After a long, hard day, I have found it necessary to have a bedtime routine. This routine helps slow your mind down and prepare you for a restful sleep.
A night of restful sleep can allow you to be ready to be productive for the next day. There are many benefits to a good night’s sleep. This routine has proven excellent for me, but it may not work for you.
Take some time for yourself to figure out a good routine to help you relax after a long day. It took me many tries to figure it out. Be patient.
Bedtime Routine: Shower
I start after dinner. To begin my routine, I take a nice warm shower. This helps wash all the dirt and grime off of me. I can feel the day washing off and begins my relaxation.
The warm water also helps relax my muscles and can help release some of the tension I gathered during my day. Another reason I find showering at night helpful, I find brushing my hair soothing.
Bedtime Routine: TV
After that, I watch an episode or two of the current show I am watching. The show allows me to escape from the happenings of my world for a bit.
If I am really into the show, I do watch more episodes. When I begin to get tired, I start writing in my journal. When I journal, I have a few different sections that I write about.
I always start my entry by writing one thing I am grateful for. This keeps me finding a good thing even after a bad day.
I then do the classic, write about my day. I write down anything memorable and I have two prompts that help my self-discovery.
These prompts are to help me figure out what I want and who I am. I write down a memory from the day that I want to remember.
Reading
Once I am done with my journaling, I turn off my show and grab a book. I always make sure I read, even if it is a few pages or half the book.
Once I am done reading, I turn off my light, do a crossword puzzle on my phone, and go to sleep. I find a bedtime routine is crucial. It helps the body know that it is time to go to bed.
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