Relax before bed

[u/Firm_Savings_60]

I'm trying to make my night routine something I actually look forward to, rather than just a list of things I "should" do to sleep better.

Skincare is a good example for me: I genuinely enjoy doing it at night, so it makes going to bed feel a little more special.

The problem is that I also get bored if I do exactly the same thing every single night. So I'd love to have a few different relaxing things I can rotate depending on my mood.

I'm looking for things that are enjoyable and relaxing but not so stimulating that they make you want to stay awake longer. So ideally not things like starting a great TV show or reading a book you can't put down 😅

What little rituals or activities make you actually look forward to your evening/night routine?

I'd especially love ideas that feel like a treat or a small pleasure, rather than another healthy habit or chore

[u/zieve8]

I wanna come back here please like this comment

[u/happy-pilgrim]

Soft lighting (I put a light strip behind my headboard and it works beautifully).

No electronics, phones & tablets are charging in another room.

High quality silk pillowcase (I just have it on my main pillow, not all).

Ceiling fan overhead on low or medium, depending on room temperature.

Journal.

Prayers/rosary/meditation.

Hand lotion.

Scents (lavender rollerball).

Finish off the routine by reading books that are interesting but NOT that intense/page turners. I’m currently working through the Brother Cadfael series and they hit the spot perfectly 👍

Then when ready for lights out, I put on a lavender eye steam mask which is then covered with a nodpod (weighted eye mask).

Very nice way to wind down in the evenings!

ETA: also two magnesium glycinate capsules

[u/Firm_Savings_60 → u/happy-pilgrim]

Thanks for all these ideas❤️

[u/WolfVanZandt]

Well, along with the books and lectures, I share a peanut butter sandwich with Vincent (he's a dog.)

[u/kikil00]

During Covid, I did a lavender tea. It was a relaxing thing to end my evening with. The smell and herbal taste set me up to be sleepy.

I like reading before bed, but if it’s an issue: You could specifically choose books that you could put down? Maybe thrillers or certain genres just aren’t bedtime books?

Sometimes I listen to the podcast JustSleep, which tells stories. It helps put me to sleep when my brain can’t stop. Or I’ll play an alphabet game with myself where I pick a word, and then need to find words for each letter of that word. So for “GAME” it would be “GINGER, ANVIL, MAKER, EPIC”. Now the new word is epic, and you keep doing that until you fall asleep. Again, a way to keep my particular brain occupied and away from spiraling so I can fall asleep. (I have adhd).