14 Easy Night Routines to Help You Get a Good Night's Sleep
Whether it's a cup of tea or a warm bath, a relaxing bedtime ritual can do wonders for your sleep.
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You've probably heard about daily morning rituals to help set you up for success, but what about daily night routines? When it comes to getting a good night's sleep, the various habits that we engage in before bedtime — otherwise known as sleep hygiene — can have a significant impact on both the quality and quantity of your rest. In fact, our sleep is more like a dimmer knob and not a light switch you can flip on or off, notes Britney Blair, PsyD, CBSM, AASECT, a licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist. (Dr. Blair is also the co-founder and Chief Science Officer of a leading sexual wellness app called Lover.) For this reason, it's important to have a consistent nighttime routine in which you allow yourself at least an hour before bedtime to begin winding down. "In an hour to hour and a half prior to bedtime, the golden rule is do something that's relaxing for the body and calming for the mind," says Dr. Blair.
To help you find some relaxing activities to add to your bedtime routine, we consulted Dr. Blair as well as Chris Winter, MD, neurologist, board-certified sleep medicine specialist, and author of The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How To Fix It, to identify some of the best bedtime habits you can engage in before hitting the hay each night. Whether you favor a cup of tea while soaking in a warm bath or simply a good book, here are 14 healthy nighttime habits that will help you get a good night's rest — and will allow you to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle each morning with ease.
Hannah Jeon is an Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention, where she covers expert-driven commerce content for all things health, beauty, and wellness. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Good Housekeeping, she earned her bachelor’s degree in creative writing and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. When she’s not on the hunt for all the best products online, you can often find her trying out new food spots in New York City or clicking away behind a camera.
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