Ways to Wind Down for the Night.

The way I drift off to sleep has a huge impact on my quality of sleep. For me, I need to disconnect from technology to relax and slow my mind down. Bye-bye phone 30 min prior to bed for me. No scrolling through social media or watching tv. These are things that distract me and I’d rather focus on being in a calm and aware state.

Evenings are the perfect time to take some time to incorporate some self-care and set yourself up for a fabulous next day.

Here are a few practices that I do in my evening routine to wind down:

 

√ Skin Care Routine

The process of washing my face is such a relaxing and enjoyable experience, I look forward to it at night. Some nights when I have a bit of extra time, I will give my skin some extra TLC and do a face mask or spend time doing facial massage. My evening routine is much like my morning skin routine but focussed more on hydrating while I sleep.

+ Cleanse

+ Exfoliate

+Mask

+Toner

+Serum

+Moisturizer

+Eye Cream

+Lip Treatment

+ Moisturize Body (espeically hands and feet)

√ Create your Sanctuary 

Very important here is to set the mood for sleep. Just like my 5 MORNING RITUALS THAT ENERGIZE to start my day, I need to create an environment in the evening that is relaxing and calming.

+Fairy Lights

If I could have fairy lights strung over my entire house, I would. I love them! When the lights are dim, fairy lights are my go-to for setting a chill mode.

+Oils

Chamomile or lavender anyone? These are the two oils of choice for bedtime.

+Candles

No surprise here. I love my candles. My life is not complete without candles. Candles in the morning, candles in the evening- doesn’t matter. I love having candles going to make my space feel cozy. Try it. Feeling frazzled? Light a candle. I dare you not to feel instantly calm.

+Organize Space

Before bed, I try to take 5-10 minutes to tidy up and clear my space of visual clutter. I can relax better when I see things put away and my space is clear. I’m in my zen zone when things are organized.

√ Take a Bath

Probably one of my most favorite things to (if I have time) do is to enjoy a lovely, long bath. There’s something so relaxing and soothing about getting into a warm bath and soaking. Here’s what I have been adding to my bath:

Detox Bath

2 cups Epsom salts

1 cup baking soda

3-5 drops of essential oils- lavender or chamomile. Rose oil is one of my new favorites. Makes me feel so feminine and girly.

After my little soak, I love to slip into the most comfortable and buttery pajamas. No ordinary PJs will do. I need comfy, but not frumpy. I find when I’m wearing something soft, my body naturally relaxes. I try to go for the PJs with material that makes me feel like I am at the spa.

 

√ Evening Sipps

Usually, always I have a beverage in my hand (of course, in my favorite cup ). In the evening the beverage of choice is usually a tea (chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, passion flower). Why? I look forward to having a warm drink before bed. Anything warm helps to relax my body.

Another soothing and tasty little drink I’ve been sipping before bedtime is a honey and cinnamon drink with almond milk.

Try It

1 cup almond milk

1 dash of cinnamon

1 tsp of raw honey

In a saucepan on your stove top, warm up these items over medium heat. Use a whisk to gently froth and enjoy.

 

Reflection

To support your relaxing evening routine, I have some questions to reflect on. Comment below or grab your journal and write these out. 

 

♥ I feel the calmest and collected when

 

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♥ If you had only one evening ritual you could do, what would it be

 

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Take 5 minutes to do this reflection and enjoy the process.

Sweet dreams,