Night Routine Ideas
Creating an effective nighttime routine doesn’t have to be hard. All you need is 20 minutes and a few ideas to get you started. And that’s exactly why I put this list of 5 night routine ideas together to get you started today.
These evening routine ideas will help you wind down and set yourself up for a great night’s rest and also set yourself up for a productive day tomorrow too!
Let’s dive in!
Start to Relax
The first night routine idea is to get ready for bed by changing into your PJs so you’re comfortable. You won’t have a evening routine without getting ready for the evening first.
After that, start to find ways to relax. This could be by giving yourself a facial, putting on a calming playlist or even just simply lighting a candle. Find something that will help you get into a more peaceful and relaxed state and ready for the evening.
Hydrate
We all know that hydrating throughout the day is important for your health, but did you know hydrating before bed is important too? Drinking water during the day can increase your energy levels, deliver nutrients to your cells, and even boost your mood. While hydrating before bedtime helps regulate your body temperature while you rest and has been linked to increased quality of sleep too.
This is why it’s an important part of your nighttime routine. The recommended amount of water is one glass about 1-2 hours before bed for optimal benefits. If you drink more than that you may find yourself needing the restroom in the middle of the night.
If you plan to have any other beverages too like tea or wine, try to finish it about 2 hours before bedtime so your body has time to process it before you fall asleep.
Reflect on the Day
The next idea for your evening routine is journaling! It’s a fun way to get in tune with your thoughts and get ideas down onto paper. You can find journal prompts to write about, write a diary entry about your day, or even dreams about the future.
It’s also a great tool for relieving stress and anxiety too. So if you’re someone who struggles with that, write about how you feel and ideas that could help reduce those feelings.
Getting out any unresolved thoughts or writing about tough moments from the day can help you drift off more quickly. It may even help you sleep longer too, leading to an overall better night’s rest and being more ready for the next day.
Set 3 Goals for Tomorrow
The next idea for your night time routine is to start thinking about what you want to accomplish tomorrow.
Write down 3 things that you want to complete tomorrow to better set yourself up for success. That way, you don’t even need to give it much thought tomorrow morning because it will already be planned out. This will definitely help kick start your day in the right way.
You’ll know exactly what you intend to accomplish tomorrow and can more easily stay focused on the tasks at hand. Remember to choose 3 things that are within reason and avoid selecting something that is not physically possible. Here’s a few examples
- I will work out for 15 minutes tomorrow morning at 8am
- I will drink one gallon of water over the course of the day tomorrow
- I will clean the inside and outside of my car tomorrow after work
Keep your tasks handy by bringing the list with you to work so your must-do tasks will remain in the forefront of your mind.
Meditate for 10 Minutes
My favorite night time routine idea is meditation. It’s relaxing, helps you find stillness throughout the body, and mental clarity too. It also promotes peace and can help reduce stress and pain and can help you fall asleep faster too.
I recommend 5-10 minutes of meditation to start. It’s best to do the meditation sitting cross legged with a big pillow behind your back for lumbar support. Then just close your eyes and settle in. You can place your hands face up on your knees to receive energy or face down on your knees for grounding.
There are a lot of different types of meditation, so I’ve included a few of the most common ones below. There are tons of free guided meditations on YouTube to choose from if you want to go that route too!
- Mindfulness meditation: focusing on the present by increasing your awareness of your breathing. If you notice a thought or emotion, simply observe it, then let it pass without judging yourself.
- Guided mediation: when another person leads you through each step of meditation such as instructing you to breathe or relax your body in a certain way. Or, they might have you visualize images or sounds.
- Body scan meditation: you focus on each part of your body to increase your awareness of your physical sensation which can lead to relaxation
Reading
Reading is a fantastic way to quiet your mind and start to settle down during your night routine. It’s also an excellent form of entertainment or a great way to learn before you turn the lights out.
I usually set a timer for 20-30 minutes using my pomodoro, depending on the evening. Reading even just for just a few minutes a day can help you become relaxed and get a better night of sleep
It’s also one of the best habits you can form and forces you to put down your phone or any other distractions you may have laying around too. So, find a good book and start reading!
Choose something in your favorite genre or style like fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or even short stories.
Nighttime Routine Key Takeaways
There you have it! My top ideas for an effective nighttime routine. These ideas not only help you settle down for the day and get a good night’s sleep, they also set you up for a more productive day tomorrow.
Having an evening routine doesn’t have to be hard or time consuming. You just need a few minutes to settle down and get ready for bed.
