10 Ways to Create a Relaxing and Consistent Self Care Evening Routine

Last Updated on October 21, 2022

How you end your day can have a huge impact on how you feel the next morning as well as influence how the rest of your day turns out.

Creating a relaxing and consistent self care evening routine can help set the tone for a good night’s sleep and a productive tomorrow. And you know what? There is no magic list of “to-dos” that works for everyone.

Self-care is highly personal to you and your lifestyle. That said, some behaviors work for many women and deserve to be highlighted for you in this post. So that’s what we’ll do, my friend.

The goal of this post is to help you discover which self-care night routine actions will have the most positive impact and create change in your life. Let’s understand what an evening self-care routine is, and isn’t, and then we’ll move on to the specific behaviors and actions that you can use to create your own.

Why Should We Create and Commit to a Nightly Self-Care Routine?

It’s no secret that women are often juggling a million different balls at any given time. We’re working hard to advance our careers, taking care of our families, and trying to stay healthy and fit.

With so much on our plates, it’s no wonder that self-care often falls by the wayside. However, creating and committing to a relaxing night routine can have a big impact on our overall well-being, much like a morning routine will help start out the day off on a positive track.

For starters, a nightly self-care routine can help to reduce stress levels. After a long day of work and/or taking care of the family, it can be tough to unwind.

By setting aside some time each night for yourself, you can give your mind and body a chance to relax and recharge. This can help you to feel better prepared to take on whatever the next day throws your way.

In addition, a self-care nighttime routine can help improve your sleep quality. When we’re stressed, our bodies tend to tense up, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Taking some time each night to relax with a book, take a warm bath, or do some light stretching can help your body to feel more relaxed and make it easier to drift off to sleep. And getting enough quality sleep is essential for overall health and well-being.

Make Evening Self-Care Your Own

Carving out even a few minutes for self-care can make a world of difference in a hectic schedule. The key is to find an evening routine that works for you. It doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming; it just needs to be something that helps you relax and recharge.

Maybe it’s taking a few minutes to meditate or stretch before bed. Or maybe it’s indulging in a luxurious bubble bath or reading your favorite book. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you actually enjoy doing. Then, stick to it as best you can.

Of course, there will be nights when you just can’t follow your routine to the letter. And that’s OK. Just do the best you can and don’t beat yourself up over it. After all, self-care is supposed to be enjoyable, not stressful. So find what works for you and go with it.

Start By Looking Inward

Looking inward to determine what you need to relax and prepare for a good night of sleep is an important first step in creating a simple and effective evening self-care routine.

Depending on what’s going on in your life, your personal needs will vary from day to day. Maybe you need to take a few deep breaths and release the tension from your body with some stretching exercises. Or maybe you need to journal for a few minutes to process your thoughts and emotions.

Taking the time to listen to your body and mind honestly will help you create a routine that meets your needs and help you get the restful sleep you deserve. The self-care evening routine you establish might vary a bit depending on the day, week, or season, but it should always include the actions that will be most helpful to you at that time.

Consistency is Key

When it comes to taking care of yourself, consistency is key. Why?

Because forming healthy habits requires time and effort, and it can be all too easy to fall off the bandwagon after a long day.

Maybe you told yourself you would start meditating every evening, but then one night you’re just too tired and you skip it. The next night, you’re busy catching up on some work and you forget all about it again. Sound familiar?

The thing is, even though creating a self care routine may seem like a daunting task, it’s so worth it to make the effort. A consistent routine can help reduce stress, promote better sleep, and increase your overall sense of well-being.

And while there will always be nights when you just can’t stick to your routine (hey, life happens!), making a habit of taking care of yourself will pay off in the long run.

10 Ways to Create a Self Care Evening Routine That Works for You

1 | Remember that self-care is not being selfish

When it comes to self-care, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we are being selfish. We tell ourselves that we don’t have time to take care of ourselves because we have to take care of others.

However, this way of thinking is harmful and ultimately untrue. Self-care is not selfish, it is respect. Respect for our mind, body, and spirit.

When we take the time to take care of ourselves, we are showing ourselves that we matter. We are saying that our happiness and well-being are important. And when we are happy and well, we are better able to take care of those around us.

So next time you find yourself feeling guilty for taking some time for a bedtime routine, remember that you are not being selfish, you are respecting yourself. And that is always worth the time and effort.

2 | Commit to a time frame, no matter how short

When it comes to creating an evening self-care routine, it’s important to commit to a time frame, no matter how small. Whether it’s 10 minutes or an hour, setting aside time for yourself is a crucial part of taking care of yourself.

Even if all you have time for is a quick shower or a few minutes of meditation, making the effort to wind down at the end of the day can make a world of difference. So don’t be afraid to set aside some time for yourself. Your evening self-care routine is worth it.

3 | You don’t have to spend money

When it comes to self-care, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to spend a lot of money or buy fancy products to take care of yourself. There are many simple, inexpensive ways to nurture your mind, body, and soul.

For example, you can take a relaxing bath by adding some soothing aromatherapy or lighting some candles. You can also give yourself a facial massage using a few drops of essential oil.

Or, if you prefer, you can simply take some time for yourself to read a book, listen to music, or meditate. The key is to do what feels right for you and to find activities that help you relax and recharge.

By taking some time for yourself each day, you’ll be on your way to feeling your best.

4 | Unplug to unwind

Give serious consideration to setting boundaries for phone time (or not) as part of your night time self care.

Here’s why. Women are more likely than men to use their phones for social purposes, such as staying in touch with family and friends. This means that we tend to be more attached to our phones and have a harder time disconnecting from them.

Additionally, women are also more likely to report higher levels of stress and anxiety. And guess what? Constant phone use can actually contribute to stress and anxiety.

So, if you’re looking to wind down and relax at the end of the day, it’s important to take some time away from your phone. Maybe set a “turn-off” time for notifications an hour or so before bedtime. It will help settle you mind, and heart, before bedtime.

5 | Turn off the work mindset

After a long day of work, it can be tough to relax and unwind. You may be thinking about all the things you need to do tomorrow, or dwelling on a problem from earlier in the day.

But it’s important to give yourself some time to decompress before bed, or you’ll never get a good night’s sleep. That’s why it’s so important to create an evening self care routine that helps you turn off the work mindset gradually, becoming less task-focused and more relaxed.

6 | Write down 5 evening self-care actions to prepare you for a good night of rest

Trying to establish a healthy evening routine can be tough. There are so many things that can get in the way of winding down and preparing for a good night’s sleep. But writing down 5 possible evening routine behaviors can help set you up for success.

The first benefit is that it will make the routine more concrete. It can be easy to forget what needs to be done when there is no set plan. Writing it down will help to remind you and keep you on track.

The second benefit is that it will help you to focus on healthy behaviors. When you see them written down, you will be more likely to choose activities that are good for your health.

The third benefit is that it will help you to establish a routine. Once you have written down the behaviors, you will be more likely to do them every day. This can help to create a healthy habit that will last a lifetime.

Fourth, when you have disruptions or changes in your schedule, such as travel or illness, having a written record of your desired routine can help you get back on track more quickly.

Last, seeing your progress in writing can motivate you to continue with the routine and even make improvements.

7 | What should you include on your list?

As we discussed earlier, you know best what will help soothe, relax, and prepare you for a good night’s sleep. If you’re not sure where to begin, think about your physical, then emotional, then spiritual needs, to help get you started.

Here are a few suggestions:

• take a shower
• read for 15 to 30 minutes
• write in a journal
• pray or meditate
• stretch or do some light yoga
• turn off all electronics 30 minutes before bed.
• create a soothing atmosphere in your bedroom
• skincare routine – clean and moisturize
• brush and floss
• give yourself a 5 minute foot massage

8 | Put it in the schedule

Putting your self-care routine in the schedule may seem like a no-brainer, but you may be surprised at how many people don’t do this.

By intentionally doing this, you are setting aside time specifically for YOU. This is time that you can use to relax, unwind, and recharge. It’s important to set aside this time each evening so that you can start the next day feeling refreshed and ready to take on whatever comes your way.

Plus, when you have a specific time set aside for your self care routine, you’re more likely to stick with it and make it a regular part of your routine.

9 | Prepare for tomorrow

There’s nothing like the feeling of knowing you’re prepared for the day ahead. When you’ve got everything you need ready to go, it’s one less thing to worry about as you’re trying to fall asleep at night.

That’s why including some simple steps for getting ready tomorrow in your evening self-care routine can make such a big difference. Maybe that means setting out your clothes for the morning, packing your lunch, or making a list of things you need to do tomorrow.

Just taking a few minutes to think about the next day can help you feel more relaxed and ready for a good night’s rest.

10 | Be patient with yourself and stay committed to the process

When it comes to creating a self-care routine, it is important to be patient with yourself and stay committed. This process may take some time to figure out what works best for you. But once you find a routine that works, stick with it!

Remember, this routine is for you and nobody else. So don’t be afraid to try new things or change things up if something isn’t working.

The most important thing is that you find a way to relax and unwind after a long day. And even if it takes some trial and error, eventually you will find a routine that helps you do just that.

So be patient, be persistent, and most importantly, be gentle with yourself. You deserve it!

Final Thoughts

Creating a personal nighttime routine is a form of self-care that can provide immense benefits to you, and to those around you. When you take care of yourself in a healthy manner, you’re better able to give of yourself to family and people you care about.

So how about it, my friend? Will you take that first step toward a healthier, better you?