What's On 18 August

Ellie Smith
August 18, 2024

Dear Reader,

Ever since I was a teenager, my sleeping has been hit and miss. I describe it as my Achilles’ heel; the moment my equilibrium gets upset, bang goes the shut-eye. One time, I reckoned I didn’t sleep for a whole year (it can’t be true, obviously, but I remember it felt like that). Nowadays I usually fall asleep pretty quickly but – unfailingly – I’ll wake in the night, and I don’t think I’ve had that ‘wake up with a spring in my step’ feeling for eons. It’s all to do with how our parasympathetic nervous system is feeling. Gee’d up from nerves, anxiety, heavy food, alcohol, stress, sugar and it’s hard for it to feel safe enough to ‘relax’ and therefore sleep (nourishingly), so we have to help it. Alongside the lifestyle tips we all know, taking magnesium regularly at night can definitely help, and for those who want a more techy approach, there’s a Nurosym. Expensive, very, but it works on the vagus nerve which when stimulated can help send signals to our nervous system that it’s ok to calm down. Good sleep is a superpower and we must give ourselves every fighting chance to have it.

Have a great week.

WHAT’S EXCITING ME THIS WEEK

Mouth-Taping For Better Sleep

What I haven’t done yet for my sleep is tape up my mouth at night. Yep, it’s a thing (apparently it stops you breathing through your mouth which serves to activate your flight response). But my brave colleague Liv has put this latest TikTok obsession to the test – and given what she’s said, I might, just might, give it a whirl.

Bella Ramsey as Ellie in The Last of Us season 2. © HBO

The Last of Us Series 2

Video games? Meh. Great TV inspired by video games, bring it on. I loved The Last of Us (might have helped having a big crush on Pedro Pascal). The trailer for season 2 has just dropped – here’s what to expect.

Fenton Whelan/Grant Silverman

A Peek Inside London’s (Biggest?) Penthouse

While some of us are contending with mortgage hikes on the houses we already own, others are considering whether to buy London’s £60 million Hyde Park mega-penthouse… Sigh. Have a looksy yourself here.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

Isabel Marant Maxi Slip Dress From Harvey Nichols

Isabel Marant’s Manelia slip dress is decorated with an on-trend leopard pattern and cut with a draped cowl neck and a side split through the maxi silhouette. This sleeveless style is crafted to a slim fit that beautifully skims the silhouette before flaring from the hips. harveynichols.com

FIVE THINGS NOT TO MISS

Save yourself a seat at the Financial Times Weekend paper live – speakers this year include Deborah Meaden, John Lithgow, Robert Harris and Sharon White. 7 September, save £20 with the exclusive promo code CTHxFestival

Mayfair’s latest foodie hotspot is Ambassadors Clubhouse, a glitzy Punjabi restaurant from the JKS group. Opening 20 August

Heading to Notting Hill Carnival next weekend? Here’s the lowdown on Europe’s biggest street festival, including the parade route. 25 – 26 August

Head to Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park for an exclusive stress resilience masterclass hosted by Phil Simha, the esteemed breathing coach from Clinique La Prairie. 11 September, 10am – 12pm

Returning to Alex James’ farm in the Cotswolds over the Bank Holiday is The Big Feastival, the ultimate feel-good food and music extravaganza. 23 – 25 August

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