Many people tend to take the stress they’ve incurred throughout the day to bed with them. This is detrimental to our sleeping habits and can affect our productivity levels the next day. Understanding the importance of sleep, which sets the tone for our next day, is extremely important. Here are five ways that you can let the stress of your day go before bed.
1. A Warm Shower
As you are getting ready to end your night, I definitely recommend taking a nice warm shower! Turn on some soft tunes in the background; this will help relax your body in preparation for sleep. From personal experience, this has helped me relax by stabilizing my body temperature, allowing me to fall asleep faster. Try to add in a night shower, and see if the same goes for you.
2. Journaling
Taking just 15 minutes out of your night to journal will make all the difference. This time allows you to write down all of your thoughts from the day, and how you felt. At the bottom of your page, write down three achievements you had that day that continue to motivate you. I truly believe this is something that helps, once it becomes a habit.
3. Night Affirmations
When laying down in bed before trying to fall asleep, say some night affirmations out loud. What these affirmations are can be completely up to you, depending on how you want to reflect on the day. This can involve acknowledging the positive aspects of your day, or preparing for the next day to come.
4. Reading
Finding a book that truly interests you can change your whole world. This allows you to escape from reality and provides some peace of mind. With no distractions, reading even just a chapter allows you to calm your body. Also, this allows your eyes to take a break from the glare of your screen.
5. Mediation
I understand that this one takes time, but the results are extremely worth the process. If you are just starting to get into meditation, I recommend downloading an app to help guide you. This is beneficial for your mental health and allows you time to relax. Doing this before bed makes all the difference in how your body reacts to sleep.
I encourage everyone to attempt incorporating at least one or two of these ideas into your nightly routine. Taking the time to prioritize your mental health and creating healthy habits in your lifestyle will make all the difference.