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Our Guide to Winding Down at the End of Your Day

Have you ever gone to bed at night with your mind running a hundred miles a minute and you just know it’s going to be one of those nights where you can’t fall asleep? This is most commonly caused by the inability to wind down and relax after a long day. Today we live in a world inundated with so much information, status updates, social media comments and news stories alike that when layering this on top our busy lifestyles, it’s no wonder sometimes our brain is a little overwhelmed at the end of the day. There are a few daily rituals we can incorporate to help slow down the mind and prepare us for a relaxing evening and night of quality rest. After all, #ReviewGirl’s need their beauty rest!

19 September 2020

It can be so tempting to collapse on the couch at the end of a long day and never move until it's time to crawl into bed. If this sounds familiar to you then you must keep reading! Carving out some time at the end of the day to just let the day go and unwind is promised to combat fatigue and stress in a much more effective way, we promise! Easier said than done though right? Read our top suggestions to incorporate into your evening routine that only take an itty bitty amount of effort but provide BIG results.

1. Delight in a warm cup of tea

Research has shown that an ingredient in green tea called "L-Theanine" creates a sense of relaxation in approximately 30-40 minutes after drinking it. If you have had a hard day and are in need of a quick refresh, a warm brew of green tea is a sure fast way to calm the nervous system. Other blends such as Chamomile, Lavender, Peppermint and Chai are also excellent at relieving stress and calming down a knotted stomach!

2. Focus on your breathing

Your breathing has incredible power over the state of your body, so just by taking a short amount of time at the end of the day to get in control of this is a tremendous act of self-love. Find a quiet corner in your home, close your eyes and take deep slow breathes into your belly and feel your body start to relax. Pencil in 5 minutes at the end of your day to set a beautiful tone for the rest of your evening and put your body back into balance. If you are into aromatherapy, this is also a great time to breathe in scents of calming lavender or soothing peppermint.

3. Set the atmosphere

We know that the TV, mobile phone and computer may all be vying for your devoted attention but it's important to set boundaries and reduce your screen time, particularly in the hours close to your bedtime. Set your phone to silent and put it away from temptation. Change into comfy clothes, dim the lights and switch off Netflix so your body knows that the day is over and it's time to relax. Light your favourite scented candles, pull out your favourite book or play some soothing music and just relax. If you feel your eyes start to get heavy, take this as a sign and take yourself to bed. A full nights rest is just about the best treat you can give your body.

4. Stretch away the tension in your body

Your body reacts to a hustle and bustle lifestyle by constricting and tightening. Without releasing this tension, your body can build unwanted long term effects later in life. A daily yoga flow or deep stretching session is the perfect way to release this residual tension. The feelings of the body relaxing are immediate and your body will love you even for just 5-10 minute session per day. Pay attention to the areas of your body where you feel tightness, pain or fatigue and really hone in on those areas. The World Wide Web is a great tool to find the perfect stretches for those pain points. You know you're hitting the spot when you start to get those sigh of relief moments.

5. Practice gratitude

Don't let your mind stew on any stressful parts of the day; instead shift your focus to the things you have to be grateful for. We guarantee that at the end of the day you will always have 3 or more things! It can be anything as simple as having a roof over your head, a strong beating heart or someone randomly smiling at you in the grocery store. As the saying goes "where your thoughts go, energy flows" and as a matter of fact there is scientific proof of emotional and physical health benefits just from focusing on the things you have to be grateful for. As you start to form a habit of doing this, you will begin to welcome more joy into your mindset.

6. Write it all out

If you still have some lingering thoughts that you just can't drop from your mind, putting pen to paper and writing out all your thoughts and feelings truly is its own form of therapy. Not only does this clear your head but it allows you to go to bed with a clean slate and wake up the next day feeling fresh and mentally prepared for whatever the day may bring. You may even find it helpful to write out the next day's to-do list so it's out of the way and you don't have any moments interrupting your relaxing evening with your mind on hyper drive thinking of what you need to do tomorrow.

There really is no better investment then YOU and your health and well being, especially during these trying times. Read our Budget Friendly Hobbies blog for creative outlet ideas to further let your mind mellow.

With love, Review xo