How to Set a Sleep Routine to Enjoy the Benefits
Setting a routine is easy, keeping it is hard.
Get ready for the Beauty Pillow 14 Day Sleep Challenge by setting yourself up for success with clear goals and an attainable routine.
Did you know it takes 14 days to create a habit? It’s a crazy thought! But, we are creatures of habit after all and changing the way you’ve approached something for a lifetime is no small task. The keys to succeeding long term in changing up your existing routine for something that is sustainable long term has to do with 3 factors:
- Setting realistic goals
- The effects you do or don’t feel
- How you adapt to interruptions or roadblocks
Sleep is Natural, Why Build a Routine Around It?
Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it can’t be improved. Often, we experience the ill effects of a bad sleep routine both internally and externally. Have you ever woken up feeling sluggish and tired? We’re not saying setting a sleep routine will eliminate that feeling entirely, but we’d wager with a consistent sleep schedule, you’ll experience it less often.
It’s something that holds true in all areas of our lives, with practice you get better. The same is true of sleep. It might feel a little childish to set a bedtime. Setting a time and sticking to it so that you get the sleep you need regularly will improve your heart health, your brain function and recall, help you maintain a healthy weight and give you more energy for exercise.
These positives are far more likely to outweigh the negatives. After all, what's the point in staying up late to watch your favorite show if you can't accurately remember all the details the next day? Getting enough shut eye, consistently, will help you look and feel better, outside and in.
What Does a Bedtime Routine Look Like?
Just like people, a bedtime routine will be different for everybody. In order to build your own routine, we recommend zoning in on the three points we already raised: realistic goals, how you feel and adaptability.
It would be wise to take a look at how you feel for a week or so before starting the Beauty Pillow 14 Day Sleep Challenge.
Maybe you could jot down a note on paper or in your phone of what time you went to bed, what time you woke up and how you felt. Just this simple task might inspire a moment or two of reflection. We’re all guilty of staying up later on Friday night and over the weekend, or sleeping in when our busy lives allow it.
Taking a look at how you sleep during the week and how you feel according to the hours you’ve slept will help you decide on a time range to aim for. For adults, it's recommended to get 7 hours of sleep each night. You might find you need 9-10 or that you thrive on only 6. It’s all relative.
Once you’ve done this mini self assessment, you’ll need to factor in what time you need to wake up in the morning and then set your bedtime accordingly.
Waking Up Rested
Waking up rested is about more than just going to bed. Everyone’s morning routine, like their bedtime and sleep routine, is unique. Setting an effective morning routine is the best way to set yourself up for success for the day ahead, and that success is likely linked to your nighttime routine too.
What do you like to do in the morning? The relative quiet of the morning is often the best time to exercise, to journal, to generally take some time for yourself and set your priorities for the day. If you’d like to get in a workout, this needs to figure into your morning, and time needs to be allowed in the evening.
Some people find that laying out their clothes and getting their bag or lunch ready the night before allows their morning to be as smooth as possible.
No matter the way you’d like to start your day, ensuring you set your bedtime with enough time for your morning is essential.
Goal Setting
Goal setting for sleep might seem a bit strange, after all, surely your goal is to be more rested? Let’s think beyond that and appreciate all that a good night’s sleep can do for your body and mind.
Would you like to be more productive at work? Would you like to get your side project up and running? Are you ready to connect with yourself on a deeper level? Are you looking for a health and fitness boost?
All of these goals and many more can be achieved with the support of a healthy sleep routine!
Setting goals might be daunting for some, so the best tip we can offer is to start small. This is a 14 Day Challenge, you might like to lay out a daily goal, weekly goals and then a bigger goal for the total challenge.
Throughout the challenge, we’ll be there helping you to achieve your sleep goals and your overall health, wellness and beauty goals. We’re sure that at the end of the 14 Day Sleep Challenge you’ll have a solid sleep routine that’s become your natural sleep habit.
Level up your sleep routine with Beauty Pillow’s Support Pillows, for a more restful, supported sleep.
Or, treat yourself to items from our Silk Collection! Cooling Silk Pillowcases, Eye Masks and Scrunchies will level up your bedtime, for a touch of glamor, everyday!