7 Nighttime Practices That Will Give You Peace

Photo by hello aesthe

As the sun sets on another day, many of us are glad to have simply made it through — whether the last twelve hours centered around a chaotic workday, or seemingly endless dishes and laundry and children to tend to, or a lengthy study session, there is something about nighttime that allows each of us to finally catch our breath.

But it is far too easy to let these evening hours whir by without us even noticing — until it’s time for bed, and then, just on the other side of that, time for yet another day that consists of far more work than play.

This is why creating nighttime practices — the kind that can soothe a racing mind, fill up an empty tank, and give life back to a weary soul — is of the utmost importance.

Here are 7 simple practices you can begin that will bring peace into your nights, that can sustain you well into the following day.

01 | Put your phone down.

And turn off unimportant notifications. No more checking emails, social media, or breaking news stories. Decide on a time of night when your phone no longer gets your attention and keep it that way until the following morning. Right now, the rest of the world and all of the chaos it brings does not exist.

02 | Brew a cup of decaf tea and sip slowly.

Choose a mug or teacup that’s only for nighttime use and brew a special decaf blend that feels like a treat. Maybe even add a dash or two of nutmeg.

03 | Take your time with skincare.

Don’t rush. Let your skincare be all for you. Turn the bathroom lights off and instead light a fragrant candle to set the tone. Take care with each step — cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and anything else you do.

04 | Sit under the stars when weather allows.

Spend fifteen minutes outside, breathing in fresh air and enjoying the sounds of night. Take in the beauty of your everyday surroundings under the cloak of the evening. Listen to soft, calming music or use this time to pray.

During the time of year when sitting outside is a far-off dream, set up a chair by the window, turn off all the lights, and enjoy the stillness just beyond the glass.

05 | Journal out the stress of the day.

Nighttime is when many of us are replaying the issues of the day, worrying about the things we will need to tend to tomorrow. Journal out whatever is weighing on your mind. Pour it out onto the page and leave it there for your morning self to handle.

06 | Read a book purely for fun.

By all means, have a stack of currently-reading books that include devotionals, personal growth, and philosophical or theological works. But at night, let yourself get lost in a story — something that’s actually fun to read, something that you look forward to getting back into as soon as you put it down.

07 | Make your bedroom somewhere you like to be.

The quality of your nighttime rituals will also be determined by the beauty of your surroundings. Put effort into creating a space that you want to be in. Find beautiful bedding, get silky soft sheets, buy lamps that make everything feel that much cozier, load up on candles, hang up fairy lights.

In short…

Nighttime is just as important to get right as the morning. Implement just one or a few of these practices to not just make the evening something you look forward to, but a time that pours peace back into your heart.