There are usually two types of people when we talk about a night time routine. Those that stay busy up until bedtime with work or tasks, and those that take a hour or so before bed to wind down. Which of those people are you? If you are one of those people who don't take the time to wind down I want you to to pay attention. You may not realize it but you are doing yourself a disservice by not relaxing before bed. Maybe it doesn't make sense to you. Why would I relax before I go to sleep. There are huge benefits to making this a part of your routine that we should talk about.
Creating a bedtime routine by doing a relaxing activity signals to your body that it's relaxation time and sleep is coming. This allows for even better sleep quality in terms of falling asleep faster, staying asleep through the night, and getting a deeper restorative sleep. An evening relaxing routine can also help relieve stress and tension that you may have picked up during the day. When you are focused on your routine your mind is not racing with thoughts or filled with clutter. Your brain will thank you!
What if you had an emotional challenging day? This is the perfect reason to wind down. It can allow you to process your emotions if you do things like meditation or journaling. When you go straight to bed your brain keeps going when you are wanting to sleep. You will stay awake longer, or wake up during the night.
Another benefit worth talking about is the physical relaxation your body will go through. When your body relaxes it lets go of the tensions it holds on to. Believe it or not, winding down in the evening is a form of self care. When you do these things for yourself, you are sending the message to your brain that you value your well-being and your mental health. This can be huge in boosting your self esteem and self worth. When you put yourself on the back burner that's when these feelings can creep in.
Why not use your winding down time to build some deeper connections with loved ones? Do an activity together, have a conversation, or even read together. This can help to strengthen bonds with your people and even give emotional support.
Many of us choose to stick with the false narrative that these types of things are a waste of time, but that is so wrong. The health benefits you are giving yourself are worth it because you are worth it. You can reduce the risks of insomnia, anxiety, and high blood pressure which all can come from poor sleep quality and stress.
If this is something new for you, try one night a week to start and move up from there. You will notice a difference in how you feel when you are ready for bed, and how you feel the next day. Take a hot soothing shower, read a book, journal, do a puzzle. We created a box around this because it's something that is so beneficial, but often not acted upon.
Listen, I know we are all busy. But here's the thing, it's time to make self care important. If you keep putting it off eventually it will be too late. Let's make every moment matter, let's take the time to heal ourselves, let's practice living in the moment. You will gain a whole new perspective on your life if you practice these things. We would love to know if you have a winding down routine at night and if so what do you do?
At Simple Joy Box our goal is to help people reconnect with what matters most in life and to find joy in the everyday. Each month we curate an experience that helps you de-stress, slow down, and appreciate the simple things in life. Even the most ordinary moments can be transformed into something special with the right mindset and a few thoughtful touches. We make the ordinary extraordinary!
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