Lately, I’ve been trying to prioritize a night routine that helps me shift out of work mode and into rest mode. Something calm, cozy, and easy to stick to. Not an intense regimen, but just a little rhythm that makes winding down feel like a treat instead of a crash landing.
Some nights I do the whole thing. Other nights I skip steps. But when I follow even a few pieces of this, I feel more relaxed and ready for sleep. Here’s how it’s looking lately:
Step 1: Set the Mood
Before I can get myself to start winding down, I have to set the scene by creating a calm atmosphere around me.
- Soft lighting: I avoid overhead lights and just use lamps with soft bulbs. I’m also a fan of fairy lights, so I get those plugged in
- Music: I’ll play a lo-fi playlist – usually one of the preset Relax or Calm playlists on Apple Music. I also enjoy soundscapes, like Rain Storm or Cozy Cafe Sounds, which are easy to find on YouTube.
- Scent: I’ll light one of my favorite scented candles – something with lavender, neroli, or sandalwood helps me relax
- Tea: I love an herbal tea at night, especially chamomile to really set the sleepy stage
Step 2: Couch Time
After my space is all prepped, I try to spend a few minutes doing a quiet activity on my couch.
- Crossword Puzzle: I’ll take out my New York Times puzzle book (Monday puzzles only since my brain is too fried for anything else at night)
- Crafting: If I’m in a crafting phase, I might put in a few minutes here – something like paint by numbers, beading, or needlepoint
- TV: Sometimes you just need to turn your brain off fully, so I still allow TV in my nighttime wind down routine. But will try to keep the programming light & comforting
Step 3: Clean The Day Off
When I feel my brain can no longer handle concentrating on any activity, I know it’s time to actually get myself ready for bed. The first part of that is cleaning the day off.
- Shower: I keep the lights low and get into a nice hot shower. I lather up with a scented body wash (you guessed it, lavender is my fave), and just try to be present for a few minutes. I’ll also start my skin-care routine with a gentle facial cleanser
- Body lotion or oil: If I don’t apply lotion right out of the shower, then I never will. So I try to not skip this step
- PJs: My favorite part of the day is getting into nice clean pajamas. I love loose fitting, cotton sets with shorts & shortsleeves (even in the winter)
Step 4: Skincare
This is the easiest part to skip when I get too tired, so I’ve tried to make a routine that is not too intense or filled with too many steps
- Serums: I rotate a few depending on how my skin is feeling. Sometimes hyaluronic acid, sometimes retinol, sometimes I skip it entirely.
- Moisturizer: Especially if I’m using retinol, I finish with a gentle moisturizer
- Lip balm and hand cream: These little extras make the whole thing feel finished
Step 5: Make My Bed Feel Like a Nest
This is when I fully settle in.
- Adjust the temp: I try to keep the room cool. Around 68 is my ideal sleeping temperature
- Pillow spray or linen mist: I like a lavender blend or something soft and herby
- Weighted eye mask: I keep my Nodpod right on my pillow. This is my go-to if I’m having trouble falling asleep or just want to block out the light.
- Sound machine: I need a little white noise to help me relax
Final Notes
This routine changes depending on the day. Sometimes I skip steps. Sometimes I do the whole thing and still stay up too late watching TV & TikToks. But when I do stick with it, even just halfway, I sleep better and feel more grounded.
I’m still figuring out what works best for me. But trying to build a wind-down that feels relaxing & low pressure is already making my nights feel softer.
