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How do I build a bedtime routine that actually sticks?

🧘 Wellness · updated 4 weeks ago · 3 min read
How do I build a bedtime routine that actually sticks?
Short answerKeep it short, repeat the same steps every night, and make the hour before bed quieter and dimmer than the rest of the day.

A bedtime routine works best when it is boring in a good way. Pick a short sequence you can repeat every night, such as dim lights, plug in your phone, wash up, and read for a few minutes. The point is to teach your brain that sleep is coming next.

The hour before bed should be calmer than the rest of the day. That usually means less screen time, less work, less heavy food, and less intense exercise. A regular sleep schedule helps too, because going to bed and waking up around the same time makes the routine easier to keep.

Do not try to build a perfect night routine all at once. Start with one or two habits you can actually do every day, then add more only if they stick. Consistency beats ambition here.

A reliable sleep mask is a small investment that makes this easier: sleep mask.

Sources

NHLBI - Healthy Sleep Habits
MedlinePlus - Changing your sleep habits
NIH News in Health - Good Sleep for Good Health

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