Bed time routine
I am the type of person who needs at least 8 hours of sleep a night. I have tried to survive the day on 7 hours or less, and I become a cranky mess by 3PM. Every time.
Over the past few years, I have realised that a bed time routine is just as important as the sleep itself. If I go to sleep without winding down, then I wake up feeling anxious and stuck in my own head. While I don鈥檛 get it right every time, I believe that I have compiled the perfect recipe to act as an antidote to my anxious wake ups.
Shower
There is nothing more satisfying then going to bed completely clean. Plus, a hot shower is comforting and relaxing. Followed up by getting into some soft clothes, a shower is a necessity for a decent snooze.
Stretch
I rotate through about 5 different stretches. I hold the poses for about 20 seconds before switching to another one. It takes less than 5 minutes and can be interlinked with breathing and meditation exercises.
Read
When I open a book before bed, I make sure I don鈥檛 look at my phone again until the morning. Having 15 minutes of reading without any distractions helps me ease into a sleepy abyss. I get bonus points for falling asleep while reading.