A bedtime routine: the closing shift, girl therapy, a reset, a maintenance routine, self-care night or whatever you want to call it–it’s good for you.
Nights and days like these are necessary to take time away from school, work, responsibilities and all those other things going on in your brain and get back to taking care of yourself. Taking time for your physical and mental well-being can change the course of your day, sleep and maybe even your whole week.
Some days, these routines can start as early as when you wake up. It all depends on when you want to get your day started and prepare for what’s to come. Personally, when I am trying to reset myself and my space, the first thing I do is get a head start on laundry.
Dorms, apartments and laundromats can fill up quickly, so you’re left doing things on other people’s schedules, not yours. So just go ahead and rip those sheets and pillowcases off and throw them in the washer as soon as possible. (I know it’s been a little too long since you washed them last). Same with your towels.
Having clean bedding and towels can improve so many small aspects of your life like minimizing breakouts, feeling cleaner, sleeping better, less allergies and more.
Another thing I can’t recommend enough is just getting your work done. No, you don’t have to get ahead for the whole week, but getting a couple assignments done and out of the way can bring some peace to your mind. That way, once nighttime does come around, you can focus on yourself and nothing else.
Now for the actual bedtime routine. This is going to differ wildly for every single person. Some people love to do their skincare and it takes 30 minutes, some prefer to spend their time reading, cooking or just snuggling up in bed as early as possible.
There’s no right or wrong way, but the semester can get hectic (yes, even barely a month in), and you need to take your mind off life.
So light a candle, turn on a wax warmer or plug in some mood lighting and get ready for a night for yourself.
Nothing starts my night off better than dinner and then a shower. If you can, cook something, it’ll taste so much better and feel so much more rewarding than if you got fast food or heated up some ramen. However, as long as you are feeding yourself, you are starting off great. Same with a shower–it doesn’t have to be an everything shower, just something to wash the day off and help you feel clean and ready for bed.
Take the time to get off your phone (ugh, I know) and drink some water. Be alone with your thoughts. This can be while you do your skincare. Allow yourself to sense the product on your face and assess how you feel. This is a designated time to enhance your life, the least you can do is understand what you like and dislike about the products.
Move your body too. I know this sounds like the opposite of getting cozy and ready for bed, but stretching your back and giving your joints and muscles some love can also improve your sleep.
Roommates or space might limit what you can do. You might not do a whole one-hour yoga session. Maybe you just wiggle your toes, crack your back and rotate your tense shoulders. You want to maintain mobility in your life and it takes moving to be able to relax in peace.
Typically, the next thing I do is get in bed. Sometimes I journal or write out my to-do lists for the week, sometimes I read or put on a movie. Do whatever you feel like you’ve been missing. This routine is all about you and making sure you’re set up for success in your room, responsibilities and most of all, your mind.
Now the absolute best thing you can do to prepare for anything is be well rested. Sweet dreams.
