Do you have a routine that you do before you go to bed? A bedtime routine does not have to be anything complicated, but rather a few steps that you consistently take each night, to let your body know that it is time to go to sleep.
My nighttime wind-down routine looks like this:
-Turn bedroom lights to red
-Brush and floss teeth
-Wash off makeup
-Apply night serums, creams
-Make sure water bottle is filled and on my night stand
-Set alarm clock
-Elevate legs (more on this below)
-Set nighttime relaxation sounds via Bose 2 Sleep Buds
-Put on eye mask
-Drift to sleep (hopefully quickly!)
Sometimes the order of my routine changes but I always do each of the above things – it helps me mentally and physically prepare and tell my body that it’s time for bed.
Elevating my legs is the newest addition to my nighttime routine. I’ve done it on occasion over the years but more recently I’ve started to do it every night.
Benefits of elevating your legs:
-Reduces anxiety and stress by causing your body to avoid “fight or flight” mode.
-Increases blood flow throughout the body, especially if you have been standing or sitting most of the day
-Stretches out your lower back and hamstrings
You only need to do this for about 20 minutes to reap the benefits. I try to put my phone out of reach and practice doing some deep breaths. Why not try it, the next time you are getting ready for bed?
