Settling into Your Best Night of Sleep

There is something different about the night and settling into sleep. You’ve gone through a whole day and new experiences. This is the time you get for yourself…to unwind and get ready for tomorrow. It may not be the same as that fresh feeling of the morning, but it certainly brings a sort of conclusion. Even better, there are specific things you can do during the night that will positively affect your mornings.

I know there is quite the debate about showering in the morning, evening or both. Some people think that showering in the morning wakes you up, while others think that showering in the night gets rid of the worries of the day. Then there are people like me who really can’t choose one so I do both.

Either way, I truly do believe a shower at night makes a huge difference. Not only does it wash away your stresses (and dirt), it also prepares you for restful sleep. I remember when I was younger, I would always despise taking evening showers. I was so exhausted, I just wanted to hop right into bed. But, one phrase from my mom would always force me into the shower. “You’ll feel so clean and refreshed once you take a hot shower and put on your pajamas.” Ah yes, that would always get me.

Maybe it’s just me, but relaxing smells are a must in the night. I currently have my diffuser going now as I write from my bed. Something about the lavender and camomile scents always get me in the mood to sleep. So feel free to light that candle or power up the diffuser. Even better, I seriously suggest investing in a sleep spray. They really aren’t all that expensive. The one I used it called ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray. It has lavender, camomile, and vetivert. I spray it on my pillow about ten minutes before I settle into bed. It’s a game changer.

I know a lot of people won’t want to hear this, but staying off your phone is especially important if you’re trying to get into sleep mode. You’ve probably heard this over and over, but the blue light that your phone emits actually keeps your brain up at night. It is known to mess with your circadian rhythm and ultimately interrupt your sleep cycle. Try and do something else besides staring at your phone minutes before you go to sleep. I personally love to read just a chapter of a book which takes me just about 15 minutes. It’s a small part of your day and gets your eyes just tired enough to fall asleep.

I started this new thing not too long ago. I was super stressed with my whole life around me and felt like everything around me was falling apart. While venting to someone super close to me, they suggested I write five things I’m grateful for as I’m settling into bed. And let me tell you, it was the best idea ever. It’s so simple. Just five simple things to pick out of my day. Over time, it got easier and easier to identify those things. Sometimes it’s people, other times it’s experiences, and even food…definitely food. Anyways, I think doing some kind of positive writing is perfect for the evening. We all stress so much during the day. We might as well end it on an uplifting note.

Talking about stress, I’m not sure about you, but I am an avid over-thinker. I constantly think about my entire day and mostly about what went wrong. “What could I have done better?” “What could I have said instead?” “Why did I slack on that one thing?” These are all things that go through my head as the night comes around. I’ve realized that these worries make themselves very present in my dreams or by simply waking me up multiple times throughout the night.

That being said, it’s important to put your negative thoughts to rest. Tomorrow is a new day and a chance to start again. All those worries can be dealt with tomorrow, not tonight. It’s simply not the time. I have found that doing nighttime meditations works best to distract me from my thoughts, but venting to a loved one or writing all your thoughts down works just as well.

Sleep is way more important than you think. Just try going a few days without proper sleep and you’ll see how it affects you both mentally and physically. So, try incorporating these methods into your nighttime routine. As you do these practices over time, and even add in ones you feel help you, you’ll see how much quicker you can fall asleep and stay asleep. You’ll even feel ten times better in the morning as you are refreshed and ready for another day.