My Ideal Bedtime Routine
My ideal bedtime routine finishes with me easily falling asleep within minutes of laying down. Blissful, right?
Most of the time, it’s not that easy to fall asleep unless you’re painfully exhausted. But there are things that you can do to help prepare your body adequately for a great sleep. One of those things is a bedtime routine.
Bedtime routines are underrated. They are notorious for taking precious time away from your Netflix Marathon, your work, or just your quiet time. What most individuals don’t realize is that doing a proper bedtime routine each night is a form of self-care. Prioritizing your sleep is showing yourself love.
So, here is an example of an ideal bedtime routine:
Power Down Hour. 1 hour before your desired bedtime, put your phone down for the night, turn the TV off, and silence any tablets. The blue and white lights emitted from electronic screens is detrimental to your natural melatonin production. This is a step you cannot miss!
Read a Book. Reading can be a great way to slow things down in your brain to get your body ready for sleep. However, let your reading happen in a place that isn’t your bed. We want your body to realize that bed is only for intimacy and sleep.
Shower or Bath. Whether it’s hair-wash day or not, cleaning your body is a great way to cue your mind that you’re getting ready to sleep. If you enjoy a bath, I recommend bathing in candlelight while using Epsom Salts.
Skincare Routine and Brush Your Teeth. Your oral health is incredibly important to your overall well-being. So is your skin-health. Your skin is your body’s largest organ and should be treated with delicacy and care. Commit to washing your face morning and night, commit to flossing your teeth once a day and brushing for 2 minutes each time. These minor things will pay off big-time.
Stretch/Yoga/Meditation. Stretching helps your muscles stay flexible, strong, and healthy. This time is also a great way to set your intentions for your sleep, and also to think about your day. If you aren’t familiar with yoga, I recommend following a guided practice in person or on YouTube before implementing it into your bedtime routine. No screen-time during bedtime!
Journal. Whether you write in a gratitude journal, or just a regular journal, finishing off the day by getting your thoughts out on paper is great. If you can’t think of anything, write 3 good things that happened in your day. They can be as simple as:
”I saw the sun and it felt good on my body.”
”The majority of the traffic lights I got today were green.”
”My child ran up to me and hugged me while I was making dinner, unprompted.”
Your ideal bedtime routine is going to last between 20-60 minutes and your commitment to it will help with your overall sleep SO much.
If you have any sleep-related questions, post them below!
