In a parallel universe where we are not knee-deep in this shitstorm that is 2020, I’m the woman who lounges languidly in silk jammies on my couch with glass of cabernet while the kids put themselves to bed.

In this actual universe, I’m more along the lines of the woman who wears the same pair of drop-crotch sweatpants 5 times a week and struggles to get all the kids down in under two hours so I can read some non-apocalyptic historical fiction on my iPad before nodding off to sleep, hopefully before 10. (She’s a gas! A real gas!)

But when my nighttime routine doesn’t work and sleep is elusive (hello, never ending list of anxieties), I like to turn to natural supplements to help me relax.

Enter The Good Patch.

I recently got the opportunity to review some of their trans-dermal patches that are packed with natural ingredients, and I’m here to report back on my favorites.

Let’s start with a great solution for those nights when you need a little help nodding off.

For Deep Sleep: The Nite Nite patch

This patch, designed to help you get a good night’s rest, means business.

One night two weeks ago I was having trouble relaxing before bed, and when I put this on I legitimately fell into a solid and deep sleep within an hour. GOOD stuff. Side note: Some pretty intense dreams, too.

Hemp extract and melatonin are the headliners here.

For Energy: B12 Awake

This is the patch to turn to in the morning or daytime, when you want an energy boost without taking down another cup of coffee or tea.

Caffeine, green tea and B12 are all the featured ingredients, and when I used this during a shoot last week I felt a sustained energy through the rest of the afternoon without that holy-crap-my-heart-is-beating-out-of-my-chest feeling you can get with caffeinated beverages. WIN.

For the Kiddos

Looking for a natural option to relax your kids that’s not melatonin? This is it.

The little ones use this on their wrists at nighttime when I want them to have a safe way to encourage rest. My kids call it the “owl patch,” and although it does not in any way act like a sleep aid (i.e. it does not make them drowsy), I found that it does take the edge off of the Nighttime Crazies and allow them to slow down a little before bedtime, making our bedtime routine a little calmer.

Tart cherry extract, chamomile and skullcap are the natural ingredients in this one that help kids get good rest so they can drive you crazy the next day.

(As always, check with your pediatrician before trying any new supplements with your kids.)

A Few Things

• These are patches, so you should put them onto venous (i.e. parts of skin where veins are visible) parts of your skin to get the most impact.

• You can leave them on for up to 12 hours. Removing them and stopping the infusion of ingredients is as simple as peeling off the patch.

• Because the ingredients are being absorbed through the skin, you won’t get that “hit” right away that you can feel when drinking caffeine or other stimulating ingredients. Translation: A slow, steady release of ingredients rather than a burst.

Get 20% off!

The Good Patch was kind enough to offer my readers 20% off the site with the code SONIA20off. Start with these rec’s and tell me what you think!