The Routine
As promised, my night time routine broken down! I know I’m a bit late on this post - but in all honesty, it would be pretty out of character for me to post something on time! But do let it be known that I’ll be setting weekly reminders going forward, so keep an eye out every Friday for a new post update!
Anyways, with the excuses out of the way, onto the routine!
10-15 minute reset → I like to take a small amount of time to reset my space. Pick up the clothes off my floor, clean up any wrappers or bottles, put away any shoes or jackets, etc. Giving my space that time and care during my nighttime routine is another way of me showing up for myself. Kind of like a little gift for the me of tomorrow!
Shower & Skincare → A lot of people like to shower in the morning, and I certainly do it too, but at night, I treat my shower as a reset. I save washing my hair for the morning, but things like shaving, exfoliating - all the things I don’t typically have time for during the morning routine I’ll fit in here. As for skincare, I’ll typically wash my face with Anua Heartleaf + BHA Cleansing Soap and use a moisturizer (CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion). Not sponsored! My skincare routine isn’t crazy or in depth at all, but it’s all I feel like I need! Keep in mind, this isn’t the case for everyone, and it is absolutely subject to change - lifestyle changes, aging… all these things will affect what myself and everyone else will need to do for their bodies.
Prepare for the Next Day → This is a big one! Just like with the reset in step one, getting yourself ready for the next day the night before is a great way to show up for yourself. Picking out my clothes for the next day helps get rid of some of the morning stress. Another thing that I like to do is pack things for my lunch box. I don’t always have a lunch prepped for the next day, but snacks and a drink are usually something I’m looking for midday. Getting that stuff together the night before is a blessing so I’m not left wanting when I realize I forgot my cheese stick at home. Lastly, my work bag. I like to bring an analog bag around with me wherever I go - light activities that don’t involve technology, and my laptop for when I want to work on projects or my blog. I don’t always get to go to it, but it’s nice to have it for the times when I can!
Wind Down → My wind down has to be one of my favorite parts of the night. It’s when I finally get to get into bed and get prepped for sleep. I’ll usually start by dimming my lights, putting on some music to fit the mood of what I’m doing - like reading or journaling. Maybe a quick stretch or just laying down with my eyes closed. This is really the part that changes the most. Some days my wind down is just me crashing into bed because of how tired I am. Other days, I need some time to really let go of the day and lull myself into that state of relaxation. Whatever you choose to do with this time is up to you, but make sure its about you. No last minute email checks, no follow-up texts, no thinking about work… just give in. The day is over. And sleep is important!
Welp, that about covers it! It’s nothing spectacular, but it’s mine. And I do my best to stay consistent with it. Truth is, we are human beings. And sometimes, we can’t help but break routine. We love it on paper, but each and every day comes with its own challenges that test our patience and our willpower. But in the end, it’s important to show up for ourselves regardless. We go to work, we cook dinner, we commute - we do all of these things for other people, to work or to be a good mother, wife, friend, daughter, etc… but the only person who will always show up for us no matter what, is ourselves.
The routine template posted in my Downloads has some ideas on what you can incorporate in your own nighttime routine, but ultimately the decision is yours on what you include. We are all individuals, so the amount of time and effort we are capable of or willing to put into this varies. Don’t let that discourage you, though! Anything is better than nothing, no matter how much you can do, or how willing you are to do it. Even a simple routine goes a long way in the journey of showing up for yourself.
Until next time!