Do you read before bed? Whether actually in the bed, or just before bed? My most favorite thing is reading before bed, actually in the bed. In fact, all day every day, I look forward to this little quiet time before I go to sleep for the night. With my air pods and a Mindfulness playlist on Spotify, I am set and ready to wind down my day. To ease into sleep and resting my body after a long day.

The lamp beside my bed, chap stick, lotion, phone, comfy clothes, and my weighted blanket are what my husband faithfully calls my “nest”. All of these ingredients make for a very relaxing 30 minutes to an hour before I fall asleep. I don’t think a night goes by that I miss this wonderful ritual.

Magazines or books are my reading choices. Either one really works. Sometimes I put my air pods in and listen to relaxing music while I read. Almost every night, I will fall asleep reading. Sometimes this makes it hard figuring out where I left off, if I fall asleep before putting in my bookmark (haha).

So reading in bed being my favorite hobby is not the only reason I read in bed. I also find I can relax and go into another world through reading. Where if I don’t read, my mind will run like crazy. I have a hard time turning things off, because my mind likes to keep rolling. I will lay awake for hours and my mind just churning. Usually when that happens, I’m awake until like 3am, and constantly looking at the clock wishing I could go to sleep. Reading is what I have found that helps to quiet the noise and relax me. I guess this is why it is so sacred to me.

Unwinding is so important to transition your body from work mode to rest mode. Reading before bed is what I have found to transition my body smoothly into rest mode. It’s hard to go full-on all day, and not slowly move your body into that rest mode. But I always sleep better when I follow through on my ritual.

What are some things that you do to transition from work mode to rest mode? I love hearing about evening rituals people have, whether they are similar or very different.

I hope you have a great Tuesday!!

Libby