15 Cozy Ideas for The Perfect Evening Routine

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Sleep is essential for health and happiness, but so few of us get enough of it. After a busy and stressful day, slowing down to rest with racing thoughts is hard. Creating a cozy evening routine therefore guides us into a more restful and productive sleep. Imagine starting tomorrow with your energy fully replenished. Sounds like a dream, right?

It can become your reality if you develop relaxing bedtime habits. You’re not alone in the struggle either. For example, did you know that 37% of adults between the ages of 20 and 39 say they sleep less than the minimum recommended 7 hours per night? Meanwhile, nearly half of all 40 to 59-year-olds claim to go without proper amounts of R&R as well.

Sleep deprivation stops our bodies from functioning at their best regardless of our age. That, in turn, negatively impacts our quality of life. Sleeping peacefully is vitally important, so learn these 15 ways to create a cozy night routine before going to bed tonight.

"The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep."

- E. Joseph Cossman

 

How to Create a Cozy Evening Routine?

Your relaxing bedtime routine doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. There are several ways to create a customized criterion for the perfect night of sleep. So, let's dive right in before it gets too late:

1. Set a time for your nightly routine

Did you know that people who sleep at the same time every night tend to be healthier than people who fall asleep at random times? Also, when your circadian rhythms are kept balances, you can begin to wake up in the morning without an alarm. Regular sleep patterns can help make you more productive as well.

To start the process, set a time for your night routine to begin. This helps you get to sleep around the same time each night, plus it helps build self-discipline. As a result, you’ll feel more organized while experiencing a boost in your mental and physical health. That, in turn, makes all the other chips fall into place - helping to create a lifestyle that’s happier and more fruitful.  

 

 

 

2. Plan your next day

Life can get in the way of what you’re trying to accomplish, and things don't always go according to plan. Sometimes, what you wanted to achieve gets pushed back another day. Other times, an entire week goes by before you finish. A situation like that can be extremely difficult for someone with anxiety because the knowledge of incompletion is a major trigger.

To avoid this, consider planning your next day before you go to bed each night. Write down everything you want to do tomorrow, and then try you best to stick to it the next day. When you get up in the morning, you’ll instantly feel more motivated, organized, and productive. That’s because planning your days empowers you to have a more fulfilling life.

 

 

3. Prepare your outfit ahead of time

Start planning your outfits before you go to bed, as that will help save you some time and energy in the morning. Little things like picking out clothes help build confidence and can give us something to look forward to the next day.

Preparation also gives us more energy to focus on the important things, so we’re not worried about details being sorted out when we’re trying to live our best lives.

Then, you suddenly have time for that new skincare routine or for a morning meditation. It helps to be in control of little things because it makes us feel more capable when big problems arise during the day. It’s not just about micromanaging things though. This trick gives you your control back and fills your day with positive energy.

 

4. Turn off all your electronic devices

Technology has changed our lives by giving us the power to connect with the world in an instant. But such power can also have us glued to our devices at the worst possible times. Artificial light can disturb our circadian rhythm too. And since our circadian rhythm is a biological clock that regulates our sleeping patterns, that can be pretty dangerous.

Our biological clock is based on the amount of light and dark that our bodies are exposed to. So, artificial light will trick your mind into thinking it's still daytime. Such a disturbance may impact the amount of time that it takes to fall asleep as well. That means avoiding late-night electronic devices so that your body can adjust to the natural cycle of the day.

 

 

5. Create a self-care ritual for personal hygiene

Having a self-care night routine will help you to feel better in so many ways. We sometimes focus too much on everything (and everyone) else around us, so we forget to take care of ourselves. Yet, by setting aside a time to practice personal hygiene, you can instantly boost your self-esteem and lull yourself into a peaceful night’s sleep.

Brushing your hair and doing a skincare routine is just as important as meditating for mental health when it comes to falling asleep. When we take care of our body from the outside, we feel it on the inside. In that way, we’re able to keep a healthy, restful balance.

 

 

6. Stretch out the stress with some bedtime yoga

Stretching before going to bed is a gentle form of exercise that helps relax your muscles. It’s also a great way to improve or balance your sleep cycles. Yoga is not only beneficial to the body but also the mind. It helps clear away negative thought before your head hits the pillow and that’s why it’s a great addition to any cozy nighttime routine.

This is especially true if you struggle with insomnia. Because insomnia is commonly caused by stress or anxiety, Yoga is essential. The practice helps decrease painful feelings, induces relaxation, and removed oxidative stress from your body. And if Yoga isn’t your thing, simple stretches are always a good alternative.

 

7. Take a soothing bath

A bath is usually a surefire way to bring a balance between the body and mind. In fact, it sometimes works better than Yoga and outfit planning combined. It’s also an amazing addition to your nighttime self-care routine.

Fresh, warm water can cleanse your body and relieve accumulated stress or tension that’s been carried with you all day. A relaxing soak (especially with soothing essential oils) is also good for people experiencing insomnia. After a warm bath, apply moisturizer then dive into bed for a restful night’s sleep.

 

 

8. Light some candles 

Remember how artificial light can prevent you from getting a good night's sleep? Well, that doesn’t mean you have to sit in the dark. Just light up some candles for a couple of hours and settle into bed when you’re good and relaxed. By the way, candles also create a calming atmosphere of their own, especially when they’re scented.

Lighting candles during your nighttime routine encourages you to relax. It helps you get to sleep faster and stay asleep longer. If you’re using scented candles, go with lavender, chamomile, or jasmine for ultimate relaxation. All three are known for their superior calming properties.

 

9. Try some more aromatherapy

Aromatherapeutic products help create the perfect environment for a cozy night routine. Some aromas can even influence your mood by reducing stress or calming your anxious mind. Aromatherapy allows you to slip into sleep faster while also helping you remain in dreamland all night long.

The 5 best scents for inducing peaceful sleep are as follows:

• Lavender
• Vanilla
• Chamomile
• Jasmine
• Cedarwood

Because stress causes many people to lose sleep and aromatherapy reduces stress, it’s hailed as one of the best natural solutions for insomnia and makes an excellent addition to any nightly routine.

 

 

10. Put on some comfortable pajamas 

Get to sleep faster and stay asleep until morning by dressing as comfortably as possible. Warm and cozy PJs help reduce movement restrictions and support healthy sleep. After all, when we’re tired and ready for bed, our body temperatures naturally drop a little bit.

That’s why warm and comfortable bed clothes help us fall asleep quickly. It’s also why we experience more restful nights. Besides, any excuse to slide into our favorite PJ is always welcome anyway.

 

11. Give yourself a calming foot massage

Who doesn’t like a good foot massage? Sometimes, the stress we accumulate throughout the day causes tension in our low extremities. So, a calming massage before bed can help ease that tension and cause you to naturally relax. 

As demonstrated in reflexology, foot massages help boost blood circulation as well. This is particularly helpful for people with high blood pressure or diabetes. By massaging your feet for only a few minutes each night, you instantly increase your ability to relax into sleep.

 

 

12. Slip into bed with some herbal tea

Herbal teas have been used for centuries to treat countless health conditions. From insomnia and anxiety to stress and indigestion, certain teas can be used during a cozy night routine because they help get you relaxed. In fact, many cultures still use herbal tea as a natural remedy today.

Here are the 5 herbal teas that can help you the most:

• Lavender
• Valerian 
• Lemon Balm
• Chamomile 
• Passionflower 

Add sweeteners as you wish but remember that excessive sugar can cause indigestion which could keep you awake all night.

 

 

13. Read a good book 

Reading an interesting book helps take your mind off of the world’s woes. A good story can actually reduce feelings of anxiety and squash certain types of stress. And while reading also helps make some people drowsy, you should avoid e-books because of their omission of artificial light.

Print books are the best option for a quick read before bedtime. Besides, reading is extremely beneficial to your brain because it helps boost creativity while giving your body time to shut down gently. There’s also a belief that you might dream about the characters and events in the book you’re reading. So, exploring a magical world could give you a good enough reason to stay asleep all night.

 

14. Practice mindful meditation

Meditation promotes a perfect balance between your body, mind, soul. That’s why only ten minutes of meditation is enough for most people. In that short time, you can clear your mind of negativity or worry and relieve all pinpoints of stress. It essentially embraces you with a calming wave of positive vibes right before bed.

Meditation also helps to slow down your heart rate. As a result, your blood pressure drops, and your stress hormones decrease. This thereby allows you to reach a more relaxed mindset, which in turn puts you on the right track for a good night’s sleep.

 

15. Try journaling before going to sleep

Journaling before bed lets you put down negative thoughts that are causing insomnia. By adding journaling to your night routine, you process thoughts and feelings more productively. Nighttime journaling also helps you let go of things that are bothering you - the things that are stopping you from falling asleep.

This habit can actually reinforce your immune system, decrease your blood pressure, and improve your sleep patterns too. Plus, there’s no right or wrong thing to write down. So, even if journaling isn’t your cup of tea on a daily basis, turn it into a routine at night so you can get better sleep.

 

 

"Sleep is an investment in the energy you need to be effective tomorrow."

- Tom Roth

Final Thoughts

Having a relaxed and well-rested night helps you face the next day with more zeal and a better attitude. Usually, skipping those essential hours of rest cause our minds and bodies to react in a negative way. It ultimately reduces productivity and starts a chain reaction that’s difficult to stop.
It's important not to compromise our health while trying to accomplish our goals. After all, how can anyone achieve greatness when their minds and bodies are functioning optimally? By creating a cozy night routine, you usher in a more relaxing energy that lulls you into dreamland gently. And by getting a better night’s sleep, you begin to flourish into the best version of yourself.