Getting enough sleep is crucial when you work in construction. Operating heavy machinery, working at heights, and using power tools can be dangerous when you’re sleep-deprived and exhausted. Sleepytime teas can help you fall asleep and sleep better with herbal ingredients like lavender, lemon balm, and chamomile. Our favorite sleepytime teas include Yogi Bedtime Tea, Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea, and Pukka Nighttime Tea. 

Quick look

• Sleepytime tea includes ingredients that create calm and relaxation and help induce sleep.
• Sleep time teas are generally safe, but some herbs can interact with existing medications, so it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor.
• Common sleepytime tea ingredients include chamomile, valerian root, lavender, passionflower, and lemon balm.
• Our favorite sleepytime teas include Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea, Pukka Bedtime Tea, and Yogi Betime Tea.

What is sleepytime tea?

When we mention sleepytime tea, you probably picture the iconic Sleepytime bear from the Celestial Seasonings tea of the same name. Clad in a pale blue nightshirt and jaunty red nightcap, the unofficial mascot of nighttime teas nods off in an overstuffed green armchair in front of a roaring fire—basically living the perfect, cozy bedtime we all dream of. 

Celestial Seasonings is just one example of sleepytime tea—there are dozens of other herbal teas designed for the same purpose: to help you fall asleep easier, sleep longer, and enjoy better sleep quality, too. Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for your health, especially in the construction industry. Sleep deprivation can be dangerous when working in trades and construction, leading to slower reaction times, cognitive impairments, weakened immune systems, and significant safety risks on construction sites.

Is sleep time tea good for you?

Sleepytime teas contain different herbal blends, which are generally safe and healthy for most people. That said, they won’t work for everyone, so it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor before starting a new supplement to avoid potential interactions and unwanted side effects. 

Some people may be allergic to herbs used in sleep-time teas, so read the ingredients carefully to avoid an allergic reaction.

What makes sleepy time teas effective?

Sleepytime tea ingredients often include a blend of valerian root, chamomile, lavender, passionflower, and lemon balm. Each ingredient can help ease stress, promote relaxation, and even provide mild sedative effects to help induce sleep. If you’ve ever wondered, “Does sleepy time tea work?” there’s a solid body of research to support the efficacy of these ingredients.

Valerian root

Valerian is a pretty plant with long stalks bearing small pale pink clusters of flowers. However, its root provides sleep benefits and makes it one of the most popular ingredients in sleep teas. Valerian root has long been used as a sedative and sleep aid in traditional medicine, and recent research studies have proved its efficacy.

A meta-analysis reviewed the results of 370 articles and 16 peer-reviewed studies examining valerian’s effect on sleep and found that valerian can improve sleep quality without any of the “hangover” effects commonly experienced with some sleep aids.  

Lavender

The scent of lavender is known for its calming, soothing properties, and lavender essential oils have often been used to create a sense of relaxation. Dried lavender is included in the ingredients of many sleep teas due to its ability to improve sleep. One study found that drinking lavender tea resulted in better quality sleep, while another found that lavender tea can help reduce anxiety. 

If you often find yourself tossing and turning at night, unable to fall asleep because you’re worried about project budgets or timelines, drinking lavender tea at night may help reduce your anxiety levels enough to fall asleep.  

Chamomile

Having a nice cup of chamomile tea has long been a remedy for calm and relaxation, but it can also help your sleep. A meta-analysis examined the effects of chamomile on sleep and found that chamomile  “improved sleep, especially the number of awakenings after sleep or staying asleep.” Drinking sleep time tea that contains chamomile may make for a solid night’s sleep, leaving you rested and refreshed.

Passionflower

Studies show that passionflower can help increase your brain’s gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels. GABA is an amino acid that helps mood, relaxation, pain relief, and sleep. Drinking a sleepytime tea with passionflower may make relaxing and falling asleep easier. 

Lemon balm

The lemon balm plant belongs to the mint family. Its leaves are dried to create lemon balm tea, which can be calming when consumed. Research has shown that lemon balm tea can help reduce anxiety and insomnia, making it an excellent ingredient for sleepytime teas. 

Best sleepytime tea for trade workers

If you’re looking for the best sleepytime teas to help you fall asleep more easily, improve your sleep quality, and show up for work rested and alert, these are some of our favorites. 

Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea

What we love	Things to consider
– Great taste – Widely available- (Let’s be honest; we love the cute sleepytime bear, too)	– Tea bags are made with polypropylene plastic fibers

• Form: Bagged 
• Active ingredients: Chamomile, spearmint, lemongrass, tilia flowers, blackberry leaves, hawthorn, rosebuds
• Buy: Celestial Seasonings | Target | Well.ca

This is the OG of sleepytime teas, and for good reason. It contains many herbs, including chamomile and lemongrass, designed to calm and induce sleep. The taste is mild and slightly minty, perfect for sipping alone or with milk and honey for extra comfort. You can easily find this popular brand at most grocery stores and drugstores.

Yogi Tea Bedtime

What we love	Things to consider
– Organic ingredients  – Several powerful sleep-inducing ingredients – Compostable, natural-fiber tea bag	– Some find the taste a bit funky or earthy

• Form: Bagged
• Active ingredients: Chamomile, spearmint, licorice root, lemongrass, skullcap, lavender, peppermint, valerian root, passionflower
• Buy: Yogi | Target | Amazon

Bedtime tea by Yogi helps you sleep better and builds a better world. Yogi’s line of herbal teas is manufactured in LEED-certified factories, and its status as a Certified B-Corporation means it meets the highest social and environmental performance standards, transparency, and accountability. It also sources organic ingredients and uses paper tea bags, which helps you avoid ingesting microplastics. Bedtime tea contains a handful of powerful sleep—and relaxation-inducing herbs, including chamomile, skullcap, valerian root, and passionflower.

Traditional Medicinals Nighty Night Tea

What we love	Things to consider
– Organic ingredients – Certified B-corporation- Compostable, natural-fiber teabag	– Milder ingredients might not be strong enough to induce sleep for some

• Form: Bagged  
• Active ingredients: Passionflower, chamomile, catnip
• Buy: Amazon

Traditional Medicinals Nighty Night tea is a mild blend of active ingredients such as passionflower, chamomile, and catnip, plus taste-boosting herbs like spearmint leaf and orange peel. This tea is pleasant to drink, but the smaller range of sleep-inducing herbs might not create a strong enough effect for some.

Pukka Night Time Tea

What we love	Things to consider
– Ethical partnerships, fair-trade practices – Organic ingredients	– Tastes best with extra steep time  – Lavender taste may turn some off

• Form: Bagged  
• Active ingredients: Oat flowering tops, chamomile flower, licorice root, lavender flower, lime flower, tulsi leaf, valerian root
• Buy: Pukka |  Well.ca | Amazon

Pukka Night Time Tea is another favorite sleepytime tea, made with soothing ingredients like chamomile and lavender. However, this brand skews a little pricier than other bagged teas, making it a bit of a splurge compared to cheaper options. The lavender flowers may be too floral for some, though the taste is mild. The Pukka tea is unique because it contains oat flowering tops, an ingredient often used to combat insomnia and anxiety. 

The Tea Spot Lights Out

What we love	Things to consider
– Loose-leaf tea allows you to control how much tea per serving- Organic ingredients	– Pricey- You’ll need a tea ball or tea strainer

• Form: Loose leaf
• Active ingredients: hibiscus, peppermint, licorice root, lavender, chamomile, valerian root
• Buy: The Tea Spot  

This loose-leaf tea blend by The Tea Spot is packed with organic lavender, chamomile, and valerian root to help you ease into a pleasant, soothing slumber. The loose-leaf format makes it easier to control the amount of tea you steep for each cup, allowing you to use more or less tea as needed. Loose-leaf tea requires some additional equipment—you’ll need a tea ball to steep the tea or a tea strainer to strain before pouring. 

Bottom line

If you’ve ever wondered, “Does sleepy time tea work?” the short answer is yes! When working in construction, getting a good night’s sleep means more than just feeling rested—it’s about staying alert, focused, and safe on the job site. Sleepytime teas with ingredients like valerian, lemon balm, chamomile, and lavender can be natural, effective ways to treat insomnia and improve sleep without the side effects of prescription sleeping pills. Being well-rested means you’ll be ready to tackle the day ahead, so choose your favorite mug and start steeping!

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