HI lovelies,
Before we jump into today’s topic, I wanted to share this interesting thought :
Whenever, I feel a block in my head, for coming up with any topic for my blogs, for example today, I sit down for a 5-minute meditation, not necessarily to come up with answers (sometimes with that intention), but to simply relax for a while. And every single time, I get my answer. I get a title for the blog and the content flows. Even on days I am really tired, it works.
I wonder then, if these topics really are mine?
For example today, I already had drafted my last blog ‘ You Need To Hear This’, and I was tired, but it was already 5pm and I did not want to sleep, as that would mean insomnia at night, so I sat down for a 10 minute guided meditation. And around 3 to 5 minutes into that, I heard the name of this blog “A Holistic Night Routine”, and the voice was too loud to ignore. It was a sweet whisper, coming out of no where. It was strange, even though it felt familiar! And I knew that it wasn’t my inner voice, it was different. Will be writing about it in detail very soon!
Coming back to Topic at Hand: A HOLISTIC NIGHT ROUTINE.
If you haven’t read my previous blog “How to have an Ideal Morning Routine”, do check that one out first, as I have explained in detail, how to make a routine which sticks.
This one on the other hand, is all about a night routine that I have been religiously following, from past 3 to 4 months . And it has helped me in a lot of ways.
A HOLISTIC ROUTINE 🤌🏻
Why am I calling it a holistic routine?
By Holistic here, I mean “including every aspect” – this routine caters to all your needs (atleast, it does mine). The overall wellness – caring for the famous trio : MIND, BODY & SOUL.
Like I told in my previous blog, a good routine which sticks, must have few non-compromisable tasks and others which could be switched or avoided on days, you don’t feel your best.
My non-compromisables for this routine are : Brushing, Face care and journaling.
There is not a day I missed them, in the past 3 months, for simple reasons like:
- It hardly takes 15 to 20 minutes for all completing all three.
- Makes me feel amazing & relaxed, ready to let go & sleep.
- I chose them myself.
I am going to explain the routine in detail, along with things to consider and my experience in just a bit.
Let’s Go:
I came up with just three non compromisables, out of sheer necessity, and so its a no brainer that I follow them religiously.
I was not planning on starting a whole “Night Regime” for myself, this happened pretty organically, unlike all those years, when I would watch a Night routine video every single night before bed, only to follow each type for a day or two.
Therefore, take this with you, only if it resonates.
Otherwise, I urge you to read my previous blog, which can help you custom a routine that fits your needs and provides you tips to stick to it.
HERE IS WHAT I DO:
FIRST NON-COMPROMISABLE
So the first mistake we all do while forming a routine, is that we make it Super Strict & Rigid, we leave no room for flexibility.
I learned from experience, and did not make any time commitments this time. I simply started with having to brush every single night, post dinner, no matter what time I had dinner that night.
It started after a close family member had to visit dentist and go through some treatment, which feels like the most painful thing ever.
It did arise out of fear, to not having to go through something similar. But after a month or so, it did transform to “I just want to have a better oral hygiene, by brushing twice a day”. And since brushing right after bed in the mornings, is a routine I had since forever (thanks to mom), brushing twice a day was not much of a problem.
By the way, I had to change the way I brushed. Adopted what the dentist suggested my family member, this helps with proper cleaning & protecting gums from any sort of damage (which my old method, supposedly didn’t).
Honestly, after one week of following this, it became an irresistible habit. I felt weird, if I didn’t brush post dinner, or went to sleep without it.
SECOND NON-COMPROMISABLE
After a month of forming the habit of Brushing (quiet unintentionally), I was still unaware of the fact that I am on my way to form a beautiful night time routine.
This was the time when I felt the need for journalling in my life again. I did journal before, but was somewhat inconsistent & lazy with it. My entries had a gap of one week to 2 months. But I knew, journaling has always helped me. Finding the type of journaling method which worked for me is a topic for another day.
So, I decided to fix a time, for atleast 10 minutes of journaling each day. And I knew for a fact that given my busy schedules, I would not be (missing out on that blissful morning sleep) waking up an extra half an hour earlier, just for this. So, it had to be at night. Plus, it made sense to me, to journal after the completion of the day, to just write everything off your mind, de-clutter, let go and sleep peacefully.
However, I did not wanna fix a time (by hours) for it, because of the uncertainties of the days. And I knew if I simply left it at “I’ll do it at night”, I will never get it done : due to tiredness or laziness, right after work.
SO, I came up with this idea to link it with something, that I am doing already on AUTOPILOT.
And I did, I linked it with Brushing, which by now was a habit. I decided to journal atleast a page or half, post brushing. And now, it feels incomplete on days I don’t journal post brushing.
However, Journaling took more effort than brushing, to be honest. On few days, I simply did not want to, and to keep up with my promise to myself, I simply wrote : “I do not feel like it today” as my entry, thereby completing the routine for that night.
On other days, I simply sat down to write, “I do not feel like it today” and ended up writing pages.
And that’s how, it became a habit.
THIRD NON-COMPROMISABLE
It was one of the days, when you look at yourself in the mirror, and no matter how hard you try not to, you feel ugly! (ughh, PMS is to blame!)
However, I didn’t feel the need to self loathe that day. I wanted to do something about it. And not just for a day, but to really take care of my skin.
I realized how my skin had become too dry and dull. And I did not like that at all.
I did not have any fancy products to apply at the time, and it was not a result of one day hence needed a long term care.
I chose to start with my face.
Coconut oil has always helped me since childhood. My skin was oily before, and so I only applied it to my hair. To my surprise, I realized my skin, could no more be categorized as oily. (I guess : a result of various chemical products, pollution, change in water & changing skin due to age).
I no longer wanted to buy another bunch of products, without proper research, which would just hurt my skin more. Therefore, I returned back to what worked as a child.
I decided to take 2 minutes out of my time, post brushing, to simply apply coconut oil & massaging the same, 20 to 30 times in circular motion, especially in areas where my skin felt most dry.
It hardly took 2 minutes, and was easy to put into my routine. To make it more easier, I kept a towel and coconut oil bottle, in the bathroom, near the brush.
And Voila! A New Self Care Routine was now being followed, without any need to keep track. As it was happening pretty organically.
HOLISTIC NIGHT ROUTINE
Apart from the non- compromisables, when I realized I was infact following a self care night routine, religiously with no effort whatsoever, I wanted to add more variables to it. Which was wrong, but some of them helped.
- Reading a book (fiction or non fiction – I generally preferred reading fiction before bed to relax and non fictions in the mornings to carry those lessons throughout the day) , atleast 2 pages, before falling asleep or post journaling.
- 10 minutes meditation.
- Working on a project, something I loved apart from work (like this blog), for 15 to 20 minutes, to begin with, post dinner.
- Keeping all items ready for the morning.
However, I have been consistent only with the non compromisables so far. And on days with extra energy, or on weekends or holidays ; I have successfully incorporated these tiny habits into my night routine. And on some days, added some extra ones too.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
- Don’t try to fix a specific AM/PM time for any habits, for example : 9 pm for brushing. Keep it flexible. OR link one habit to another, like dinner to brushing. (something that you already do)
- It’s good to fix a time to go to sleep, however that does not work for me. Sleeping depends on days & their schedules, but I do try to wind up before 10 pm and start my self care.
- Do not be discouraged, too soon. On some days I have brushed at 12 in the night and written a journal entry at 1 am. Just prioritize. I would not follow it the next day, if I missed a day (am working on that), and I know many of you are like that. Therefore, a big no for those To DO’s for these habits. Do not go checking boxes, only to feel horrible, when on some days you simply couldn’t follow through due to reasons like late work nights, meetings, etc.
- Keep going, know it’s okay to start all over again, till you find an ideal routine for yourself. Trial & Error works the best.
- Do not go by lists of habits other follow, take up ones which are really needed for your overall well-being.
- Try to include one habit for each, MIND BODY & SOUL. I took up mindfulness and reading for mind, brushing and face care for body & journaling and meditation for soul.
- Don’t be afraid to incorporate new ones or delete somethings which don’t work. As we evolve, our habits must too.
I hope this helps!! Let’s keep growing. This is a proud Tiny Win of my life, share yours in the comment?
Thank you so much for reading!
Catch you soon again..