Have you been taking some time to prioritize your self-care this month?
After January's experience, self-care has become very much a priority for me. It is very easy to get carried away with all the activities each day and forget to take care of ourselves. For me, one of those times is getting to bed at a reasonable hour!
In a previous email, I wrote about a couple of my strategies for how I start and end my day. However, there is more to what I have been doing when it comes to my bedtime routine that has been very helpful.
The first thing I did was set a bedtime mode on my cellphone to start shutting down at 10:00 pm. I have since then readjusted it to 9:00 pm. I probably should make it 8:00 pm though. I have decided that it would be best to get off the phone by then completely. When I am on my phone, I can become mindlessly lost scrolling even if it has gone dim with the color gone, courtesy of the night time
mode.
Another part of my bedtime routine is brushing and flossing my teeth. Once that is done, I go to bed and take a quiet moment before reading. I have found it helpful to use my reading light
instead of the main one. This has helped to create and set a tone of calmness to end the day with.
Getting ready at a reasonable time does take an intentional commitment to preparation before ensuring a
decent night's sleep.
From my studies, giving consideration to and working with our circadian rhythm is an important and healthy way of honoring our bodies by accepting that the day has come to an end and it
is okay to start relaxing. We all need restful sleep to be able to enjoy our days ahead.
Here are some tips to help you start thinking about this and see what you might already be doing for
yourself:
Be mindful of any caffeine habit you may have and how it could impact your sleep.
Avoid screens before bedtime. The blue light that is emitted from electronic devices has been found to interfere with sleep hormones. It is suggested to unplug at least an hour before you go to bed.
Incorporate moments
of quiet, be it meditation or deep breathing, taking a warm bath, reading a book, or listening to some calming music.
Create for yourself a comfortable sleeping environment. Treat yourself to comfortable bedding, Use a sleeping eye mask, or install curtains that block out light and possibly excess noise. Find and adjust the room temperature.
How about you? How do you prepare yourself to ensure a good night's sleep?
What ways have you found that help you to relax and unwind?
How have you created a calming environment for your bedroom?
What do you do to make your bedtime routine a consistent habit?
