Journal Prompts #20: On Nightly Rituals
My kids have an 7+ step ritual before bed, why don't I have one, too?
I have been thinking about rituals.
And I have been thinking about screen time.
Then I think about time, just time.
And then I think about pleasure.
And again back to ritual. My rituals. Do I have any rituals? Do I even like those?
The word discipline pops in my head.
And then pleasure wants to fight.
Yet they seems to be friends, too….the discipline and the pleasure.
But then I want to be free.
Free to choose. Free to feel. Free to be.
Discipline is laughing at me now. Ugh.
And I think about books a lot. Books I am reading. Book I have already read. Books I want to read. The amount of books I bought today at the local used bookstore. And my monthly audible credit I tried to cancel but can’t figure out how and then just use it. So many thoughts about books. And so many books.
And the truth is: I am over brushing my teeth. Floss? Now I am laughing. And my water pik is like…remember me?
Discipline is basically laughing so hard there are tears now.
So what is the perfect temperature for sleeping?
I do love Great British Bake Off.
And I definitely don’t want a TV in the bedroom.
And yet there is a TV in the bedroom.
Oh how I dream of sleep. Yes, while I am sleeping and while awake, I dream of good sleep.
All to say this: I am currently working on and overthinking and ruminating on bedtime and a nightly routine and rituals for myself.
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Grab a pen. Grab a journal or piece of paper.
What is your nightly routine or bedtime ritual (if you have one)? What are your favorite and least favorite parts? And do you sleep well?
Romance yourself to bedtime here. If you had all the money, time, gadgets and face creams (add in whatever or whomever you need here *wink), what would your dream nighttime ritual be?
And lastly, why do you have a bedtime ritual? What does it do for your mind, body, spirit and sleep?
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RESOURCES:
READ: Bedtime Routines and Sleep Rituals for Restful Sleep x very well health
READ: Don’t Make These Mistake Reading Before Bed x Headspace
QUOTE: However, sleep isn’t an on-off switch, but a ramp, says sleep psychologist Jade Wu, author of Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications. You can’t expect to fall into slumber the moment your head hits the pillow. In fact, your body needs some preparation and encouragement to head down that ramp. A bedtime routine will smooth that transition into sleep, signaling to your body it’s time to unwind. “Even when you’re still awake and puttering around, putting on pajamas,” Wu says, “your body is starting to go down that ramp.” (source).
LISTEN: The Science and Practice of Perfecting Your Sleep with Matthew Walker on Huberman Lab Podcast
BOOK: ‘Why We Sleep’ by Matthew Walker (grab at your local bookstore!)