UNWIND, PREPARE, AND REFLECT: THE KEY TO A GOOD NIGHT ROUTINE

As my fall semester progresses, I find myself lacking a night routine. Most nights I end up in bed after a long day, setting my alarm, and shutting my eyes attempting to force myself to sleep. Of course, this is not the best technique in getting to sleep. Nighttime is more than just getting to sleep though, this should be the time we are unwinding. Unwinding, to me, is a process of relaxing your body, slowing down your mind, and reaching a better, deeper state of sleep that prepares you for the next day. While I can't say I always stick to this list, I would love to share with you my five tips on how to create a good night routine Unwind Whatever the reason, sometimes we just don't get alone time. Lots of us have roommates, busy work schedules, and lots of studying. The important thing to remember is that giving yourself a certain allotted amount of time to relax is the key to unwinding. About half an hour before bed, give yourself this time to do something that puts you in a good mood. Whether it's Netflix, reading, or writing in a journal, make this time a part of your schedule -- it's just as important as your appointments and your classes. Personally, I use this time to be mindful, something that I truly believe reduces my stress and helps me sleep better. If you've never tried mindfulness, I'll link my post to an introduction here. Try to make this time a consistent part of your routine -- this will help you get into the habit of unwinding. Prepare It's probably pretty obvious that I do this every night, but I highly recommend writing everything down that you need to get done the next day. This is an act of daily goal-setting, and it's much more likely that you'll be able to get things done if you think to do them ahead of time rather than thinking of them randomly throughout your day. This can be about your grocery store run, your homework, or even just little tasks you've dedicated the day to getting done. Not only should you make a to-do list, but you should also prioritize that to-do list. Divide things up by their importance, their urgency, and even the order you believe you can get things done. Having this plan ready ahead of time will make your day tomorrow much more productive. The best way to make your morning more stress-free is to get things ready in your space. If you're a breakfast person, set things out so they're ready for prep. Set our your outfit, or at least take a second to figure out what you're wearing now. If there are specific things you need to take with you today for a project, an appointment, or a class, put them right by your things so you don't forget to grab it in the a.m. I have found this step is the most crucial to having a smooth morning: think of the first thing you want to do when you wake up. It could be eating breakfast, doing your makeup or hair, or checking emails. Having the image in your head will help you engage more quickly in the morning so you can get your day started. And for goodness sake, SET YOUR ALARMS! Reflect Besides thinking about tomorrow, think a little bit about today. Checking in with ourselves is the most important thing to do when life gets hectic. Even if it's just mental, ask yourself three questions: 1) What happened today that made me feel good? 2) What happened today that made me feel bad? 3) What can I hope for tomorrow to make me feel good again? We can remember the good and bad parts of our days much better when we take note of them daily, and the best thing we can do with this information is to think about what the next day can bring for us. Reflection is key to preparing for the next day ahead, and with a little bit of practice, you can change your mindset and use these tools to end each day well. I hope these tips bring you a better night routine, be sure to let me know what part of your night routine you plan to focus on this week in the survey attached! ​xo Kate