5 Bedtime Rituals for Better Sleep

i don’t take naps. i really wish i could, but it’s just not in my dna. since i can’t convince myself that it’s okay to sleep during daylight hours, it’s vital that i get a good night’s rest.

september brought lots of struggles, but the toughest one for me was the lack of sleep. i tossed and turned all night and woke up feeling like i’d barely rested. at my wit’s end, i took a day to myself just to rest. it felt like heaven, and i’ve been using these rituals to maintain deeper sleep at night.

taking baths with dried lavender, dried roses, lavender bubble bath and epsom salt. i’ve always been a bath person and soaking in the evenings after a long day feels like a treat. my body needs the relaxation and the smell of roses and lavender helps me to wind down.

drinking plenty of hot tea. i talked about teas in my 5 herbs to stay stress free post and chamomile or jasmine green tea are my nighttime favorites. i switched from my typical glass of wine after work to drinking tea in the evenings, and i’m happy i made the switch. i love wine, but the hot tea settles my mood better and helps to shut down the day’s noise.

READ: 5 Herbs to Stay Stress-Free

taking magnesium supplements. i grabbed a bottle of magnesium tablets when i was in joshua tree and have been taking the supplements as needed ever since. the mineral is a well-known sleep aid and has even been proven to reduce cortisol levels. word of caution: magnesium makes me sleep so deeply that it’s difficult to wake up the next morning. if your body reacts to it like mine, then it’s probably not for regular use, especially if you have an early morning ahead.

meditating at the same hour. i won’t lie, meditating the same time in the evening is tough, but it’s my most important bedtime ritual. meditating helps to clear my mind and the deep breathing is relaxing. doing it at the same time daily gives my body the chance to anticipate good rest.

READ: 3 Simple Tips for Self-Care

remember when you were little and your parents read you a bedtime story? think of bedtime rituals as a chance to recapture that feeling. they create the comfort and peace of laying in your mother’s arms before bed. i’m wishing you deep, unabiding sleep tonight friends.