A self-care night routine is the best way to wrap up your thoughts and unwind at the end of the day. Here are 13 perfect ideas you can add to your nightly self-care rituals for a blissful bedtime.
Anyone who understands the importance of having solo moments would agree that nighttime is amazing to form a connection with yourself.
Add self-care to the mix and bam! It’s the perfect recipe for a blissful me-time.
Self-care night routines have quickly gained popularity amongst wellness lovers.
Be it to improve your mental health, or to get involved in an active self-growth process, self-care during bedtime covers it all.
For those of you who are new to the realm of self-care, here is a sweet introduction for you.
What Is Self-Care?
Self-care is an active and mindful practice of catering to your well-being.
It’s about realizing your true needs and fulfilling them on an everyday basis by choice.
It includes all such activities that help you relax, bust stress, and move forward in life at a pace that you find comfortable.
You might find yourself resisting this practice because it might seem selfish to spend your hours on yourself.
But here’s a plain fact – Self-care is anything but selfish.
You are in charge of your own life and have the right to steer it in whichever direction you may prefer.
And trust me, you want self-care on your lifeboat, not off of it.
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As a grown-up, you owe it to yourself to add self-care to your lifestyle and beautiful your routine, which brings us to our next point.
Why You Need A Self-Care Night Routine
To anyone who’s just starting out with self-care, I’d recommend you start by inculcating it into your bedtime routine.
You need to add self-care to your night routine because it’s the perfect way to unwind.
Our mind is exposed to a lot of outer energy during the day.
Chances are you’re carrying it to bed with you and then repeating the cycle all over again the next day.
This leads to stress, anxious vibes, and overthinking.
It’s true that all of us have big problems in life, but it’s the small troubles and irritations that pile up in our minds to create a giant stress ball.
You can avoid this altogether by dealing with your worries at the end of your day, and that’s where self-care comes in.
Just by doing some tiny activities before sleeping, you can make a ton of difference to your mental and physical health.
I am loving my current night care routine.
It includes some really soothing and relaxing activities, which I think are perfect to partake in at the end of your day.
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In this post, I reveal 10 self-care night routine ideas that would fit wonderfully into your bedtime.
Pick the ones you find appealing, and have fun building your own personalized night care routine.
Let’s get started.
How To Create The Best Self-Care Night Routine
1. Put Away Your Phone
The first step to getting into a safe self-care zone is to tune out the external noise, something we often carry in the form of our phones.
No matter how many advantages this little device might have, it is also a cause of distress, something we need to remove from our bedtime routine.
You spend your entire day prioritizing work, communicating with people, and catering to your responsibilities. But your evenings should be reserved solely for your well-being.
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This is your time to disconnect from the world and be by yourself.
So, don’t hesitate to turn off your notifications, or better yet, put your phone away.
It might take a few evenings to develop full restraint against the urge to grab your phone, but once you master this idea, you’ll actually look forward to this point of your day.
2. Breathe In Some Fresh Air
Few people would think about stepping outside before their bedtime, and I get why.
After interacting with the world the entire day, you might want to tune everything out and just relax in your bed.
But the power of nature should not be undermined.
Throughout the day, there are so many things about nature that we take for granted.
That’s why nighttime is perfect for seeking little joys from nature and practicing gratitude from your heart.
Step outside for just 2 minutes and take in your surroundings.
If you like the feel of the air, go for a short walk. Observe the trees around you, stop to smell a flower, and allow nature to heal your thoughts.
After coming back, if it’s not chilly outside, leave your windows open and continue with the rest of your nighttime routine.
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3. Take A Shower
Ask any wellness lover about the best part of their evening routine, and they’d probably tell you it’s their shower time.
I can say so because I am in the same boat. My evening showers are very precious to me, and for good reasons.
A soothing shower or a warm bath helps you relax and wash off your daily worries.
It’s a magical and inexpensive way for you to experience a spa-like treatment every day at home.
Water is said to have healing tendencies and I fully believe in this concept.
Use its powers to end your day on a warm note, and enjoy a restful sleep.
For a pleasant experience, use your favorite scented body lotion. If you’re going for a bath, light scented candles to soothe your senses.
4. Skincare
Throughout the day, dirt, pollution, and oil get accumulated on your skin, and water is not enough to cleanse it.
Moreover, your skin is tender after a bath and needs proper nourishment to avoid any damage.
So right after stepping out of the shower, move on to your skincare routine.
You must’ve already used a face wash/cleanser during the shower, so you can jump to the next part of the process.
Apply toner on your face, then use a suitable moisturizer. If your hands and legs feel dry, use a body lotion to massage them all over.
Use an eye cream/eye roll to get rid of the puffiness around your eyes. Twice a week, you can go for a face mask too.
And remember to be mindful during this step of your routine, because being present at the moment is key to a stress-free night.
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5. Prepare For The Next Day
At this point, you should be basking in your self-proclaimed calmness and feeling pretty awesome about it.
Now, it’s time to be a little productive and take care of the coming morning.
And don’t worry. This won’t add any stress to your me-time.
It’s just a mindful way of taking charge of your next day to avoid feeling rushed or being late for work.
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Select your outfit for the morning, prepare your workout clothes if you exercise in the morning, get your bag ready for work, and write down your plans too.
It’s up to you to add this step to your nighttime routine.
If preparing for your day is something you like to take care of in the morning, feel free to leave it out.
6. Drink Tea
I was never a fan of healthy teas unless it was Indian chai, which I grew up drinking.
But all of that changed once I met green tea, it became my BFF.
Good teas are amazing for instant relaxation and are known entities in the realm of self-care.
They relieve you of stress, create a positive aura, and are the best replacements for unhealthy beverages.
For your bedtime, you can go for chamomile tea, which is a kind of herbal tea that promotes sleep. Another good option is lavender tea.
If you want to go for green tea, make sure to pick a low-caffeine version.
7. 5-Minute Meditation
If you have trouble bringing your attention to the present moment, this routine idea is for you.
To assemble your stray thoughts and get rid of your worries, meditate for just five minutes.
Sit on your bed in a posture you find most relaxing (I prefer doing it with my back against the wall.)
Then pick a meditation technique that works for you.
Commanding your breaths is always a good start for beginners.
Inhale for 3 counts, hold your breath for 3, and release within 3 seconds. Play around with these numbers according to your comfort.
Another good way is to tune into the movements of your surroundings by focusing on every little sound.
It’s a method that will help you rid of the noise of your brain.
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8. Journal Your Bedtime Thoughts
Mindfulness is the essence of a fruitful self-care session.
And the best way to tap into this tendency of yours is to write down your thoughts.
Bedtime journaling is the one thing you need to get rid of your restless energy, figure out the direction of your rampant thoughts, and recharge your mind.
It’s an amazing way to sort your thoughts and organize your life.
Personally, I love how free I can be with this activity.
I can doodle, write a letter to myself, plan my meals in advance, and set my goals for the next day, depending on what kind of mood I am in.
If you’re not into journaling, try these bedtime journal prompts.
I use them almost every night to find inspiration and think you might like them too.
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9. Read A Book
I think reading is a one-of-its-kind self-care activity.
First and foremost, it’s wonderful how you get to read the thoughts of the author and feel a sense of connection to someone you’ve never met.
No wonder it’s a one-stop solution for dealing with loneliness.
Also, there are literally millions of books in the world. Imagine how vast of a choice you have here.
Reading a self-help book during nighttime produces fresh thoughts and helps you see things from a new perspective.
Your problem-solving abilities improve and your problems become challenges that you are not afraid to face.
Not just non-fiction, but fiction books are also great to unwind during the night.
I mean, what can be more invigorating than immersing yourself in a different world?
Build a habit of reading every night.
You’ll be surprised by how many positive changes it can bring to your personality.
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10. Do Something You Love
You know what’s a great way to recharge yourself?
Doing something you love, be it a hobby, a passion, or something you just enjoy.
I feel like as adults, we don’t indulge in our hobbies enough.
But we can all agree that it’s something all of us need in our lives.
A hobby is a great way to connect to your inner child and lift your spirits at the end of a long day.
Even five minutes of doing something you genuinely love can be mood-changing.
I love playing the ukulele and have recently gone back to playing it during my bedtime.
What’s the one thing that calls out to you? Think, and add it to your to-do list for tonight.
11. Bed Stretching
Bed stretching is one of the most recommended tips for improving your sleep quality.
It helps you stretch your sore muscles, relax your body and prepare your mind for a restless night.
It’s also good for meal digestion and for relieving any tension in your back and shoulders.
I find it to be as effective as meditation to rid myself of my stressful thoughts.
It’s hands down the simplest and most stress-free form of exercise you can engage your body in.
This 10-minute bed yoga is my go-to stretching routine. Try it tonight to see the difference in your sleep.
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12. Relax To Soothing Music
Alright, now. It’s time for our last self-care ritual for the night. It’s important to close your night routine on a relaxing note.
You want this activity to be something you can drift off to, and in my opinion, music fits the bill perfectly.
I like to play soft music at a slow volume on my music player with my eyes closed.
If I’m not feeling like sleeping yet, I paint my nails or write in my journal.
You can have a personal closing ritual for your routine, but do try to add music in there somewhere.
It’s a form of self-therapy that your soul really needs at this point of the day.
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Use These Self-Care Night Routine Ideas To Unwind
I try to do as many of these things as possible before bedtime.
It all comes down to what I’m in the mood for and what I’m okay skipping.
And that’s the ideal way to go about a self-care routine.
Do the things that resonate with your tone of the night, and save the other activities for another time.
Keep in mind that there will be nights when all you want to do is lie in bed with music plugged into your ears, and that’s fine too.
Just be intentional and mindful of your bed routine, and you’ll be good to go.
So, that was all from my end. Now I’d like to hear from you.
Use the comment box to mention your favorite nighttime activity from this list, and feel free to share something of your own. Questions and suggestions are welcome too!
I love all of these! I do o st of them at night myself. I love a good bed yoga practice right before bed. Thanks for the great reminders.