With all the hustle and bustle of a college girl’s daily life, I struggled to find time to take care of myself. I would lie awake until 2 a.m. every night, scrolling endlessly on my phone, or stay up super late to work on assignments. Come morning, I was tired, stressed, and not at all mentally prepared for the next day. If you relate at all to this scenario, then a nighttime routine might help you too.
Over the summer, I decided my routine (or lack thereof) needed to change in the coming fall semester. So, I bought a robe. It is pink and white striped terry cloth, and it is a dream come true. This robe inspired me to create a nighttime routine, where I set aside time nightly to unwind and rejuvenate my mind and body. Since then, I have perfected my nighttime routine and found a recipe that works for me.
my perfect recipe
The first thing I do is shower. No bright lights, only my waterproof shower lamp, which I highly recommend. “The Right Lighting for Your Eyes” explains that warmer lights are easier on the eyes than bright white or blue lights because they have more light at the red end of the spectrum. The soft, warm light promotes physical calm and is way less straining for the eyes. I take my time, wash my hair, exfoliate, all of the good shower stuff. During this time, I like to recount my day and shift gears from survival mode to relaxing mode. In my mind, I am physically and mentally clean as I step out of the shower.
Compartmentalization
One tactic that I have embraced in my nighttime routine is compartmentalization. According to Psychology Today, compartmentalization is a defense mechanism that allows people to separate conflicting thoughts, experiences, or emotions. This definition has a negative connotation, but compartmentalization can be positive as well. For example, I only wear my robe after I shower at night. Doing this helps my brain associate my robe with sleep, putting my brain into a sort of “sleep mode.” This logic applies to all of the steps in my routine.
Optional Customization
Next, I love to heavily coat myself in lotion. This is totally optional, but I’ve found that having soft skin improves my mood throughout the day. Another thing I love about nighttime routines is that they are completely customizable to you. I do what works for me, and that may not work for everyone. I do every step that I need to before I leave the bathroom, even if I’m not immediately going to sleep afterwards. I’ve noticed that I am prone to procrastinating everything, so if I make sure my entire routine is done before I leave the bathroom, I won’t be tempted to skip any steps.
My next objective is to set my room up in what I call “sleepy mode.” I turn off all of my bright lights and replace the lighting with just my bedside lamp. I choose a seasonal candle and turn on my candle warmer. Pro tip: buy a candle warmer that has a timer on it, so you don’t have to worry about turning it off before you drift off to sleep. Finally, I make sure my bed is made and then climb in. At this point in my routine, I set my alarms for the morning and say goodbye to my phone. The best part of having a customizable routine is that this part can vary depending on what I feel is best for the night.
When I have the itch (or obligation) to write, this is the best time to do it. Cozied up in my bed, typing away on my laptop. On days that I don’t have anything to work on, I like to watch a couple of episodes of whatever show I’m currently hooked on (I just finished Earle Meets World!). When I plan to be staring at a screen for a while, I put on my blue light glasses. If I don’t have a current show addiction, I’ll choose an audiobook to listen to, or I’ll scour my Kindle library for something to read.
Make time to Craft
Whether I am watching a show or listening to an audiobook, I always have a crochet hook in hand. Crocheting is a great activity that reduces my stress and doesn’t overwhelm me. It has repetitive movements that take up space in my brain so that other issues cannot. An article from Anxiety Resource Center entitled “How Crochet and Knitting Help the Brain” elaborates on this by explaining that the precise hand movements required for crocheting make the brain work hard and, as a result, distract the brain from other thoughts. For me, crocheting at night forces my brain to relax, only focusing on the task at hand, causing any anxious thought or stressful situation to disappear.
carpe diem
These activities help me regain control over my days. Between assignments, class, club meetings, and my internship, I feel like my time isn’t really mine. Making sure that I set aside time every night to do non-school-related activities that I want to do has been huge for me. It may seem unproductive, but my “me time” reduces stress, increases my happiness, and gives me something to look forward to at the end of the day. Customizing your own nighttime routine might be exactly what you need to help you seize the day.