A good nighttime routine is crucial for unwinding at the end of a long day and getting your body ready to rest. Many people do not have a routine that they can stick to. Here are some helpful tips to help you relax after a stressful day. Longevity Live Paid Content.
Why is a Nighttime Routine Important?
Generally, people’s lives are getting more hectic, so it can sometimes be difficult to drift off into a peaceful sleep at the end of a long day. Finding a way to unwind and relax is crucial to making sure that you have a good night’s sleep.
Setting time aside to plan your routine in the evening can help you to focus on getting some time to yourself and gives you a strong basis for what works when you are looking to relax.
Benefits
The NHS recommends that the average adult should get between 7–9 hours of sleep per night. This is to support your body’s energy levels, but it also has an impact on your mental health as well. A decent amount of sleep helps to keep your mind focused and reduces your reaction times. This is especially important if your job includes working with heavy or complex machinery.
As well as sleep, there are some habits you can include that will benefit your overall well-being.
For example, if you include a skincare routine, you will start to see a difference in your skin. Similarly, if you want to include dedicated time to reading, then your mental health will feel the benefits.
Cleansing
Cleansing yourself after a long day can help to relax you and also remove any impurities and dirt that may have built up. This is especially beneficial if you are a commuter or on public transport. Taking a warm shower can also help to relax your muscles and ease any tension that may be left over from your day.
Establishing a good routine may involve leaving yourself certain cues in logical places. For example, to help you remember to take out your contact lenses, you may want to leave your lens case by your bed or by your sink so that you can easily see it.
Reducing blue light
Many people work with computer screens for the majority of their day now, especially since remote working has become so widespread. As we use technology to socialize and connect with people as well, you may find a lot of your day is spent looking at a screen. This can make it hard to disconnect.
A large amount of blue light can affect your sleep as it stimulates the part of your brain that makes you feel alert. It can also confuse your circadian rhythms as your brain is being exposed to artificial light when it should be starting to wind down.
Leaving your phone and other devices on charge in a different room for an hour or so before bed can help you to disconnect from the outside world and reduce eye strain.
