Sorting out my Sleep Routine! (I’m really trying 😌💤)

Hi everyone! 💕 How are you doing? 💐. Today’s blog post is one where I’m hoping that putting something out into the universe will further cement it in place 🤞….and then yeah, I’ll do my bit to help it along the way too I suppose! 🙄😂 Long story short, my sleep routine is terrible and kinda non-existent. At the beginning of last year it was for reasons out of my control and maybe it still is with lockdown looming but

One thing I’ll say is that I’ve noticed that when I am to be up for something important the next day, I sleep! (Future regret has a massive impact on my life 😂) so without the pressure those moments hold to settle down for the night it’s still possible and attainable! In looking at and focusing on how I go about those nights I have put together a list of things I find go hand in hand with a good night’s rest! ⚡ And it’s not just something to write about either, I’m actually going to make a conscious effort to become unconscious! 😴 (Yay? 😂).

I used to share loads of posts on what to do if you can’t sleep sleep (part 1 & 2 are a real blast from the past 😂) but I don’t know if I ever drew attention to what I should do to actually GO to sleep 🤔🙈 and that ain’t good so here are my ideas! They’re nothing miraculous as it’s usually the things that are stood right there staring you in the face that are best to do so I’m not going to overthink any of it! If in hindsight it helped then I’ll go for it:

In the spirit of reducing screen time I go on my phone one last time for quick last minute things I need to do (if there’s any) and then I put it away instead of looking around for more to get done on there 😵 because tomorrow’s another day! 🌄 For a good while I would listen to a podcast but that wasn’t a great idea cause then I’d have to go back on my phone to switch it off afterwards and I’d get lured to other places! Even sleep hypnosis channels have their downfall because I find I’m a lot more groggy the next day and heavy headed if the sleep itself was forced so I’m steering clear of the lot for now unless I need a motivational boost from another mindful source to draw things to a close! 🌙

First of all when I get in bed I switch on my sound machine! 🌊 I got it from my sister one Christmas and it is probably my most used present ever 🎁😂. I put it on Ocean, volume level two every night unless it’s Summer as then I’ll fall asleep to the sound of a fan instead because the weather has changed 🔥.

I’ve never actually thought into that and realised it is in fact a routine + how I do it automatically (I had a bad migraine the other night and asked my mum if she’d switch the machine on for me, I was like: lower left button on, volume all the way down (cause it switches on up high) then up two and third button along the bottom is ocean, thank you!….some things just stay with you 😂).

It’s difficult to remember the last time I fell asleep at night in complete silence, if I go up to my room for darkness to get rid of pain in the day I won’t have it on unless I really cannot settle 😴. I think it initially began with getting used to the sound of a fan one Summer and then I realized it muted out the noise of the dogs in the morning 🐕 They have a little tap dance routine going on in the early hours for sure 😂.

Next up I know the best thing to do would be to grab a good book and dive into reading! 📚 This can’t always be done before sleep like when I’m unwell but when it can I’ll go for it! I will often get in bed and know the right thing to do would be to settle back and wind down with something to read but for some reason it doesn’t happen as much as it used to.

Yeah I’ve been finding it tricky to read as it is but if I’m ever going to get past that it won’t involve going cold turkey 🤷 that is an odd saying 😂. Right now I’m reading With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo and it’s brilliant! I’m enjoying how visual the whole thing is and it’s a nice easygoing book to get back into the swing of things. I’m gradually building myself up each time to more and more pages with books before it all starts to get confusing and the fatigue sets in and even though it can at times drop I’m happy to be at a place of not being as frustrated as I was with the whole thing. So yeah, this will be my first port of call when possible: get in bed, grab a book! Simple pimple (yet another horrible saying 😐😂). There are a good lot of genres on my TBR shelf so theres a lot of choice depending on mood as well ✨.

Oh, if I haven’t already written in my planner for the next day, when I’m in bed is a great time to do that because it leaves me feeling all positive about the next day! 🌈 Maybe it’s best to do that before reading because my eyes are closing in the aftermath 😂.

Directly before I doze off I put a few drops of olbas oil on the collar of whatever I’m wearing to sleep because it helps me breathe throughout the night. For a good few months this has been troubling me but I’m hopeful that it’s close to being sorted out 😪 (is that a cry emoji or a yawn? I will never know but naturally I’ll keep on using them for both 🙌😂).

I was going to try to think of a list of stuff to pick from featuring skincare and other relaxing activities but then I got to thinking: why am I trying to make this routine longer!?? And anyway, skincare is probably an evening thing anyway (not directly before sleep) because the cold of the product would wake me up 😲😂.

And there we have it! Nothing crazy, just the simple stuff as that’s what works 💫. There are a few things I’m thinking of adding in over time but I won’t wait for them to start with the rest of this! Strangely enough I tend to be better the next day if I DON’T sleep the night before, I’ll be more alert but it’s still not right to aim for that to happen! 🙌 Long term self destruction shouldn’t look so good in the here and now 😂.

Anyway, thanks for reading my sleep plans that I’m hopeful will stick! 🍮 I know throughout lockdown and a pandemic in general it’s tough going to sleep but I really want to make an effort to do what’ll directly benefit me so I’mma try!

Have you got any tips for how to not stray from routines? I would love to hear them 💌✨. This won’t be easy because when I get in bed at night I always feel like I should keep on being productive or start if the day wasn’t so good purely because I’m awake 😌 but considering I’ve already began to follow this routine and it allows me to wind down at the end of the day, I’d like to think it’ll become a full on normality! 💤

Anybody else working on their sleep routine out there? I wish you the best of luck with it, it can be so tricky but you will find what works for you! 🙌tis written in the stars, the night is just foggy rn 😂🌠🌙. To everyone reading, I hope you have a wonderful day and are able to find peace in the moment you’re in, take care and I’ll see you very soon! ✨💞

Check out my previous post: Motivational Affirmations: Your MARCHing Orders! 💂🌻😂

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