You might already have a morning and day routine, but a night routine is just as important. Here’s how to create an effective nighttime routine that’s suitable for you.
What Is a Nighttime Routine and Why Do You Need One?
A nighttime routine is a series of tasks and behavioral patterns you do every night before going to bed. Nighttime routines often include activities that help you relax and prepare for a good night’s sleep.
A nighttime routine is a good way to discipline yourself and avoid distractions that steal your productive hours away. Instead of damaging your health by binge-watching shows or spending hours scrolling through social media, you can establish a routine to ensure that you allow your body and mind to recharge.
The following are some simple tips that you can use to create a personalized nighttime routine and help yourself feel fresher each morning.
1. Add Self-Care Habits to Your Routine
Chances are, you take every night as it comes, and you haven’t put much thought into developing habits that help you settle down at night. Incorporating self-care habits into your nighttime routine will significantly improve your mental and emotional well-being.
Self-care isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach; it is a form of self-love that differs across individuals. You could enjoy reading a few pages of a book or magazine, restrict screen time, give yourself a facial, or merely have a warm beverage to help you relax.
Adding new habits into your life isn’t easy. You need to set goals and analyze your progress. The best way to do this is to use a productivity tool to take down your notes, receive prompts and reminders, and track your improvement.
Download: Productive - Habit Tracker for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Create a To-Do List for the Next Day
Creating your to-do list the night before not only helps you save time for the following day, but it will also help you clear your mind and unwind.
Your night routine doesn’t just start an hour before bed. You can create your to-do list for the next day at the end of your workday as an indication that you are done with work activities for the day. Creating this list also helps you mentally prepare for the following day’s tasks.
If you work from home, it’s especially important to set a time that you’ll end your workday and sign off. That way, you can enjoy your personal time and focus on unwinding and preparing for bed. To create your list, you can use a to-do list app like TickTick. Or if you love the pen and paper feel, you can write your to-do list in a notebook.
Download: TickTick for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
3. Set Time for a Digital Detox
Tech devices are a massive distraction and could be one of the primary reasons you’re having problems with your sleep. Watching too much TV and unnecessarily spending time on your phone can make it harder to get a full night’s sleep. On the other hand, restricting your screen time can help you fall asleep faster.
You can enjoy a digital detox by implementing habits that don’t require technology, such as reading a book or enjoying a long bath. Since human beings have become so attached to technological devices, staying away won’t be easy. Luckily, there are digital detox tools designed to help you detach from these devices.
The Space app is one of the best tools to use to help you break your phone addiction. Space monitors the time you spend on your phone and provides interruptions to help you get off your phone. You can set time limits and restrictions on how many times you can unlock your phone. That way, you can focus your time on other tasks.
Download: Space for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
Create a Nighttime Routine That You’ll Enjoy
Your nighttime routine should suit your needs and fit into your daily schedule. Don’t put pressure on yourself by expecting immediate results and implementing multiple changes at once. Instead, try the tips mentioned in this article, and over time you’ll see progress.
