How to create a night-time routine that works for you
A good night’s sleep is one of life’s major joys. After a proper night’s rest, it’s like the birds chirp louder, the sun shines brighter and life is good, you know? So when we have a bad night’s sleep, it’s just the worst.
Making sure you wake up every morning feeling like you can take on the world comes down to how you fall asleep the night before. A good nighttime routine is a key component to starting your day refreshed and ready to go, rather than sluggish and sleepy.
Why do I need a bedtime routine?
As humans, we thrive on routine. We are, after all, creatures of habit. Regular routines provide a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Completing familiar steps each night, leading up to bedtime, brings a sense of relaxation and contentment. Our body knows what to expect and can relax into the familiar pattern, which reduces feelings of uncertainty and anxiety.
Top tips for better sleep
Before you start perfecting your nighttime routine, you need to fall in love with your sleep space again.
Your bedroom should make you feel calm and relaxed. You can achieve this by decluttering your space, putting some fresh sheets on and spraying some of your favourite scents to create a zen, safe space that you look forward to spending time in each and every night.
Your step-by-step guide for perfecting your sleep routine
Now to the routine! This can honestly be simple and unique to you - everyone’s nighttime routine will look slightly different - you know what you like. We recommend these top four tips as a solid base, then you can adjust or add onto them as you see fit.
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Choose a bedtime that works for your individual sleep needs and daily schedule. You should aim to go to bed in the same 30-minute window each night to create a natural daily rhythm that works with your internal body clock. Leave yourself some time to wind down in the evenings. Close the curtains and turn on some lamps, this signals to your brain that sleepy time is near.
- You could also try listening to relaxing music or meditating during this time. It’s also recommended to turn the screens off and limit your blue-light exposure. Blue light, from our screens, stops the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, in our body and stops us from being able to drift into a natural, easy sleep.
- Create an optimal sleep environment by keeping your room cool and dark. We sleep best in cool temperatures, somewhere between 16-20 degrees is perfect. You may also want to consider using natural fibres like cotton and wool when it comes to bedding and pyjamas as these will naturally regulate your body temperature and help you get a more restful night’s sleep.
- Be consistent with your steps and timings. Consistency really is key when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep.
You don’t need to overcomplicate a nighttime routine, it could be as simple as brushing your teeth, changing into your pyjamas, reading a book and putting on some hand cream. That’s great! Just be sure to stick to it as much as you can to allow your body and mind to become accustomed to these familiar and reassuring steps.
Wool blankets for the bedroom
Did you know that wool can actually help improve your sleep? Once you’ve got your nighttime routine down, choosing what to sleep under (or on) is the next step for that ‘I woke up like this’ fresh morning feeling.
Adding a wool blanket to your bedroom or bedding is said to help you fall asleep faster, for longer, and with fewer interruptions during the night. Thanks, sheep. We owe you for that one. Plus, as an extra, a lambswool blanket looks great draped over the end of your bed during the day and is perfect for snuggling up under at night.
Explore the sleep collection
Looking to start improving your sleep but not sure where to start? We’ve got it sorted. Explore our new sleep collection and find accessories that will help you drift off and sleep sounder tonight.
As a special treat, we’ve also created a sleep playlist for you to fall asleep to here.
