A bedtime routine helps your body wind down for sleep the same way a grocery list and meal plan prepares you for eating, a to-do list supports your work and an exercise routine keeps you in shape.
The human body is on many routines. There is a digestive and elimination routine, a heart routine, a breathing routine, etc. When your sleep and waking routine is aligned it supports all of these other rhythms in your body. The human body sets its internal routines based upon exposure to light.
So, a bedtime routine supports everything that’s just been mentioned! Yay!
Plus, it helps reduce stress and ready you for a restful night of sound sleep.
Here is a sample bedtime routine based upon a 6pm dinner.
7pm
- finish with dinner and clean up the house from the day
8pm
- turn the lights in your house low, use dimmers, red lights and/or salt lamps
-make a to-do list to empty your thoughts
-do some journaling too if anything is occupying your mind
8:15pm
-brush your teeth and get ready for bed
8:30pm
-take a warm bath, stretch or read a relaxing book
9pm
-lights out and in bed
Set your bedtime based upon what time you need to wake up in the morning and how many hours of sleep you need every night. My kids wake up at 6am, so I get in bed (lights out) at 8:30pm because I need nine hours to unleash all my mama superpowers.
We each have a unique number of hours of sleep we need. If you need help figuring out that number, check out the Sleep Soundly Program.
Come share with us - what’s in your bedtime routine?
