Winding Down: 8 Tips to Help You Relax and Recover

Ever find yourself absolutely exhausted, but when you finally get into bed after running around all day, your brain is in overdrive and will just not turn itself off?

Busy people often find it hard to get to sleep after the hustle and bustle of the day. When you have a million and one things going on, it can be difficult to slow your mind down enough to relax and get a good sleep.

Winding down after work before you go to bed is essential for healthy sleep and to keep you on top form throughout the working week, so here are eight tips to help you relax in the evening and recover, ready to tackle tomorrow head-first.

Set the Scene

Your body clock is conditioned to be alert and awake during daylight hours then to become tired and sleepy as the dark draws in. All of our artificial lighting has taken away from the nature of this, but the science still stands.

Dim the lights, spark some candles and put on some calming music to alert your body that it is getting near the time to go to sleep.

Cook Your Favorite Meal

Without proper nourishment, you cannot function or sleep properly. Going to bed hungry makes it almost impossible to fall asleep.

When you get home from work, take the time to put thought and care into the meal that you make. Fill it with nutrient rich food and make them taste amazing. Cooking can be a calming ritual, and you get to relax and enjoy the finished product.

Order Takeout

Often after a busy day, cooking can be the very last thing that you want to do. You’re hungry and tired, and you want quick and easy but full of flavor meal.

Ordering takeout a couple of nights a month won’t do any harm. You deserve to treat yourself now and then, just don’t make it every night. Your bank account and body will not be thanking you.

Avoid Social Media

Social media has this power over people that we have never experienced before. The number of hours each and every person must waste scrolling through their feeds is diabolical. It can also be detrimental to our mental health and the blue light from the screen tricks our brains into continuing to tick away well into the hours of darkness. It can be easy to get sucked into the trap, but avoid using social media to wind down after work.

Take a Bubble Bath

It is a proven scientific fact that taking a hot and steamy bubble bath is one of the most effective ways to relax your body and mind. Surround yourself with the luxury fragrances of Diptyque for an additional sensory experience. Diptyque candles are artfully designed with serene scents.

Create an ambience to sooth your soul, light your Diptyque candles and pamper yourself with the smooth scents of their bath products. You can also make moon water for a deeply cleansing bath.

Read a Book

One way to wind down is to try and completely forget about all the things you have to do, the conversations you need to have and any little worries that will not leave you alone. One way to escape your reality is to immerse yourself into another.

Reading can transport you into an entirely different life, to give you a break from your own. Now, some may argue that sticking a film on has the same effect, but there are so many benefits of choosing to pick up a book instead. It stimulates your brain and has you use your imagination, and there is no glaring light that will keep you up at night.

Bedtime RoutineRoutines make us more productive and promote healthy habits. Having a set routine before you go to bed helps to let your brain and body know that it is time to go to sleep now. The routine acts of putting your pajamas on, washing your face, and completing your skin care or doing whatever it is you do before you get snuggled into bed can promote healthier and deeper sleep.

Reflect and Set Intentions

This may sound slightly counterproductive, but for some people, reflecting on the day and setting yourself some goals for the next help them to wind down and mentally put things aside. You could write it down, just think about them or talk it out.

But going through your day, the good and the bad, is an effective way of processing thoughts and feelings. It’s almost like you’re thinking about it now so you can forget it. Finishing off your day by setting intentions, goals and affirmations then sets you up to have a productive and fulfilling day tomorrow.

As a busy person who always has an endless list of things to do, it can be hard to hit the stop button properly at the end of the day. Take some time for yourself, relax, and bring your day to a close with calmness and serenity, so you can sleep well and take on tomorrow.