My Nightly Routine for Dreamland Success!

Hey there, friends!

So, last time I shared about my journey to wellness and how one small change — stopping my snooze-button habit — made a big difference in my mornings. Today, I want to chat about something important: my nightly routine that sets me up for success. Spoiler alert: it’s been a game-changer!

After I kicked that snooze habit to the curb, I quickly realized that I was still missing something crucial: sleep. I mean, who would’ve thought that going to bed earlier would be such a radical idea? I set my bedtime for 9PM. Now, I know what you might be thinking: “9PM? That’s way too early!” But here’s the thing — during that time, my EMS shifts were early, I had to get up at 3:45AM. Yes, you heard that right! I needed to create a consistent sleep schedule, and on my days off, I wake up at 6AM, still sticking to that 9 PM bedtime.

But let me tell you, just lying in bed at 9 PM didn’t mean I was actually asleep. Nope! Instead, I was caught in the endless scroll of my phone, often ending up wide awake until midnight. That left me with less than four hours of sleep on workdays. Talk about groggy!

The next step? Kicking my phone to the curb once I hit the sheets. I used to watch TV with my husband until right before bed, which kept my mind racing with thoughts of everything I needed to do the next day. I decided it was time to break that cycle. I tried melatonin to help fall asleep, which worked initially, but I noticed I was becoming a little too dependent on it. Daily use of melatonin isn’t great for your health; it can mess with your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. So, I knew I had to find a better solution.

I started doing some research and learned that technology can really mess with your circadian rhythm. So, I made a bold move: no more screens 30 minutes before bed. What to do with that newfound time? I returned to something I used to love — reading! It felt so good to dive back into a book, and it was relaxing too. I still used melatonin during this phase, but I found that reading really helped me wind down.

However, my racing thoughts still haunted me. I tried focusing on my breath, but that just wasn’t my jam. It felt more like a chore than a peaceful practice. That’s when I hit upon the idea of a nightly brain dump. I’d jot down everything swirling around in my head — tasks for the next day, week, or even month — in my planner. This simple act of writing everything down calmed my mind and made it easier to drift off.

After a while, I thought, “Why not try something new instead of relying on melatonin?” I stopped taking the melatonin cold turkey, thinking maybe my body just needed time to adjust. I figured I’d give it a couple of weeks to get back to a natural rhythm. But after two weeks of sleepless nights, I was beyond exhausted and knew I had to find a better solution. That’s when I heard about this relaxing tea from friends. At first, I was skeptical — how could a tea really make a difference? But I was tired of being dependent on melatonin, and what did I really have to lose? It’s not like I was getting any sleep anyway. The worst thing that could happen was that it didn’t work, and I’d just look for something else. So, I decided to give that relaxing tea a shot.

To my surprise, it was delicious — minty and soothing! I enjoyed my tea while doing my brain dump, and when I finally hit the pillow, I was out like a light.

I was amazed! This wasn’t just a fluke; it actually worked. I’ve been tea-fueled and melatonin-free ever since, and let me tell you, it feels great!

As I progressed on my wellness journey, I started adding some new elements to my nighttime routine. I found a skincare routine that feels like a mini spa session, and I made it a habit to jot down three things I’m grateful for in my journal after my brain dump. This reflection only added to that peaceful wind-down time.

I also began stretching before bed. At that time, I wasn’t exercising regularly, but I noticed my muscles often felt tight after busy shifts. Stretching became a delightful part of my nightly routine, usually taking about 10 minutes.

And let me tell you, stretching before bed has some fantastic health benefits! It helps improve flexibility, reduces muscle tension, and can even enhance the quality of your sleep. Stretching promotes relaxation by lowering cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and increases blood flow, which can help relieve any tightness from the day. Plus, it’s a great way to signal to your body that it’s time to wind down.

Reading has evolved too: I’ve shifted to personal development books that help me explore my mindset, and I’ve even started reading the Bible again as I reconnect with my faith.

So here’s my tip for you: find a nighttime routine that makes you feel relaxed and happy. It doesn’t have to look like mine. I genuinely look forward to 8:30 PM every night now, knowing that I’m setting myself up for a restful night and a positive start to the day.

Remember, it’s all about trial and error. Not everything that works for someone else will work for you, and that’s perfectly okay! You might find that focusing on your breath works wonders for you, or you may discover other practices that resonate more. I encourage you to try something new for at least two weeks to really see if it works. But above all, enjoy your routine! It shouldn’t feel like a chore or something you dread. Find what makes you happy and relaxed, and let that lead you to restful nights.

And don’t forget to start small and build upon it. Trying to completely overhaul your nighttime routine in one go can be overwhelming, and I know from experience that it’s hard to stick to. Progression in your wellness journey is about taking small, manageable steps. Over time, each small step adds up to some big, amazing transformations.

What’s your favorite nighttime routine? If you don’t have one, I get it! I went years without one. Think about one small change you can make today — even if it’s just setting a bedtime. That’s how my journey began, and it’s blossomed into something beautiful.

Let’s chat in the comments! Oh, and if you’re curious about that tea I mentioned, I’ll leave a link for you to check it out. Sweet dreams, everyone!