My Wind Down Routine

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I love that it gets dark outside earlier this time of year. It creates a coziness in the evening around my house — candles are lit, comfies are on, music is playing, and dinner is warming and delicious.

But after we finish dinner and clean up the kitchen is when the real magic begins — I light pillar candles (unscented beeswax of course) in our bedroom, turn on the red lightbulb lamp, take a hot shower, and get ready to catch some z’s. This routine grounds me and helps me relax my nervous system so that I can truly rest and recover each night.

I thought it would be fun to make this week’s edition of “Friday Five” centered around this wind down routine — it’s the perfect time of year to lean into the cozy and refine our wind downs. Here’s a play-by-play:

• 6:30 PM: Dinner - we usually have some type of red meat with a green vegetable and a carb (last night it was ribeye steak, a baked sweet potato, and salad)

• 7 PM: Clean up the kitchen (I’ve been loving these cleaning products) and shut down the house for the night. I also make a big water and take one magnesium supplement for regularity, sleep, and relaxation

• 7:30 PM: Hot shower - if I wash my hair I love Roz shampoo and conditioner followed by K18 bonding oil a few times per week (softest hair EVER)

• 7:45 PM: Moisturize (love this body oil), night time skincare routine (will do a separate post on skincare). I do organic castor oil in my belly button three (ish) times per week. I fill my belly button to the top with the oil and put patches on top to seal the oil in — sometimes I’ll also put a heating pad on top

• 8:15 PM: I usually set my PEMF mat up on top of our bed so I can lay on it while my husband and I read the bible together and meditate for 10 minutes (I like the Open app or Hallow)

• 8:45 PM: Read, watch a show, or talk for about 45 minutes

• 9:30 PM: Mouth tape is on, Hatch alarm is set and playing brown sound, and we’re off to dreamland