. MRI scans show that after eight-weeks of mindfulness practice the brain's“fight or flight” centre, the amygdala, appears to shrink. Yes, you heard that right. This primal region of the brain, associated with fear and emotion, is involved in the initiation of the body's response to stress. By reducing the level of anxiety and stress, I was able to fix my sleep and make room to enjoy more of the simple things in life.