Current night routine changes that are changing my life
Some are unique, some are plastered all over the internet and everyone knows them but still prioritises other stuff (normally social media) over them.
1. Taking a bath (Arianna Huffington’s). My muscles were really sore one day from me forgetting to stretch so I took a hot bath with some Lush products. It was absolutely amazing. I felt rejuvenated afterwards, like I had been reborn. It was a similar feeling to when you wake up after a good sleep or a great nap. I highly highly recommend this, if you have a bath. Make sure to drink water during/after! Try Lush, a scented candle, and playlist ‘jazz for sleep’ on Spotify.
2. Lavender. I have a lavender and ylang ylang mist by Cedar Stone, but I heard Lush’s sleep cream and spray are also good. Lavender calms you down and helps you relax.
3. Dimming the lights. It’s all about prepping your body and mind for sleep at this point.
4. Writing a diary entry (maybe). I like to do this in general bc I like reading back on it - days go by so fast, I forget what I happens after a year. It’s also a good way to let go of the day’s events and have a fresh start for tomorrow. I must admit I only do this occasionally when I remember and have time and feel like it.
5. Plan your tomorrow’s goals and tasks. It puts your mind at rest but also in the right place for a positive tomorrow. I write down my top 3 priority tasks by thinking 'if I could only get 3 things done tomorrow, what would they be?’. I have weekly goals instead, that help me towards my yearly goals. (And my yearly goals help me to be who I want to be). I try to make sure my weekly goals specific and measurable, and preferably have time stipulations (look up SMART goals). Eg. Instead of 'waking up earlier’, I’ll have 'can wake up before 9am by Sunday’.
6. Write down one thing your grateful for. This is already built in to my diary (highly recommend from kikki.k! Shoot me a msg if you want to know the name). It’s always good to be grateful.
7. During all of this, keep social media and technology away. This is one we all know but are still in denial about. It’s hard at first, but it gets easier and easier. At this point, I’ll be irked if someone calls me during this alone time, so I’ll put my phone on silent. I’m sure you’ve all heard about white light affecting melatonin levels as well. For years I was in denial about this and continued my pre-sleep phone ritual, but I’ve finally had to face the truth that my sleep quality if worse if I do so. When I limit my tech usage before bed, I’ve noticed I feel refreshed after waking up, not grumpy - something I hadn’t felt so long that I forgot it was normal. You’re meant to feel refreshed after sleep, not more tired.
It’s all about spending time with yourself to reflect on the day, rejuvenate and refresh yourself, and put yourself in the right mindset for sleep and tomorrow. With this, good night!
