There seems to come a point in life when you realise that you need at least 7 hours of sleep a night to function like a capable human being and fighting anything else is futile. The moment I started to prioritise sleep and the value of a great evening routine was also the moment I recognised I’d turned into an adult.
It took me a long time to get into this stage. I used to resent coming home from work and not having ‘enough of an evening’ if I went to bed too early, but really this just drove me into an unhealthy cycle of not getting enough sleep. As I started to adjust my morning routine to one that started super early, I found that adjusting my evening routine had to naturally follow suit.
I’m a firm believer that a good morning routine starts the night before. I come home from work, eat dinner, shower and watch some TV before heading to bed at 9.30. I usually watch something on my phone or read a book for half an hour, before lights out at 10pm. I have little practices I’ve added into my evening routine that have really helped me get into a bedtime mindset and I thought I’d share them for anyone else looking for a reset.
// Get Prepared For The Morning
Unless I’m at the point of complete exhaustion, I rarely go to bed with a messy house. I spend 10 – 15 minutes before bed just picking things up and putting them in their rightful place. It’s much nicer going to bed when your environment is all in order, and it also means that your morning can start off much smoother. Whether it’s getting your breakfast ready the night before or laying out your gym clothes – anything you can do to take the edge off in the morning will be something you thank yourself for.
// Swap The Screen For A Book
Whilst using my phone before bed doesn’t personally have a negative effect on my sleep cycle, I do find that swapping the time out to read a physical book can be more beneficial. There is something about getting lost in a story that can really help to make my eyes start to feel heavy. I won’t pretend it’s something I do regularly – but it is something I’m trying to introduce. I bought a new book at the weekend and am hoping once I get gripped by it that it’s something I’ll want to read before bed.
// Scent Yourself To Sleep
As mentioned previously, I’m a big believer in using scent to help relax the body and mind. I love to use candles, diffusers and sleep spray to help encourage a restful sleep and will always use some sort of combination before bed to make sure I’m in the right frame of mind. Having a candle burning whilst you read a book, or putting your diffuser on with a lavender essential oil 30 minutes before bed can really make the difference. Just be mindful when using candles before bed – you don’t want to fall asleep with it still burning!
// Develop A Good Skincare Routine
Taking my makeup off and applying my skincare is a great signal for me that it’s time for bed. I try to do this a good while before bed so that I can take my time and use it as a bit of me-time, rather than it being a slap dash rush job 5 minutes before I aim to sleep. Taking this time for yourself can actually be super relaxing and helps promote a positive self-care routine and is something I really encourage!
What are your tips for getting a good night sleep?
Leave a Reply