I actually hate the word “routine” right now because it implies doing something consistently each day and to be honest, once you have a baby, you don’t do anything consistently…for yourself. Obviously almost everything about a baby is repetitive and the days are like Groundhog Day, but trying to implement your own morning/night/workout routine when your life is no longer top priority is basically impossible.
I also find the word routine puts so much pressure on us. Like if you miss a day, it’s no longer your routine, and can totally throw you off. Maybe it’s just my ‘all or nothing’ attitude, I don’t know…but I’m digressing…
The point is, there are some things I have been doing most nights that help me go to bed with a calmer mind and in turn, sleep better and wake up with less anxiety. So I wanted to share those with you today.
Downtime mode on phone
On your iPhone, go to settings > screen time > down time. From there you can customize and choose which apps you can’t click on during a specific time frame. So for example, I put my phone on down time from 9:00 pm – 7:30 am. I only allow phone calls, texts, calendar and a few other apps to be available. This prevents me from aimlessly scrolling through social media before bed or first thing in the morning, which can unknowingly cause a lot of anxiety in people. It also just prevents me from being on my phone in general which is important to me because so much of my job is on my phone and I just need a break.
Tidy up
DC will probably laugh at me for this one because he thinks I never clean up. We will just agree to disagree on this one. Tidying up before bed is an amazing way to create a sense of calmness before you go to sleep. I love doing a quick clean of the countertops, put things away and create a bit of order. Plus there is nothing worse than waking up to a dirty sink full of dishes or stuff left out from the day before.
Mint tea
For the past couple of months we have been having mint tea after dinner. I love this little ritual for so many reasons. Firstly, mint is amazing for digestion and can help reduce any post-dinner bloat. Secondly, I love the act of holding a hot mug before bed. It is automatically calming. Plus, herbal tea is a great way to make sure you are hydrated at the end of the day without forcing yourself to chug water.
Read a book
During the day, I consume so much content. Whether it’s other people’s lives on social media, or educational podcasts, it feels like I am always listening or watching something. So at night, I just want my brain to relax and my favourite way to do that is with a fictional book. I love historical fiction, thrillers or chick lit (is that even a PC term anymore? Prob not). After a few pages I tend to doze off and always have my better sleeps when I read myself to sleep.
Phone away from bed
The last thing I do is put my phone away. You can put it in a bedside drawer or even better, in another room. This will not only prevent you from scrolling and keeping yourself awake later than necessary but it will also create a sense of calmness by minimizing any blue lights, noises and notifications.
So as you can see, this is less of a routine and more just 5 things you can implement asap to give yourself a calmer night. Any other tips? Share them below!
xoxo