When life gets messy and everything seems to just weaken your body and drain your energy levels, it’s a clear sign that you’re stressed. You didn’t sleep well, work was hectic, and daily responsibilities get in the way. It’s days like this when you just can’t, but hope for the day to finally be over. I really never like to feel this way, because I know that we only have one life and each moment we live, we only have once. We should never waste any of those moments, just because we don’t know how to handle certain situations. I have been there, and still get into occasions, when I think I just want this day, period, or situation to be over and I don’t like it. So I asked myself, what can I do to restore balance in my life. Since stress, in all forms, is an unexpected and unpredicted storm we have to fight, I am a huge fan of rituals and routines.
Mornings and evenings are magical moments, the beginning and ending like alpha and omega. In the morning I am usually trying to get my energy flowing and clear my mind so I can be as productive as possible. The nighttime is the only time I can really get for myself, so I am trying to make the best out of it when the noise and distractions from the day slowly die down and I can start to relax.
This is the perfect time for some self-care rituals, that’ll help restore that balance 🙂
+ Unplug
We are on our phones, tablets, laptops, and computers all day. I mean nowadays we can’t really live without them, they’re part of our every moment, voluntarily and involuntarily. In the evening you should use the time to just focus on yourself, bring your mind to wind down, and relax. This can get pretty challenging if your phone rings every 2 minutes with a new text, mail, or Instagram notification. Therefore, I would recommend turning off all your devices and use the time to enjoy and take care of yourself.+ Write in your journal
During the day we carry worries and thoughts with us. By writing those down in your journal it’s almost like putting those thoughts down to bed with you, and simultaneously freeing your mind to ensure better sleep. I also like to use my journal to think about what I am grateful for, and just write it down, to remind myself that I am okay when life seems to be dark. A good way to stimulate your brain into some positive thinking is writing about something you’ve achieved in that day, or something you are proud of.+ Take care of yourself
Get cozy, put your most comfortable pajamas on and treat yourself to something you love. Chocolate, chips, wine, and cheese..whatever you like. Grab a book, or turn the TV on and relax on your couch, or take a long bath with essential oils to get your body to calm down after a long day.
+ Read
The purpose of a good night-time routine is to unwind from the day and leave the stress or worries behind. It is the preparation for a good night’s sleep, which is essential to your mood and productivity for the next day. When you read your mind starts focussing on that one story you’re reading, taking you away from real-world events. I would usually get ready for bed and snug under my blanket to read myself to sleep.+ Extended night-time beauty routine
On the evenings when I decide to take a long bath, I like to treat myself to the full program. Bath-bombs, aromatherapy, candles, followed by an extended beauty ritual to help my skin heal from all damaging external influences we encounter in our day-to-day life. It’s the best feeling jumping into a fresh bed after a 1.5h long beauty ritual and just doze off into the world of dreams.
+ Do some yoga followed by a guided mediation
One of my favorite ways to end my day is by doing a yoga session. The stretching and breathing will take the heavy loads off your back, and by concentrating on your breathing you’ll let some fresh new energy flow through your body. It’s like hitting the reset button and leaving the day behind. To finish off I would go on YouTube and pick a guided sleep/relax meditation. This will increase melatonin, reduce heart rate, activate parts of the brain that control your sleep.
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