Why do you need a nighttime routine?
Do you have a self-care night routine that leaves you refreshed in the morning? Or do you usually wait until you fall asleep or feel tired before deciding when you should go to bed?
Until recently, I didn’t have healthy evening habits. Instead, I would wait until I was tired of falling asleep on the couch and dragging myself upstairs. Then, I would quickly wash my face, brush my teeth, set my alarm, and head to bed.
I appreciate having a self-care night routine. It can help you calm your mind, prepare for the morning, and sleep well. In addition, it can improve mental health. I know because it has helped me tremendously!
What is my nighttime self-care schedule?
I start at 8:00 and drink my favorite herbal tea. Then, at 10:00, I begin my skincare routine. Finally, I read a good book for about 30 minutes.
On different nights during the week, I might engage in self-care activities like painting my nails, setting my clothes out for the next day, or taking a long hot bath. Yes, setting my clothes out is self-care.
( I’m not a morning person, so I need all the advantages I can get!)
Although my routine is straightforward, I feel it helps me whine down at the end of the day to take a moment before going to bed to disconnect mentally from the day. So here are some things you can add to your nighttime routine list.
Self-Care Night Routine Ideas
1. Go to bed early
An early bedtime can be different times for different people. For example, if you have to get up early, 11:00 might be too late. But once you figure out what time is good for you, stick to that time.
Professor Jessica Lunsford told Healthline,
“The more irregular these sleep patterns, the higher the risk for obesity, hypertension, and elevated blood sugar, and the higher the projected risk of developing heart disease over the next decade.”
Stick to a consistent time, and don’t forget to put those electronic devices down too. Blue light is known to block melatonin. So looking at your phone right before bed will make it more difficult to fall asleep.
A good sleeping environment is essential to a good night’s rest. You may have to invest a little money for black-out shades that will make your room dark and stop the morning sun from coming in.
Be careful, though; I have overslept often because it’s so dark in my room. A white noise machine will drown out any background noise, such as the garbage truck or the birds singing early in the morning. Adding these little things will give you a perfect night of sleep!
2. Engage in activities that will help you to relax and unwind
At one point or another, we have all experienced our minds racing from the anxiety and stress from the day so much that we can not fall asleep—this is why it’s essential to allow time for relaxation before bed.
No, relaxing activities won’t remove all your anxiety and stress, but they may help you refocus and take your mind off what’s causing you stress. Less stress will improve your sleep.
Stop scrolling through your phone on social media before bed, disconnect from the digital world and give your eyes and mind a rest. Here are some ideas you can incorporate to help you relax.
- Go for a walk at night. Walking is one of my favorite things to do. Just before it’s dark in my neighborhood, it’s quiet, and in the summer, the weather is cooler at night.
Pay attention to how the flowers smell, listen to the birds and remind yourself what you are thankful for as you walk.
- Enjoy a little aromatherapy! Essential oils such as lavender and tea tree oil help to reduce stress. Turn out all the lights add soft music and lighting from a cool diffuser, and you’ve just created a spa in your room.
- Read a printed book. Digital books are okay if you are not going to bed immediately. Reading helps to focus your mind, which enables you to relax and reduce stress.
3. Add a beauty self-care routine
I love new beauty routines. As I mentioned above, I have a skincare regime that I follow at night, which is also part of my morning routine. If you are unsure where you should start, think about things about yourself that you may want to improve.
For instance, during the pandemic, I realized that I quickly ran to make-up to cover up my horrible skin instead of addressing what was causing my skin to look the way that it did.
So I started a skincare routine and am happy to say I can be confident without makeup. Boosting your confidence and self-esteem is what makes a beauty self-care routine important.
Even the prettiest people can and will sometimes not feel confident or struggle with their appearance. So again, I repeat, your motivation in a beauty routine should be to feel more confident in your skin. Avoid becoming overly concerned with every bit of imperfection you see!
Self-care Nighttime Routine Goals
It’s time to get your nighttime routine down to a science.
It’s tough to find a routine that works for everyone, but there are some common steps you can take to make sure you’re preparing your body for sleep and keeping it healthy. Here are some goals to think about as you lay out your nightly routine:
- Make sure you have enough time to complete your routine before bedtime. This way, you don’t feel rushed and stressed as you get ready for bed, which can lead to poor sleep quality.
- Make sure each step in your routine helps prepare your body for sleep and recovery. For example, if you want to unwind with a bath or shower before bed, don’t do anything else beforehand (like reading) that might make it difficult to fall asleep afterward!
- Choose products that are gentle on sensitive skin while still getting the job done—and don’t forget about any needed accessories like brushes or combs!
For more self-care tips, read my blog post “10 Ways to Have a Self-Care Saturday.”
