John Legend is trying to drink less since his wife Chrissy Teigen went sober.
The 43-year-old singer told PEOPLE about his new sleep content with Headspace, revealing that having a good night’s sleep helps him stay rejuvenated and focused.
Legend said he and his wife end their nights by watching their “guilty pleasures” on TV and putting on some sort of “calming” audio to play overnight.
Teigen often tends to go for a late-night sandwich, but Legend said he sometimes prefers a glass of wine before going to bed. However, he said he has limited his drinking since Teigen began her sobriety journey.
Legend told PEOPLE, “I’m definitely trying to drink less. There are times when I don’t drink at all, like I don’t really drink when I’m on tour so there are times where I go long stretches without drinking. And then even when I’m off tour, I try to do it in moderation.”
“And then Chrissy of course has been sober for over six months now and I’m very proud of her,” the All Of Me singer continued. “She finds that it’s healthier and better for her to just not drink at all. For me, I feel like I can do it in moderation, but I’m also mindful that if I overdo it, it’s going to have negative effects on my body, including my sleep.”
Legend has recently teamed up with Headspace, an online company that specializes in meditation. He said getting adequate sleep has a positive impact on several aspects of his life.
He explained, “Headspace does a really good job of finding what people need for their own self-care and for their own mental health. And I think we can really help people get a good night’s sleep with our sleepcast, with the music we’ve chosen, and helping people focus on taking care of themselves and preparing themselves for their day.”
“It’s funny because I’m naturally a pretty calm and mellow person,” he added, “but for the sleepcast, they want you to even talk quieter and slower, so I’m at my most relaxed in the sleepcast.”
Legend also said that he and Teigen try to be “good parents” by getting their children to bed at a decent hour with a good bedtime story. However, he admitted that it does not always work.
“Usually, by the time we’re into like the second and third book, they’re falling asleep,” he said. “But Luna sometimes will wake up in the middle of the night and, you know, tell us ‘I can’t sleep. Can I come sleep with you guys?’ And it’s the hardest thing that we’ve got to tell her no and go back to her bedroom.”
The Tonight singer added, “She’s usually a pretty good sleeper but yeah she does like to check in on Mommy and Daddy every once in a while when she’s getting lonely.”
Legend explained that sleep helps him to get ready for the day, both mentally and physically. He also said that sleep is vital for his successful career.
He said, “It might be the ultimate self-care. I can’t sing if I don’t get enough sleep. I sometimes come up with melodies and songs in my head when I’m asleep. I’ll dream of them and then try to wake up and remember them enough to sing into my phone.”
