Planning a Relaxing Nighttime Routine is important to calm your mind and body and ease into a seamless restful sleep. Personally for me nighttime can be a very stressful time as that’s when anxiety affects me the most. Through many months of trial and error, I have found a routine that physically relaxes my body, calms my mind, and emotionally prepares me to end my day on a gentle and positive note.
As a full-time student, I would spend hours scrolling through social media on my phone way past midnight and only sacrificing anywhere from 3.5-6 hours of sleep max. However, once I started experiencing anxiety especially at night, I would struggle falling asleep as I had a lot going on in my mind and my body physically felt so tensed and tight especially around my upper neck. I would finish off my assignments and any work related activities close to my bedtime which did not make for a smooth transition. If you spend hours on your phone at night or complete productive work close to night, here are 5 ideas you can try to implement into your night-time routine to rejuvenate and relax to prepare for a goodnight’s rest.
Journal Your Thoughts
Write down all those late night thoughts you have down on paper. Trust me this is way different that thinking it in your head. Physically seeing what you’re thinking will allow you to notice any patterns and give you time to re-group your thoughts. Journaling is always my go-to fave because it’s so simple yet so effective. I had never tried journaling until last and it seriously has changes my life drastically. I have been able to manifest aspects of my dream life I would have never believed would come true so fast if it weren’t for journaling. You can read some manifesting journal prompts by clicking here.
Set the Vibe
Setting up the right atmosphere can help you get into perfect mood for the night. I’ve been using an oil diffuser for about a year now and it has transformed how I feel now. I love purchasing different scents for each season but right now I’ve been using a peppermint scent from a Christmas collection to relive that cozy and warm feeling. As someone who struggles with anxiety mainly at night, having a scent in the room helps me to ground myself and focus my mind in the present moment. Plus the trickling sound from the water in the oil diffuser and soft light is so calming. Another way to set the tone is to change your lightening when you’re ready to wind down. Whether this be a lamp or fairly lights on your bedhead, try reducing the amount of light in your room to make for a smoother transition.
Pause and Express Gratitude
This can be something you do through journaling or saying out loud, or even as a mental note. But really take the moment to concentrate on every point you’re making and how each blessing has supported you today. If you struggle with feeling like you haven’t accomplished enough for the day and wish you could’ve done more, let me first start off by telling you that you did enough in that present moment. Adding this to your routine will help you to go to bed feeling fulfilled, proud of yourself, and hopefully leaving you to get a good night’s sleep.
Think Creatively
Finding a form of creativity at night is one of my favourites. You can easily get creative by painting in a sketchbook, creating a Spotify playlist to set a certain mood, or even designing a vision board on Pinterest. Visual art has been a passion of mines since a little girl and has led to become extremely therapeutic for me. Dedicating a few minutes each day to practice creativity helps me to feel fulfilled as creating gives me a sense of accomplishment. It can also rejuvenate your mind as you step away from all your worries and reality for the time being.
Tidy Up Your Room
Cleaning you room can instantly make you feel better and less anxious because you have control over how your room looks plus feel accomplished. Easy ways to maintain your room include picking up any clothes off the floor, tidying up your vanity, or preparing your desk space for the next day. Placing everything back to where it belongs will ensure you start your next day on a productive note.
