There’s nothing like that feeling of rejuvenation and the abundance of energy that only seems to come from having a fantastic night’s sleep. Many of us have morning rituals that help us start our day, mine is a glass of warm water with lemon before breakfast, but what about having bedtime rituals to help us end our day and to aid sleep.
A decent night’s sleep can have such a positive impact on your health and wellbeing. Consistently, having very little sleep can slow down your metabolism, increase your risk to illness, cause mood issues and chronic fatigue. As a new parent, you can imagine that any sleep that I manage to get is golden and to make sure that I do have a restful night’s sleep I have adopted some easy bedtime rituals to prime my body for sleep and to help me drift off.
SWITCHING OFF
This is easier said than done with technology so readily at our fingertips, social media constantly updating and the fear of missing out. A couple of hours before going to bed I try to put my phone on ‘do not disturb’ so that I’m not distracted by notifications, which often leaves me with an overstimulated brain before going to bed.
DEAL WITH ANYTHING STRESSFUL IN THE MORNING
Getting stressed out before bedtime is a sure way to get a poor night’s sleep. If at all possible, I try to leave anything that I know is going to give me a headache until the morning so that I get a chance to relax before sleeping. It’s not going to go anywhere and I know that I will be more prepared to deal with it in the morning when feeling refreshed.
A WARM DRINK BEFORE BED
I used to love having a mug of warm milk and cookies before bed when I was younger and still enjoy drinking a cup of herbal tea late in the evening to help me unwind. I also like to go to bed with a glass of water on my bedside cabinet for when I get thirsty during the night.
PRACTISE BEDTIME YOGA
Yoga is just fabulous, isn’t it? There are so many reasons to get into yoga, but I will save that for another post. Just as it helps to energise the body in the morning, it is equally good at relaxing the body before bedtime. I like to do 10 minutes of a bedtime yoga podcast that I often find online to help me unwind, particularly after a long and hard day.
HAVE AN EVENING ROUTINE
I love having a routine during the day and there is nothing to say that you can’t have one for bedtime as well. Getting ready for bed around the same time every night will prepare your mind and body for sleep as it will automatically know that it’s bedtime and time to rest.
I agree with these, most times I’m so tired that I conk out come bedtime anyway lol
Ha! Sometimes it’s the same for me too.
I totally need a routine to fall asleep most nights. For me it’s a hot shower, essential oils in the diffuser, hot tea, a book in bed and sometimes yoga. I used to struggle with insomnia but having a routine really helped. These are great tips!
Love the idea od essential oils in your evening routine, sounds so relaxing!
This are some good tips. i do love the one drinking something warm before going to bed, cause i always love to drink a cup of tea. And the offline one is indeed so hard..but it’s to be done.
Thanks for sharing these.
I like a warm mug of tea before bed too!
I like visualizing my next day, like anticipating all great things that will happen. It makes me feel very good! 🙂
Such a great way to get excited by the next day too.
I am dreadful for switching off before bedtime – I actually have to put my phone onto airplane mode and then read a book… which makes me even more sleepy! H x
Hahaha! Sometimes i have to keep my phone in a drawer so so I’m not distracted by it.
I am dreadful for switching off before bedtime – I actually have to put my phone onto airplane mode and then read a book… which makes me even more sleepy! H x
I think that even the light from the screens is bad for your brain, so it’s a very good idea to not look at your phone before you go to sleep. I used to leave it in the living room but now I need it as an alarm so I make sure I set that earlier on so that I don’t need to look at it right before I sleep.
I always read before I go to sleep, and I have an eye mask which helps me so much.
I need to get into the habit of reading before going to bed. It’s actually worrying how addictive your phone can be, but it’s something that I’m conscious of and always working on. I think reading at bedtime can definitely be helpful for this.
I definitely need to start switching off before bedtime. Turning off notifications is something I need to work out how to do on my phone as it always tempts me to go onto Social Media. I need more of a set bedtime routine too!
Grace
http://www.grownupgrace.com/
x
Social media can be so addictive, but switching off before bedtime can definitely help with that addiction. It’s tough though!
I always try and switch off before bed, not always easy to do, but I do try x
Grea! Hope it’s helping you get a restful night’s sleep.
I can’t leave anything that’s bugging me until the next morning or I just won’t sleep. I find keeping a notebook by my bed so I can write down things I’m likely to forget really helps.
That’s a great idea to dump your brain in a notebook before bed so it doesn’t bother you while you try and sleep.
I like the idea of bedtime yoga. I listen to meditation right now before I sleep but with extra stress lately I could do with a bit more to unwind!
There are some brilliant bedtime yoga sequences on YouTube.
Switching off is something I am really trying to do. I recently moved where my phone charges so I can’t use it while in bed and that has really helped x
I like the idea of bedtime yoga, that would be something I would be totally down for and might help me unwind more x
These are great tips, I’m enjoying a herbal tea right now 🙂
I sleep way to much for my own good it is true – but I don’t sleep well which is probably 1/2 the battle – I will have to try some of these tips. x
These do sound like good strategies. I should try having a warm drink before bed a few times this week.
Bedtime yoga is a great idea! I might try that tonight! Thanks for the post!
xoxo
http://www.candicenikeia.com
These are some great tips here. I should do some of these instead of just binge watching Netflix until I crash on the couch and then wake in the night and stumble to bed, lol!
I take my makeup off and read a book.
I need to try and switch off more, I don’t do it enough x
My rituals to unwind weirdly enough apart from showering before are going through my phone for 30 minutes then sleep but loving yours.
Great tips, I avoid eating to close to bed time and a drink just before is a no no or else a visit to the bathroom at last once is in order lol.
These are great tips. I often struggle to get a good sleep – the bed time yoga tip sounds interesting.
Can’t agree more with having a bedtime routine I think it’s something like it takes 21 days to start a habit? So that’s really not very long to persist and begin a nice little bedtime routine! i really need to try doing yoga before bed, usually it makes me so much more awake but actually, a savasana is just the most relaxing, calming thing ever, there have been times I’ve nearly fallen asleep!
She’s So Lucy // Health, Wellness & Beauty
I have terrible sleep patterns and it is all my own fault! I get too wound up, or try and complete work online at home and then I get overtired, I really need to practice some of these tips x
I love yoga but I haven’t heard of bedtime yoga and that sounds like a great idea! Thanks for the tips!
Great tips! I tend to not have many issues with getting to sleep (probably because I’m fully ready for bed considering I wake up at 5am in the week for the gym!) but if I’m anxious or worried about something that can play on my mind. Reading before I go to sleep tends to really help. Most evenings I can probably read for just 10 minutes and I’m ready to sleep!
Ha! To be honest, these days I drop off pretty easily after running around after Aiden and being sleep deprived, but then there are some nights where I struggle. Reading before bed is a good one to relax and unwind.
I have been trying to get a book before I sleep. It helps me shift the stress and that, I could easily sleep unlike before when I stayed awake until 3am, worrying lots of things.
That’s lovely to hear that it’s had a positive effect on you.
I normally go to gym at night and then take a shower do some work util I get sleepy that has been my ritual for some time now maybe I should change it up and so something more relaxing and calming.
Im 110% guilty of the lack of switching off before sleep! I’m always browsing on the laptop until the early hours
I have problems sleeping well and this would definitely help me get started in the right direction. Thank you so much for all these tips.