Often times my night time routine is the opposite of chill & relaxing until about 7:30 p.m. when my 18 month old Blakely is down for bed. I rush around making dinner, cleaning up, doing bath time (though, Casey helps out with this one a lot), having quiet time reading with her, and finally putting her down to sleep.
I look forward to it being 7:30 p.m. most nights. And I don’t say that to wish the days away or that I don’t enjoy my time with Blakely. In fact, it’s the opposite. Blakely and I fit so much into the day that her and me both are exhausted by the time the sun starts to set. Mama mode is officially off and I can focus on recharging myself after I put her down.
Maybe you’re a full time student, are working really long days, or are just juggling a lot on your plate, you still might relate to looking forward to some YOU time at the end of the day. And maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t have time for “me time” with my schedule.” That’s what this blog is for… to help you find ways and ideas to fit some time in for yourself, and set up your tomorrow the best way you can.
Creating a night time routine, or at least a few healthy habits you do every night, is so important. Mine may look way different from yours and that’s okay. We all have different goals (& schedules) which will all change the way our evenings look.
If you’re struggling with creating a night time routine or sticking to your goals and habits, I hope you find some inspiration of easy ways you can incorporate peace, organization, cleanliness, and relaxation into your evenings.
12 EVENING HABITS TO HELP GAIN PEACE & RELAXATION
1) Go to bed around the same time every night. I try to be in bed before 10 p.m. every night. As a mama, I know my daughter’s sleep schedule can be unpredictable, so I try to maximize how much sleep I can get by going to bed earlier. We’ve all heard just how important sleep is for our health, so this is something I really try to prioritize.
2) Dim all the lights in the house. I start to dim all the lights in the house (turn on lamps & no bright overhead lights) when we start Blakely’s bedtime routine around 6:45/7. This helps signal our bodies and minds that it’s about time for bed and it’s time to unwind.
3) Use essential oils to help wind down. I use my Vitruvi essential oil diffuser in the evenings to enhance deep sleep. The best scent I’ve found for night time is lavender because of it helps reduce stress and calm the body and mind.
5) No phone from 10 a.m. – 4 a.m. Definitely not perfect on this one, but most nights I *try* to put my phone away and grab a book instead to help me wind down. To get scientific, I heard from a researcher on The Skinny Confidential podcast say that for optimal sleep, it’s best to stay off screens from the hours of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
4) Prioritize time with partner. If you’re in a relationship or marriage, this one is important! It won’t look the same (or perfect) every night, but Casey and I try to make sure we’re making time for each other, and not just living as roommates. Some nights Casey works really late so I’ll have my alone time and give him the time he needs to get things done. Other nights I make sure we make time to talk & spend time together watching a show, alternating foot rubs, and/or just catching up on the day.
6) Five minute clean with your partner. This habit will indeed change your life. If one of your goals is to become more clean and organized, this one is for you. At the end of the day, set a timer for 5 minutes with your partner (or yourself) and clean up as much as you can. Usually one of us will take the kitchen and clean up dinner/do the dishes, and the other one will take the living room/bedroom and clean up toys & clothes. You may find that even after the timer goes off, you’ll be more inclined to spend another minute or so finishing up. 5 minutes is very doable and makes a giant mess feel less overwhelming.
7) Prep for the next day. If you’re a morning exercise gal like myself, lay out your gym clothes the night before. As a mom, this simple step makes life a little easier the next day, trust me. Other preparations I like to do is to rough draft a tentative plan for the next day. Since I stay home with Blakely, I like to plan out an activity for us to do between her naps, whether that’s going to the park or grocery store or the pool.
8) Fit in self care. I live by the saying you can’t show up for your kids until you first show up for yourself. In order to be your best self for your little ones (or if you don’t have kids, the people you work with or are around every day), you have to first recharge yourself! For me, this looks like reading before bed. Even if it’s just a chapter, it’s helps me to zone out, de-stress, and get my mind ready for bed. This could look like making a hot tea and journaling, evening yoga, watching a new show in bed, or really anything that YOU will look forward to.
9) Oral hygiene + skin care. As someone with cavity-prone teeth, I have to make sure I consistently floss, brush teeth and use a fluoride mouthwash (this is the one my dentist recommended) before bed. I’ve got my oral hygiene routine down, but skin care… not so much. One of my goals is to become more consistent with washing my face every night & using my evening skin care products. This is yet another simple habit to add to your routine to give back to yourself. <3
10) Body shower. I don’t shower every night before bed, but I do love a good shower where you do all the things. Here are some of my favorite shower products currently:
- Kristin Ess Shampoo + Conditioner… a power duo.
- Dove Refreshing Body Wash… this big bottle lasts SO long, even Casey uses it haha.
- The razor I use… mens razors are just superior.
- Moisturizing Lotion… I have used this one for years + it’s super affordable.
- Olaplex Mask… I use this weekly & leaves my hair refreshed & so soft.
11) Drink a big glass of water an hour before bed. This one is self explanatory, but the purpose behind it is really to make sure you are drinking enough of water. I aim for 64 ounces of water a day, but it’s definitely something I can get work on doing more consistently.
12) Blackout curtains + white noise for bedroom. Funny story – when I was first dating Casey he thought it was SO weird that I slept in pure silence lol. After having Blakely and sleeping with her Hatch white noise machine (100% worth the spurge) in the room for the first few months, I cannot sleep without some form of white noise now! And it’s no secret that we sleep better when it’s dark. Just make sure to open those up first thing to expose yourself to lots of light to help you wake up!!
~
Just a reminder to not stress about having the perfect night time routine. You don’t have to be productive all the time. You don’t have to be organized all the time. You don’t have to compare your routine with someone else’s. All you really need is to take good care of your body and mind and fit in a little time for YOU.
The 12 habits listed are goals of mine to hit every night, and if I only hit a few (which is normally how it is), I consider that a win.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any night time habits that you live by to help you unwind and relax.
Love you guys!! Have a great rest of your week! 🙂
Leave a Reply