Nighttime habits weren’t even on my radar until maybe six months ago. I’d just crash whenever, usually after doomscrolling for hours in bed, the glow from my phone lighting up my whole tiny Chicago bedroom like a damn lighthouse. Then I’d wake up groggy, mad at myself, and do it all again. These nighttime habits I’ve scraped together since then are honestly the only reason I’m functioning right now.
The Stupid Nighttime Habits I Had to Ditch First
God, where do I start. My old routine was a joke—inhaling coffee at 9 p.m. because “work ran late,” then straight to Instagram reels until my eyes were fried. I’d eat chips in bed, crumbs everywhere, and wonder why I couldn’t shut my brain off. Classic. The blue light thing isn’t just hype; the Sleep Foundation straight-up says it screws with melatonin. Took me forever to listen.
What My Actual Nighttime Habits Look Like on a Decent Night
It’s scrappy, not some Pinterest fantasy, but these nighttime habits are what get me peaceful sleep most of the time now. I start by killing the overhead light early—around 8:30 or 9—and just use this dinky lamp on my dresser. Feels dumb at first, but it tricks me into winding down. The CDC pushes consistent schedules too, and yeah, they’re onto something.
On nights I don’t totally blow it, here’s the deal:
- Phone gets plugged in on the other side of the room. Still tempting, I won’t lie—I’ve caved and grabbed it more than once.
- Boil water for tea. Chamomile usually, sometimes whatever herbal bag is least stale. Standing there waiting for the kettle is weirdly calming.
- Scribble whatever’s bugging me in this cheap notebook. Work crap, random anxieties, tomorrow’s errands. Takes like three minutes and stops the looping thoughts.
- Stretch a tiny bit. Just rolling my shoulders, maybe a forward fold. My back’s always wrecked from hunching over my laptop.
Trying (and Mostly Failing) at a Consistent Bedtime
This is still the nighttime habit I suck at most. I want to say I’m in bed by 10:30 every night, but weekends? Forget it. I’ll stay up watching dumb YouTube videos and regret it Sunday morning. When I do stick to it though, everything’s better. Harvard’s got all this info on light and sleep cycles. Some nights I’m just staring at the ceiling waiting to feel tired, but it pays off eventually.
Weird Little Nighttime Habits That Ended Up Mattering
Cooler room was a surprise—I used to sleep in a furnace. Now I crack the window and pile on blankets. Works way better. Lavender oil too; I dab it on the pillow and it smells nice (Mayo Clinic says it might actually help: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/sleep/art-20048379). Dropped the bottle once and my whole place reeked for days. Peak clumsiness.
Anyway, these nighttime habits are far from perfect. I still have nights where I say screw it and scroll till midnight, then hate myself in the morning. But mostly? They work well enough that I’m not a total zombie anymore. If your sleep’s been trash, grab one or two of these and mess with them till they fit you. Be nice to yourself when you fall off track—happens to me constantly. Drop a comment if you’ve got something that works for you, I could use the tips too. Later!