In today’s time where each minute is a race of how productive we are, it’s just as important to take some time to unwind and let our thoughts flow without restriction. The necessity of a bedtime routine is highly undermined but it can provide us with visible improvements in our lives. This small routine should help us wind down and simultaneously prepare us for the next day.
To begin with, we should ideally stop our screen exposure at least 20 minutes before we go to sleep. This is because the overload of information we encounter while on social platforms in addition to the “blue light” emitted from devices causes unnecessary brain activity and leads to retinal damage. This not only makes our thoughts run faster but engages our brain which further causes a delay in being able to fall asleep.
Keep in mind that our bedtime routine consists of the last things we do in a day, something that sets up and prepares for the coming day. Due to this,s we should incorporate journaling and meditation into our bedtime routine. We often carry the weight of thoughts and feelings from the day we just experienced, journaling can help us channel that energy into words which helps us let go of feelings which we don't want to associate with. Meditation can similarly help us dissociate and practice breathing which physically relaxes us.
Lastly, we should try to engage in an activity that can help us relax- whether it’s reading a good book, listening to some music or taking a warm shower. These things provide a sense of comfort and are a great way to end the day!
Written by : Rivika Gotewala
Edited by: Aarushi Sharma
Uploaded by: Aadi Kanchankar