ANATOMY OF MOLLY'S NIGHTSTAND

By Molly Young

Cup of sleep-inducing beverage

If I can’t sleep I heat coconut milk or almond milk on the stove and add a teaspoon of ground reishi and ashwagandha (sleep-inducing botanicals) and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Don’t think it works but it tastes good.

Books by Alison Lurie

If I find an author I like, I tend to read all of their work at once in chronological order. That way I can sense the progression of their writing—I can see how they change, what choices they make, how their themes evolve. I am currently in an Alison Lurie stage. Highly recommended!

Plant

When I got sick as a kid, my dad would bring green clippings from the garden and put them in a jar by my bed. Plants are soothing. I like to have a plant within sight at all times. This is a pothos aka devil’s ivy.

Silver bowl lightbulb (in lamp)

Bright enough to read by but dim enough to encourage drowsiness.

Crossword puzzles

Another effective soporific. I keep puzzles by my bed and crack them slowly over the course of weeks, sometimes filling in just one or two answers before I fall asleep. I’ve conditioned myself to get sleepy when I pick up a puzzle. I keep hoping that I will have a dream about crosswords one night, but I haven’t so far.

Molly Young is a writer in New York City.
Read her work and follow her Instagram.