We spend about a third of our lives asleep. Sleep is essential - It is as important to our bodies as eating, drinking and breathing, and is vital for maintaining good mental and physical health. Sleeping helps us to recover from mental as well as physical exertion.
We hear more about how to set a great morning routine in order to spend a great day. But what about thinking firstly of slowing down and focusing at night on what matters the most.
Creating a bedtime routine puts your body in a relaxed state. By the time you’re finished, your body should feel relaxed and ready for lights out.
Since no two bedtime routines are the same, we’ve collected our favorite ideas below. Keep reading for inspiration to create a bedtime routine of your own.
1. Get Comfortable
It sounds very logical but being comfortable is the priority to feel completely relaxed. Make sure your bed is of great quality to avoid back pain and also make sure to get a comfortable outfit.
2. Eat Light and Healthy Before Bed
A significant body of research suggests that eating before bed can have numerous side effects on everything from your weight to your performance at work.
If you are really hungry, steamed or raw vegetables is the best way to go. But if you’re in the need of something sweet, there are options that won’t do too much damage:
- Vegetables (carrots, broccoli) with hummus.
- Other steamed or raw vegetables like grape tomatoes or snap peas.
- An apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter.
- Some fruit with a small piece of dark chocolate.
- Greek yogurt.
3. Wash off Stress in the Shower or Bath
Taking a shower or bath one or two hours before bed lowers the body’s temperature and encourages healthy sleep. Even if you’re a morning bather, it feels good to wash off the day.
4. Top Off the Night by Drinking Something Warm
We have all heard and read about how drinking a glass of warm water right out of bed promotes health and beauty. But, did you know adapting the same habit right before going to bed is also good for us?
So, drinking a warm cup of tea or your favorite beverage can warm you up and get you in the mood for bedtime. Chamomile tea has been used for centuries to treat sleep disorders and insomnia. For kids, drinking warm milk can help encourage sleep. As adults, chamomile is the bedtime go-to.
Creating a bedtime routine can help you unwind and close the day. Once you’ve relaxed and are ready for bed, climb onto your comfy bed, add a nice top warm blanket with your favorite comfy t-shirt and doze off into dreamland.