How you end the day makes all the difference. Your evening routine can either set you up for a cheerful and fulfilling day or one full of frustration and exhaustion. Here are seven steps you can take to create a successful bedtime routine that will give you more restful nights and more productive days.
Try setting an alarm for one hour before you’d like to be settled in bed to remind you that it’s time to step out of your day and start winding down.
Since you end up going 6–8 hours without any liquid at all, drinking water throughout the day and before you hit the sack is essential to keeping yourself hydrated. Try adding Lavender Vitality™ essential oil to your water or herbal tea for a calming influence. Aim for an hour before bed, so you aren’t waking up in the middle of the night for a bathroom trip.
Make sure to give your skin and teeth the TLC they need. Refresh and renew your face with a mild wash such as our ART® Gentle Cleanser. You should also use gentle products on your teeth that are free of synthetic dyes and fluoride such as our Thieves® AromaBright™ Toothpaste and Thieves Fresh Essence Mouthwash. Taking time to establish and follow this important hygiene ritual will help you feel fresh and relaxed before bed and can signal to your brain that it’s time to calm down.
Write down a brief game plan for a productive tomorrow. While creating your list, remember to envision the kind of day you’d like to have, how you’d like to feel, and the top priorities you’ve got in your sights. Get it down on paper and you won’t spend hours trying to fall asleep thinking about what your day might look like.
The night before, prepare your outfit, your breakfast and lunch, or complete other tasks you’d usually take care of in the morning. The fewer tasks looming over you, the quicker and happier you will be getting out of bed in the morning.
The light from electronic screens can trick your mind and body into thinking it’s still light out. Try leaving technology out of your bedroom to help you shift into to a calm, relaxed, and clear state.
Try diffusing Lavender, Stress Away™, or your favorite blend of essential oils with comforting aromas as you prepare for bed. Rubbing a couple drops between your palms and brushing them over your pillow can also boost the relaxing aromas and can make jumping into a cloud of pillows and blankets feel extra luxurious.
YL tip: Did you know that Valerian essential oil helps promote feelings of calm, serenity, relaxation, and that it can ease occasional restlessness? Add Valerian to your bedtime routine by diffusing few drops 30 minutes before you go to sleep.
Want more tips for getting that ever-important beauty rest? Check out our essential tips for bedtime. For more tips on winding down any time of day, learn more about Peace & Calming.
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My thoughts and experience are that the bedtime routine should be initiated after dinner. A slow decent to sleepy time. Example : Eat, go out for a walk or bike ride or yoga routine... come back to the house start to unplug from electronics: TV, Computer,cell phone ect...no sugar before bedtime !
Take a hot shower and dab a little lavender behind your ears or on the bottom of your feet.... Start to Diffuse your favorite scent to help calm.... read, draw, be thankful.... go to sleep.... The routine is important with your self and your children. good night sweet dreams
I love your Valor Essential Oil Blend when massaged on my back, my 3 1/2 year old daughter's, and also my husband's. My Mom does this nightly too!
I like peppermint, lavender, and stress away. I am going to try the cedarwood. I love my oils.
Does anyone know if you can put essential oils in the water used in a CPAP machine?
No, the oils will eat the plastic of the humidifier which heats the water and turn it from clear to white.
Hi Joan, great question! We would not recommend using essential oils in conjunction with a CPAP machine in any manner as the oils may damage the plastic components of the machine. Thanks for stopping by!
Lavender Vitality in my tea has helped me to unwind before bed.
I use 4 drops of lavender, 4 drops of cedar wood, and 4 of stress away every night, and place a dab behind my ear of cedarwood
So do we! Great combo!
How do you use the lavender, cedar wood, and stress away? Do you diffuse, topical, or drink?
I diffused Lavender for a while and then found that I liked it better on my feet. My favorite for diffusing at bedtime are Cedarwood and DreamCatcher. I breathe in a drop or two of Cedarwood and rub the remainder on both sides of my pillow so that whichever way I turn, it's there. The smell is heavenly. It's a great combination.
Those are very good tips and I am going to do them. Thanks for sharing.
I like to put a drop of Cedarwood on my fingers and rub it behind my ears.
Lavender and Cedarwood = Drool