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A Bedtime Routine For Adults: 10 Calming Activities
Have a light snack or drink
It’s a good idea to avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugary drinks before bed.
But drinking one of the many relaxing herbal teas is a good way to spend some quiet time, perhaps whilst reading or listening to music.
If you find yourself hungry at night it’s ok to have a light snack before bed.
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A bedtime routine will help you sleep
- It can calm an overactive mind.
- You can think, plan and prepare for tomorrow, so you don’t lie awake worrying about details when you go to bed.
- By repeating a regular pattern, you can train your body and mind to unwind ready for bed.
- Many activities people do in the evening can be overstimulating. So a bedtime routine helps you avoid doing those things and relax instead.
Duration of your routine
It’s up to you to decide how long your routine will be, based on the amount of time you feel it takes you to relax.
It may be, for example, that by the time you’ve put the kids to bed and tidied up, 15 minutes is enough time. If you do have more free time and suffer from regular sleep problems, maybe 30 to 60 minutes would be better.
Switch off the electronic devices
- They stimulate your brain.
- The light that some devices emit might affect your internal body clock. If you can’t separate yourself from your phone, at least put the blue light filter on and dim the screen brightness.
- They can be addictive, eating into even more sleep time.
- Checking emails, the news and even social media at night can create worry and stress.
Relaxation exercises
In a survey of 2000 readers of this website, 58% said they couldn’t fall asleep because of their busy minds. Another 24% similarly said it was worry, stress or anxiety keeping them up.
If you struggle with this too, then doing some relaxation exercises before you go to bed, or when in bed, can help enormously.
Read
It’s fine to relax with a good book in bed. Many people find that this in itself helps them sleep.
The alternative is to read in another room for a while, perhaps with a relaxing drink, and then continue in bed once you start feeling sleepy.
Listen to music
Whilst it’s important to avoid screens, listening to music before bed is a great idea. Preferably not music which is too exciting or emotional though.
Write down reminders for the next day
Write down your worries and points you need to remember for the next day, before going to bed.
That way you know you won’t forget anything important, and you can relax.
Have a light snack or drink
It’s a good idea to avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugary drinks before bed.
But drinking one of the many relaxing herbal teas is a good way to spend some quiet time, perhaps whilst reading or listening to music.
If you find yourself hungry at night it’s ok to have a light snack before bed.
Spiritual practice
Prayer, yoga, meditation
If you find that engaging in spiritual activity brings you peace and clarity of mind, then doing it before getting into bed is an ideal time.
Bring your temperature down
Spend time with loved ones
If you live with others, why not spend some time before bed talking or playing a quiet game?
If you can, try to resist the temptation to all be using a phone or electronic device in the same room without talking to one another.
Don’t lie awake for hours
It takes many people between 20 and 30 minutes to fall asleep. So if you’re still awake after half an hour, it could be that you’re just not ready to sleep yet.
It might help to get up, go into another room, have dim lighting only and repeat some of your
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Keep in sync with your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle
- Try to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day;
- Avoid sleeping in, even on weekends;
- Limit naps to 15 to 20 minutes in the early afternoon;
Melatonin
Is a naturally occurring hormone controlled by light exposure that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
Your brain secretes more melatonin when it’s dark, making you sleepy, and less when it’s light, making you more alert.
However, many aspects of modern life can alter your body’s production of melatonin and shift your circadian rhythm
Influence exposure to ligh
During the day:
- Expose yourself to bright sunlight in the morning.
- Spend more time outside during daylight.
- Let as much natural light into your home or workspace as possible.
At night:
- Avoid bright screens within 1-2 hours of your bedtime.
- Say no to late-night television.
- Don’t read with backlit devices.
- When it’s time to sleep, make sure the room is dark.
- Keep the lights down if you get up during the night.
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Step Away from the Spreadsheet
Look Back, Look Ahead
Don’t make these lists too close to bedtime.
Cool It
According to the National Sleep Foundation, the ideal temperature for shut-eye is around 65 degrees.
The cooler you are, the sleepier you become, so turn down the thermostat.
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Eat Meals Earlier
Don't eat any heavy foods within two hours of bed time.
If you get too hungry as bedtime creeps around, there are a few foods that are okay to eat before bed, and can even h...
Do Something After You Eat
After you eat, get up and do something a bit more active—even if it's just washing dishes or taking out the trash. It'll avoid that post-meal drowsiness, and it's a great time to have a 10-minute cleaning burst to keep your house looking nice.
Avoid Napping
Napping can make it more difficult to fall asleep at night:
If, after you've thoroughly tested your evening routine and gotten better sleep, you still feel drowsy, you can try adding a power nap to your day, preferably during the early afternoon.
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