25 April, 12:00
How To Create The Perfect Self-Care Night-Time Routine
Published by Izzy Capper
Found yourself asking how to set a
bedtime routine?
This article looks at how to improve your bedtime routine. Taking care of yourself should always be a priority, so why not master how to unwind before bed and try implementing self-care into your night-time routine?
Self-care is the regular practice of taking care of both your physical and mental health by listening to your mind and body’s individual needs. Introducing self-care practice into your routines leaves your mind and body feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, benefiting both your work and social life.
If you don’t feel like you’re making the most of your evening, you may want to investigate how to start a bedtime routine with self-care practices. If you’re unsure of why and when to start a bedtime routine, we would suggest looking at how much quality time you are allowing yourself in the evening, do you feel relaxed, how is your sleep quality, are you able to stay asleep or are you up in the night? If you aren’t allowing yourself time to implement self-care and a routine, it’s time to put yourself first and look at how to start a bedtime routine that truly implements self-care and prioritises you.
Taking the first steps...
During the evening there are certain steps you can take to relax while preparing for sleep during winding down time. Now you have established when you should start a bedtime routine one of the most important elements of your routine to nail is a consistent bedtime, allowing yourself several hours before bed to implement your routine. Following a consistent sleep routine allows your brain to recognise bedtime and naturally helps you wind down when it’s time to get some shut eye. Establishing your night-time routine sets you up for success the following day, go into your evening without racing thoughts from your day, prevent sleep problems, and allow yourself some well-deserved me time during the hours before bedtime. And remember, giving yourself the structure of rituals and routine within your evening allows you to look forward to downtime later in your day and aid in getting you your vital healthy sleep.
Step 1)
The first step to a self-care routine checklist is to make your sleep routine and self-care a priority. Self-care shouldn’t be tedious or seen as a task, rather you should enjoy and look forward to practicing your routine.
Accepting that a routine comes with time is important, life can take its toll on our ability to consistently complete our routine by the book, but self-care is all about listening to your mind and body, if you change a thing or two in your routine or life takes over one evening, that is perfectly fine.
Step 2)
Run a warm bath, hot water signals bedtime to your body. Hot water can adapt your body’s core temperature, ensuring once it is time to go to bed your body has reached a lower temperature.
A drop in your body temperature sends signals to the body that it is now time for bed, promoting the ability for you to fall asleep faster.
Step 3)
Introduce a night skin routine, whether you simply choose to do a face mask, or pull out a several-step skincare routine, looking after your skin is important!
At night time, our skin absorbs nutrients more efficiently than the skin can throughout the day. Using thick creams such as body butter and night cream won’t leave your skin feeling greasy or heavy.
Step 4)
Wondering what is the best natural sleep aid? Look to lavender and chamomile. This iconic super-herb blend is ideal for relaxation and deep sleep. The classic lavender smell is known for its ability to reduce anxiety and stress and improve the quality of your sleep. When you smell lavender, it is thought to ease you more gently into ‘slow-wave sleep’ when your heart rate slows and your muscles really relax, giving you better quality, restorative sleep and increasing the health benefits you get out of your slumber. Chamomile is tried and tested in the world of sleep! Containing a natural chemical called Apigenin, it is known to induce sleepiness, a sense of calm, and reduce anxiety! With this pair on your side, you can’t go wrong!
Step 5)
Ditch the electronic devices and stay off social media. Avoid blue light by not watching tv and staying away from electronics. If you choose to listen to music ensure to choose something soothing, as an alternative to music, white noise has been proven to help you relax and improve your sleep.
Think you’ve aced your evening self-care routine?
Now you understand why is a bedtime routine important, there are further steps and products you can add to your routine to maximise relaxation, build positive sleeping habits, and truly allow your mind and body to rest and rejuvenate. If you’ve been asking yourself when to introduce a bedtime routine there is a high chance there is good reason for it, when looking at how to get into a bedtime routine we are often faced with a variety of different sleep aids available. But what is a sleep aid and how does a sleep aid work? Sleep aid is traditionally available in the form of sedative-based medication and natural herbal remedies, when aiming to identify what is the best sleep aid for yourself, it depends on the severity of your sleeping problems you may want to begin with naturally blended essential oil lavender has been mixed into, or drinking calming chamomile tea.
Let's introduce Tuscan Dreams...
Complimentary to sleep aid, you can look at introducing a selection of relaxing products during your bedtime. Let me introduce you to Di Palomo and their Tuscan Dreams collection. Inspired by Tuscan Italy, Di Palomo created their Tuscan Dreams collection centered around self care, relaxation, and good sleep. Tuscan Dreams is blended with key ingredients lavender and chamomile, this iconic herbal super-blend is the key to your relaxation. The Tuscan Dreams contains Di Palomo products you know and love with new editions to the team.
These simple additions we can make to our night routine self care are crucial to truly allowing ourselves to wind down and enjoy relaxation. The key is to find what works for you and makes you feel good, routines and rituals stick when you truly enjoy yourself, and recognising your body’s needs and when to introduce a bedtime routine is the first step. Allow yourself to be relaxed and ready to take on the following day, to maximise your productivity and cognitive function for the important day ahead.