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My evening routine has changed a lot in the past few years. When I first started blogging, I had a high-stress full-time corporate job I was juggling as well, so I’d often be blogging into the wee hours of the morning (2 AM) or using all my weekend hours to keep up.
I got very little sleep, which left me cranky, eating all the bad foods, and very unproductive the next day. It wasn’t good. Constantly exhausted and stressed, I wanted to just drop right into bed every night.
Wash my face? Nah.
Meditate? I’ll probably fall asleep lying on the floor and stay there.
Do my gratitude practice? Forget it.
I didn’t do a single thing to end my day on a positive note and get my brain in a space that would help me set the tone for the following day. Creating a calming evening routine was the last thing on my mind. So I continued to stay up late, drag myself out of bed the next morning, and be cranky. I was in a vicious cycle of stay up really late, watch too much TV, then roll out of bed very late and end up rushing.
So, six years ago, I created a calming evening routine and it was the best thing I’ve done. Total game changer.
Throughout my life, at varying times (usually high-stress times), I’ve also had to deal with a high level of anxiety. You know that heart palpitation, can’t get to sleep cuz there’s fifty thousand thoughts whirling in your head type of anxiety. It keeps you awake. For hours.
Trying to sleep when your mind is still amped up is an almost impossible task.
A calming evening routine helps with all of that.
Why evenings matter and why you should start earlier than you think
Guess what? Good solid sleep is associated with your productivity levels. Yay, right?
I mean, who wouldn’t want to be more productive. If you make the best use of your evening, it gives you time to reflect on your day, learn from it, and then prepare for the next day. It lets you make improvements from the previous day.
When we’re lacking in sleep over the long term, it can lead to health problems, loss of concentration, depression, and every girl’s nightmare — weight gain!! Ack!
Your evening starts earlier than you think.
When I want a restful nights sleep, my evening starts at around 3 PM. Not in the sense of going to sleep but being mindful of what I consume from 3 PM onwards. Caffeine and alcohol are both fantastic disrupters of sleep patterns. They keep your body in a heightened state of awareness. You stay stimulated for longer making it harder to fall asleep.
And there’s no magic solution to rid either caffeine or alcohol from your bloodstream. They simply have to naturally leave your system, which can take hours.
So I’m always mindful to not consume any caffeine or alcohol after 3 PM. Or, if I’d like a glass of wine with my dinner, I keep it to a small dose.
Winding down for the evening.
To get a better nights sleep, I shut down electronic devices at least an hour before bed. No phone, no laptop, and I do my best to keep the TV off too. Activating the night shift on your devices is also a great idea as it signals to your brain that it’s nighttime and is less likely to keep your brain stimulated.
I also do a bit of yoga before bed to centre myself, especially if it’s been an overly stimulating day. That usually means if I have a shift at my part-time job where I’m surrounded by lots of people and noise, I need the yoga to calm my mind. I’ll do a flexibility set followed by a guided meditation for 5-10 minutes. I use the Yoga Studio app.
Getting ready for bed.
My body is accustomed to certain activities that let me know its almost bedtime. After yoga and meditation, I’ll clean my makeup off, brush my teeth, remove my contact lenses, and get into my nightgown.
Skincare for the evening is rather minimal for me. I found that when I was putting on too many creams or serums, I’d wake up with my skin freaking out. So I keep it simple and use Sunday Riley’s Luna Oil at night on my face. For my hands, I put on some Avene Cicalfate Restorative hand cream that helps with super dry skin. My part-time job requires me to wash my hands regularly which means my hands get super dry.
That’s it.
Time for bed.
When I get into bed and cozy up under the covers, I don’t want to have to get back out of my warm bed again. So I make sure all my jewelry is removed and I have the book I want to read a chapter of handy. Most nights, I’ll read a chapter of a book which usually slows my mind and makes me sleepy.
Other nights when I’m having trouble sleeping I’ll use my Philips Wake Up Light Alarm clock sunset feature. I set the sleep timer and drift off to sleep with a simulated sunset, which works quite well. I was skeptical at first if it would work, but it does!
Nighty night!
The very last thing I do before closing my eyes is to say a quick prayer, being thankful for the day, and stating five things I am grateful for.
Related: My Simple Morning Routine
Essentials for creating your own calming evening routine
1. Everything in its place.
Tidy your space, put everything in its place, and review the day. What were you grateful for? Where could you improve? Were you productive? How did you feel? Did you eat enough and healthily? Did you drink enough water? Were you mindful and present or did you rush through the day? Taking 10 minutes to journal your answers will help your brain process the day while you sleep.
2. Relax your body.
Yoga, hot baths, aromatherapy, and a little exercise can lull you into a good nights rest. If you’re exercising, keep it low intensity! If you do a high-intensity workout before bed, it could be a few hours before you can sleep.
3. Unwind your mind.
Meditation relaxes your body and deep breathing automatically brings a sense of calm over your body and mind. And for those who find meditation difficult, consider reading something inspiring or motivational before bed. I love anything by Marianne Williamson, Danielle Laporte, or any kind of spiritual self-help book.
Related: Books: Self-Help & Personal Growth
4. Close your eyes with thoughts of gratitude.
Three deep breaths, a quick prayer, and say your gratitude list quietly to yourself. Simple right?
Life is hard. And it’s busy. By being intentional with your evenings you’ll have a restful nights sleep. Sure, you could waste away your evenings binge-watching Netflix to numb yourself from the long, stressful chaotic day you had. Or, you could choose intentionality, have a great nights sleep and a great new day ahead.
Wow, I like your evening routine. In stressful life, planning is essential for self-happiness and self-growth.
Absolutely! To make the most of your day and your happiness, a little bit of planning to create focus in your day goes far.