Five Ways to Wind Down and Relax Before Bed

We’ve all been there: the evening is winding down, you’re finishing just one more show before you get ready to sleep. You do your nighttime routine, get comfortable, and once you get into bed, suddenly you can’t sleep. You’re thinking about what happened today, what you need to do tomorrow, did you remember to do this task or that chore, or you try to pass the time on your phone. Relaxing before bed can be difficult at best, but it doesn’t have to be a battle every night. We understand it can be hard (or nearly impossible) to shut your brain off before falling asleep but getting into a stable routine can help keep those ruminating thoughts at bay. Dr. Lawrence Epstein, chief medical officer of Sleep HealthCenters and professor of medicine at Harvard explains, “Our body craves routine and likes to know what’s coming.” A wind-down routine will help signal your body that daytime activities are over and it’s time to sleep.