It can be really difficult for some people to unwind after a long day, but it is so important to differentiate between your working day and evening with a clear routine. This can fully transform how you feel in the evening, to give your brain and body the time it needs and deserves to relax before you go to bed. So, we are here with some guidance on how to create the perfect evening routine to help you unwind!
An evening walk
After you’ve got in from your day, the best thing you can do to allow your mind to switch off is to drop off your things, put on your hoodies and gym leggings, and go for an evening walk. This might be 10 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour, but no matter how long it is, it can help you to let go of any worries and enjoy some fresh air.
If you are feeling slightly down after your day, a walk can also help you to rejuvenate your senses so you can make the most of the hours you have left in the evening. If you’d like to, use this time to spend with your partner, a friend or go on your own, as having some ‘me time’ is always important.
A nutritious meal
Once you are back from your walk, it’s time to cook up a nutritious meal. We all know that eating a healthy and balanced diet is crucial for your mental and physical health, so of course, this is an important part of our evening routine.
We want to make sure that this food is also good for your soul, so choose ingredients you really love and then build a meal around that, featuring protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. Honey and soy salmon with noodles, broccoli and avocado would be a good example, which is delicious but also super balanced. Finish your meal with a portion of high percentage cocoa dark chocolate, which is great for your heart health in small portions.
After having a delicious and nutritious meal, you will feel so much better and your blood sugars will be well balanced, helping you to fully relax for the rest of the evening.
Your favourite relaxing activity
Now that your meal is finished, it’s time for some downtime. Everyone finds different things relaxing, but you should set aside half an hour to an hour to do something that simply makes your feel happy. Here are some ideas if you’re not sure where to get started:
- Journalling
- Watching an episode of TV
- Listening to a new album
- Playing your favourite instrument
- Learning a language
- Painting or drawing
- Facetiming a family member or friend
- Playing board games
- Finding new recipes for the following week
- Stretching
- Meditating
No matter what it is that you find relaxing, you need to put yourself first and do something that makes you happy. When you prioritise yourself every evening, your entire mindset has the ability to change, helping you to become the happiest version of yourself.
Face mask, book and bed
By now you are likely to be feeling quite relaxed, so it’s time for a final bit of TLC before you go to bed. As well as your body and brain needing to unwind, your skin endures a lot throughout the day, especially if you live in a city. So, give your face a really good wash and then put an evening face mask on. Clay face masks are always really nice after a long day, as they help to pull out any impurities from the skin.
Once your facemask is on, get into bed and enjoy half an hour of reading your favourite book. Reading isn’t for everyone which we understand, so you can do another one of your favourite relaxing activities, but the most important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t be on any devices like phones, laptops or tablets this close to bedtime. Blue light suppresses the body’s ability to produce melatonin, which is needed to help us sleep. So, try to keep your phone use to a minimum when you get in from work, but especially 30 minutes before you go to sleep to give your body the chance to unwind!
Final thoughts
So, there is a guide to the perfect evening routine! Everyone’s will be slightly different and it may take some time to perfect, but you will certainly reap the benefits once you do. You might not be able to stick to this every night, which is completely fine, but it can be really beneficial for you to have a routine in place that you can keep coming back to when you’ve had a particularly difficult or stressful day.
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Written by Daisy Moss
Illustrated by Francesca Mariama
