Making a night-time routine that makes you look forward to going to bed

Let’s be honest: bedtime stories and warm milk aren’t a thing anymore, but that doesn’t mean your nights have to be full of doom-scrolling and existential despair. A good bedtime routine isn’t just about getting enough sleep; it’s also about making time for yourself that makes the turmoil of the day worth it.

This is how to make your evenings a warm, safe place that your morning self will appreciate.

First, make a digital curfew.

We all know that screens are bad for sleep, yet it’s tougher to put down the phone than it is to say no to complimentary doughnuts at work. Give this a shot: Put your phone in greyscale mode (believe me, it makes Instagram far less enticing) or plug it in across the room 30 minutes before bed. Instead of scrolling, do something that doesn’t involve viewing the news all the time, like reading a real book (the paper type! ), drawing in a diary, or even folding clothes while listening to a podcast. Boring? Maybe. Calm? Yes, for sure.

Next, set the mood like you’re the main character in your own indie movie

If you tend to forget things, you can use flameless candles instead of regular ones. Then, turn down the lights and play gentle music or white noise in the background. If your room still feels more like a dorm room than a Danish hygge, try adding one cosy thing at a time, such a fake fur throw, a lamp with a warm tone, or even just fluffing your pillows the right way. Your future self will thank you for the rest.

Now, do a wind-down ritual that doesn’t feel like work

This might be skin care (the 10-step process or just washing your face—no judgement), stretching like a happy cat, or making a tea without caffeine while you think about things outside. The point isn’t to get things done; it’s to let your brain know that the day’s tasks are done. If you’re worried about everything you have to accomplish tomorrow, use the “brain dump” method: write down everything you need to do on paper to get rid of the mental clutter.

Finally, learn how to do nothing

In a world that values hard work, just letting yourself be without doing anything else is a novel idea. Watch the night sky from the window. Enjoy your herbal tea like it’s a $20 pour-over. Pay attention to your breathing. These little times of quiet aren’t lost time; they’re what give you energy for whatever tomorrow brings.

What makes a perfect nightly ritual so special?

It changes sleep from something you fall into to something you float towards. When you wake up feeling truly refreshed (such a novel idea!), you’ll see that those calm nighttime rituals weren’t just about getting some rest; they were small acts of resistance against a world that never stops moving. Go out and hygge now.