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Unsurprisingly, I usually woke up feeling groggy and regretful.
Getty Images/ Flavia Morlachetti
Once I started getting more serious about practicing regularself-care(around the time I became a mental health writer!
), I knew I had to cultivate a nighttime routine that better supported my mental health.
It was also about looking out for Future Me.
For example, if you go to bed earlier, Morning You is going to be much happier.
Do some light prep for tomorrow morning.
(For more ideas for what to include in your morning routine, check outthis article.)
It helps to ground you and remind you that youre not alone, he says.
Its like, Im okay.
Im here with others on this planet.
Tidy up a bit.
Not exactly what comes to mind when you think of nighttime relaxation.
The same goes for the other chores you put off for Future You to deal with.
you might thank the power of habits for that.
Once something becomes a normal part of your day, youll find it basically feels like second nature.
If youre new to the practice, start by writing down one thing youre grateful for every night.
It can be something small, likefreshly washed sheets.
You want to disentangle yourself from the stressors and stimulations of the day.
Thats the beauty of reading a book, says Howes.
That helps everything get smaller until you’re free to go to bed.
Give yourself a massage.
How you pull this one off can vary.
You could also try this spa-worthyface massageor whip out afoam rollerif it better suits your needs.
Ormy personal favoriteyou could kick it up a notch and invest in a back and neck massager.
(Also, yes, a self-massage could very much meanmasturbating.
But I figured I didnt need to go out of my way to tell you to do that.)
Enjoy a mug of decaf tea.
A lot ofmeditationskeptics I know were eventually sold on the concept via bedtime meditation.
There are plenty of apps out there to help you get started, includingHeadspaceandCalm.
Both are free (with optional in-app purchases) and have accessible beginner modes.
Give it a try.
You never know what might end up being transformative for you.
