A Simple and Mindful Evening Routine for Busy People
By doing a simple and mindful evening routine, you can ensure you get a good night’s sleep and feel well-rested and rejuvenated for the next day.
An evening routine is a set of purposeful actions done a few hours before going to bed. A simple and easy-to-do evening routine is the best way to incorporate self-care and mindfulness into your day.
If you come back from work and mindlessly spend the remaining hours of the day eating and lazing around the house until you pass out on the couch, it might be a good time to make a conscious effort to implement an evening routine.
It’s also important to understand that none of us are perfect and it’s fine to miss out on your evening routine on days you don’t feel like it.
With that in mind, below is a simple evening routine to put you into an ideal state of mind and body for bedtime.
A Simple and Mindful Evening Routine
1. Eat dinner 3 hours before bedtime
Experts recommend eating your last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime. This is to allow your body to digest the food before sleeping.
It also reduces the chances of sleep disturbances due to indigestion, gastritis, and discomfort.
After you eat a meal, it can take several hours for the food to move from your stomach to the small intestines. Lying down makes the process even slower.
2. Brushing & Flossing
Brushing twice a day is the bare minimum for good oral health. After your last meal, brushing and flossing should be an important part of your evening routine.
Regular brushing and flossing give protection against cavities and gum disease. It also protects your teeth and gums from decay and bad breath.
3. Shower & Skincare
A warm shower is a perfect way to cleanse your body from the day’s dust and negative energy. It purifies your body and can relieve accumulated muscle stress and tension.
A warm bath or shower can cool down your body and help you get better sleep. Research suggests that it can also reduce our body’s core temperature and signal the body to get ready for sleep.
4. Disconnect
In today’s digital world, we are always connected and our phones never stop giving us notifications about other people’s lives, world news, and celebrity gossip.
While keeping yourself updated and educated on such things isn’t a bad thing, too much of it can harm your mental health.
Make a conscious decision to disconnect your phone from social media and all other apps at least an hour before bed. The best would be to disconnect before your evening mindfulness and relaxation routine starts.
5. Meditation
Just as your body needs to be cleansed and relaxed before it can sleep, so does your mind. Meditation is the simplest way to calm your mind.
It has been linked to stress reduction, improved mindfulness, reduced heart rate, and bringing a sense of calm and relaxation to your mind.
Below are some informative posts to learn more about the benefits of meditation for sleep and general well-being.
6. Brew Tea
The act of brewing and having tea is a mindfulness practice by itself. It helps your mind to bring awareness into the present moment and indulge in the calmness of now.
It can also help to slow down a racing mind and enjoy being in the moment. Teas like chamomile and valerian root have been linked to better sleep.
7. Read/Journal
A fictional book or something that doesn’t cause your mind to go into problem-solving are some great genres to read before sleeping.
If you don’t feel like reading, journaling your thoughts is also a good way to take the edge off and bring your mind into a space of calm and relaxation.
8. Set the mood of your room
To fall asleep, it’s important to set the right ambiance in your room. Start by making your room tidy. A messy room is not an ideal space to rest.
Next, you can set the ideal temperature that works best for you. Blue light from electronics can disturb your sleep. Ensure all digital devices are kept in a way that doesn’t emit light into your room.
Using blackout curtains and very dim lights can help you get the right lighting conditions. A diffuser or room spray is a great way to enhance your room’s aroma for bedtime.
Why is it important to have an Evening Routine?
Let’s look at some of the most important reasons for having an evening routine.
1. Better eating habits
An evening routine reminds you to eat dinner around the same time on most days. It also guides you not to eat unhealthy food after dinner.
Eating before bed, especially unhealthy snacks is bad for your health. An evening routine is a great way to quit that habit entirely or cut it down drastically.
2. Maintain good oral health
Brushing and flossing every evening will help you maintain good oral health and keep it that way for years to come.
3. Improves hygiene and glowing skin
Warm showers and a skincare routine ensure good hygiene and a healthy, glowing skin.
4. Make you more mindful
Habits such as disconnecting from social media, skin care, meditation, brewing tea, reading, and journaling can bring a new level of mindfulness into your life.
5. Improve the quality of your sleep
An evening routine can help you establish a consistent sleep cycle by regulating your circadian rhythm. It also ensures you’re well-rested for the next day.
Conclusion
An evening routine can be one of the most powerful ways to establish a healthy daily routine when combined with a morning and work routine.
After all, it is the grit and compounding effect of healthy habits and important work done regularly that leads to success, health, and joy in life.
Remember, you’re only as good as how you live your life. Now is the time to create an evening routine that works for you.
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