Tambra Jones is the executive director of the Specialty Sleep Association. Prior to joining SSA, she worked as the trade show and events manager for the Futon Association, and she was the furniture trade show manager at the San Francisco Design Center. Before that, she taught science in Africa for the Peace Corps, and before that she sold furniture in a retail store. (She thinks everybody in the furniture industry should have spent time selling it at retail.) In her free time, she enjoys metaphysical discussions and being with friends and family — traveling with them, traveling to see them and having them come to her place. She lives on a little ranch in the California foothills along with her elderly mother, four donkeys, two dogs, three cats and myriad wildlife.
BedTimes: Tell us about your bedtime routine.
Tambra Jones: (I have a) basic routine of cleaning my face and teeth, taking supplements, usually some CBD. I know I am not supposed to, but I check for emails before bed — I have international contacts. If I am not feeling as sleepy as I’d like, I put on a meditation or a saved talk that I missed and listen until I fall asleep.
BT: What do you avoid before bed?
TJ: Caffeine!
BT: How many hours do you typically sleep?
TJ: If I am lucky, I sleep six to seven hours.
BT: Are you a napper?
TJ: Nope.
BT: Pets in the bed – yay or nay?
TJ: Yay, per the animals: one fat cat named Lu and a pup named Jack. Both are pretty respectful and stay in the middle of the bed. Who likes an animal butt in their face?
BT: Barefoot or socks?
TJ: I hate socks.
BT: What are your best sleep tips?
TJ: Stop eating and drinking a few hours before you hit the pillow. Find your favorite CBD gummies to help you fall asleep. Have a good website for meditations or a web talk you can put on to listen to as you fall asleep. Make sure your room is nice and cool. Oh, and have nice bedding! Nice sheets and a fluffy down comforter — and a pillow that allows you to wake up without any neck pain.
BT: What are your secrets for getting a good night’s sleep while traveling?
TJ: You tell me. Ear plugs for sure. If I have room, I bring my own pillow.
BT: Is there anything else you want to add?
TJ: I have a good mattress, great pillows and wonderful bedding but I am often a light sleeper. There must be more to it than great bedding. I know I sleep far worse away from home on inferior sleep surfaces, but even great bedding sometimes does not do the trick. I wish sleep was my superpower. I envy those people who can fall asleep easily and stay asleep, especially on long flights.
