Treat Yourself with These 5 Self Care Night Ideas

Life is getting crazier by the day, isn't it? Studies show that our stress levels are higher than they've ever been and our mental health and physical health are suffering as a result. Some days it can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders.

That's when a good self care night routine becomes important. The end of the day is a great time to practice self care, and engaging in a regular self care evening routine is the best way to ensure a good night's sleep and prepare for the day ahead.

Check out this list of self care ideas to create your own self care routine so you can get restful sleep and improve your overall well being.

Why Practice Self Care?

It can be hard to feel like self care is important. Many people don't feel like they have time for self care, or find the idea of practicing self care selfish. Actually, though, self care helps not only you, but everyone around you. You'll be happier, better able to live in the present moment, and better able to take care of others when you take care of yourself first.

15 Self Care Tips for a Strong Self Care Night Routine

These tips will help you unwind and relax, relieve stress, and reset for the morning.

Spend a cozy evening reading

Getting lost in a good book is a great way to wind down at the end of the day and leave your troubles behind. Many people prefer to watch their favorite show at the end of a long day, but watching TV can sometimes get us more amped up, making it difficult to fall asleep. Choose something lighthearted and fun to read like a cozy fantasy book - just make sure you don't get so invested in the story that you're reading late into the night!

Prep for the next day

Laying out your clothes for the morning, making your lunch for the next day, or checking a couple of items off your to do list for tomorrow can help you relax knowing that you won't have to worry about those things in the morning.

Play soothing music

Listening to gentle music can set the mood for sleep and help lower your cortisol levels. Make music part of your evening routine no matter what other self care practices you incorporate. If you're not a fan of music, consider nature sounds or even white noise to help you relax and fall asleep.

Wear comfy and cozy clothes

Changing out of your daywear and getting into some comfortable clothes can help you feel relaxed and ready for bed. Choosing high quality pajamas also helps you regulate body temperature during the night so you can get good sleep and wake up rested and refreshed.

Have dinner 2-3 hours before sleep

Your body needs time to digest your last meal, and it's never fun going to bed on a full stomach. Make an early dinner part of your self care night routine to give your body time to process that food. You could also go for an evening walk after dinner to help your body digest.

Unplug from electronic devices

The light from electronic devices triggers the part of our brain that's responsible for waking us up. The longer your spend on your devices at the end of the day, the harder it will be to get enough sleep. Try switching off your phone an hour before bed. Listen to music or read instead of scrolling through social media - we promise, your whole body will thank us in the morning.

Journal your thoughts

Writing down what happened during your day is a great way to get the thoughts out of your head so you can relax. If you often find yourself ruminating on things that happened throughout the day, make journaling part of your self care night routine. We recommend doing this earlier in your evening routine, and using an old-fashioned pen and paper rather than a computer or other device.

Take a relaxing bath or hot shower

Many people think a warm bath is too luxurious to do every day - but we think a bubble bath is a fantastic way to unwind and take care of yourself. Add some essential oils like lavender to promote relaxation. If you can't make time to do this every day, find one night a week (maybe Friday night) that you can incorporate this into your self care night routine.

Keep your bedroom neat and clean

We don't know about you, but we find it impossible to fall asleep when things are messy. Keep your sleeping space neat and tidy so you can relax when you go in there - the last thing you want is to walk into your bedroom and be met with a pile of laundry that needs to be folded!

Read or listen to affirmations

Reading or listening to affirmations is a great part of any daily routine. Whether you do them at night or in the morning, daily affirmations are a great way to practice gratitude and remember what is great about your life, even if you had a crummy day.

Sleep at the same time daily

You don't have to get an early night, but going to bed at the same time each day helps your body regulate its circadian rhythms and allows you to easily fall into deep sleep. Our bodies try to predict at what time we start falling asleep, and they begin to produce melatonin about two hours before that.

If you are constantly changing up your bed time, your body never has a chance to get into a rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep.

Do a quick meditation

Meditation helps clear your mind and quiet intrusive thoughts. Try journaling first and then meditating for a few minutes. Take some deep breaths and listen to your body. Visualize a tropical island if that helps. There are many apps that can guide you through meditations, and many tailored specifically to meditations that help you fall asleep.

Do stretching or light yoga

Stretching an hour or so before bed is a fantastic way to help your body wind down and relax and also improves flexibility and staves off problems like carpal tunnel or back pain. Incorporate gentle stretching into your self care night routine for better sleep and overall well being.

Enjoy a warm cup of tea

A warm cup of tea is soothing and hydrating. Opt for flavors and scents like chamomile, lavender to cinnamon to promote calm and help you relax.

Final thoughts on relaxing self care night ideas

Self compassion is important. Your self care routine doesn't need to be complicated or incorporate every idea on this list. Incorporating just a few of these self care evening routine ideas will lead to improved sleep, easier mornings, and general good health.