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In case you hadn’t noticed, we humans tend to be creatures of habit. That being said, having a solid night time routine should really be a no brainer. We all did this as children religiously, but what seemed to happen? Life happened, that’s what, and it’s okay! I understand, finding the balance of winding down after a hectic day can be challenging for sure. Lucky for you, I’m here to help!
“You must nourish in order to flourish”
Did you know that most of us adults don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis? Something as simple as providing a night time routine for ourselves often times slips through the cracks. Between working, raising children and everything else, we tend to forget about ourselves.
Creating a night time routine not only allows us to relax our minds and bodies, but also can aide in a more restful nights sleep.
10 Ideas for Your Night Time Routine
- Designate a Bedtime – By having a set bedtime, your brain will automatically begin to start winding down a few hours beforehand, thus teaching your body that the time to hit the hay is rapidly approaching!
- Stay Away from Caffeine! – Caffeine is a stimulant and can keep you up all night long, especially if you’re not a regular caffeine drinker. Drinking these types of beverages before bed will only make you feel more energized and keep you up all night.
- Read a Book/Listen to an Audiobook – Reading before bed can be a great way to escape from the day. It allows you to take your mind off of things and can transport you to a different place altogether allowing you to get lost in another world. Reading or listening to an audiobook gives you a break from the screen and, eases stress by creating a more relaxed state of mind.
- Have a cup of tea – Making a nice cup of herbal tea can help calm the mind and body. Incorporating herbal teas such as chamomile or lavender, can sometimes aid in falling asleep faster.
- Diffuse essential oils – Diffusing essential oils can help greatly! Not only do they help calm the mind, but it can also create a lovely ambiance during your night time routine. Using oils such as lavender, jasmine, or frankincense right before bed can help you sleep better throughout the night.
- Meditate – Listening to a guided meditation on your phone, or sitting in silence for a few moments can be a great addition to your night time routine. Practicing calming breathing techniques while doing this can help ease the mind, getting you ready for a restful nights sleep.
- Dim the Lights – Setting the lights a bit lower is just another effective way to teach your brain that its time for bed. Using an ambient night light in your space encourages relaxation and supports a deeper sleep throughout the night.
- Step Away from the Screen! – The blue light emitted from your phone, tablet and television effect the production of melatonin in the brain, which in turn makes it harder for you to go to sleep. Stepping away from the screen before bedtime will allow your brain to increase the production of melatonin, thus making it easier for you to fall asleep. Plus let’s get real, that coupled with the endless social media scroll is a lethal combo!
- Listen to soft music – Listening to music, white noise, or pink noise can help drown out other sounds around you and encourage a sound sleep.
- Prep your environment– Draw the shades to block out any external lights, i.e. street lights, or cars passing by if you live in a busy area. If you have thinner shades, utilize a sleep mask so you can block out all light and really catch those Zzz’s! Don’t knock a good pair of ear plugs either! We all have had that upstairs neighbor who just can’t keep it down. {Maybe they need this night time routine list too!}
The Importance of Creating a Night Time Routine
Repeating the same actions daily are the beginnings of a new habit. By creating a night time routine you’ll train your brain to know when it is time to wind down and relax. Having this night time routine in place with not only improve the quality of your sleep, but leave you feeling rested & restored, ready to take on a new day!
30 Days to Live Life 