Do You Have a Bedtime Routine?
@Kouponkaren (5503)
United States
June 9, 2021 10:57pm CST
It is 11:55 pm here in the Southeastern US and I am getting ready for bed. I have a whole routine that I go through before going to bed. Between 10 pm and 11 pm I take my dog for her last walk of the night. It's just a few minutes out in front of the house but enough time for her to do what she needs to do.
Then we come in and I make myself a cup of chamomile tea, or sometimes Sleepytime tea to help me relax and go to sleep. I take my daily meds, including magnesium for my bones and it helps me sleep. Then I take my cup of tea with me into the bedroom and leave it on my nightstand while I go into the bathroom and wash my face and brush my teeth.
Once in bed, I kiss my husband goodnight, as now it is about midnight and he goes to bed at 11 and reads until midnight and turns out his light. But my reading time is only just beginning. First I read a daily message with a Bible passage suggestion. After I read the Buble passage, I spend about an hour to two hours reading a magazine or book.
I finally fall asleep around 2:00 am and wake up about 9:30 am.
The only thing that is missing is that I would like to add yoga or meditation to my nightly routine after I walk the dog, and before I actually head into bed. Maybe someday, but it just doesn't work out at this point.
So, do you have a bedtime routine? What is it like?
10 people like this
8 responses
@prinzcy (32305)
• Malaysia
11 Jun 21
@Kouponkaren no, I have no trouble sleeping. Would doze off not too long after laying down
1 person likes this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Jun 21
@prinzcy They say it's best to be off a computer or cell phone for 1 hour before bed. It's because of the blue light that is emitted from the screens. Do you have trouble falling asleep? If so, it may be because of that.
1 person likes this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Jun 21
@prinzcy That is great. I wish that would happen for me, it takes a long time for me to fall asleep some nights.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71768)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Jun 21
Nothing that in depth. It's usually me taking the meds, give my cats his, and then climb into bed. If it's a work day for my husband. I'll lounge in bed until he's ready and then see him off. Then I go to sleep. If I'm not tired enough I'll put something on to listen to and that's about it.
1 person likes this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
10 Jun 21
I guess my routine is rather detailed and lengthy then. Well, hope you have a good night's rest.
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@kaylachan (71768)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Jun 21
@Kouponkaren Each their own. It should be noted I'm a night owl, so I'm up most of the night. I do a lot of housework over this time, that I don't normally get done. If we're talking at night, well, I typically make sure the window is closed in the bedroom and make sure the water is in it's usual spot.
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@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
10 Jun 21
@kaylachan I am a night owl also. I love it but my husband would prefer I adopt his schedule of turning the light off at midnight and waking up at 7. Uh, no thanks. Way too early for me! 
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
11 Jun 21
My bedtime routine: First, it's important that I haven't eaten since 5pm (acid reflux, sleep-apnea ... never 'did a sleep-study' to diagnose it, but I've woken up choking a time or two).
a little before 10, I eat a banana, brush my teeth, wash my glasses, and get in bed---where I'll watch TV, sometimes reading my Bible (out loud) or -whatever other reading I'm working on, and usually after 11:30 I'll start a Bible-study on the TV, take off my glasses & go to sleep.
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
11 Jun 21
@Kouponkaren I think of Scripture as more like 'food' than like 'lists of facts you have to know.'
You had a few meals a year ago today. You probably don't remember what you ate, but you're sure that a) you ate SOMETHING and b) you probably didn't hate it. You don't CARE much how it tasted, just that satisfied your need for nutrients.
That's what Scripture is. "Faith cometh by (not 'Reading,' not 'Understanding,' not 'Remembering') Hearing!"
1 person likes this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Jun 21
@mythociate Wait a minute, did I read that right? At the end, your last 3 steps are to start a Bible study on TV, take off your lasses and go to sleep? Is it that the Bible study lulls you to sleep? Or do you listen to it in your sleep???
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90474)
• Arvada, Colorado
10 Jun 21
Yes mine is trying to watch a movie but falling asleep instead
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@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
10 Jun 21
That sounds like what my husband does!
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@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Jun 21
Yes, I guess I do and I hadn't realized it before I wrote it all down!
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@ladyhero (3846)
• Indonesia
11 Jun 21
@Kouponkaren That's great, it's 11.40pm and I can't sleep yet watching the Euro 2020 opening ceremony
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Jun 21
I need to find some good movies to watch. Last night before bed I watched a documentary about the Von Trapp Family singers for 45 minutes before bed. That was good.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
10 Jun 21
I have no real routine and I usually go to bed pretty early. I do try to help hubby get the cats in if they are out. Usually that is just Tinker. I will go outside and sit on the swing in the yard and look at the sky. Tinker usually comes to me then.
1 person likes this
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Jun 21
@GardenGerty That sounds like a really nice way to unwind before going to bed. I bet Tinker thinks so too, which is why he comes to you.
@Kouponkaren (5503)
• United States
11 Jun 21
@Jazz96 Showering probably helps you feel warm and cozy before bed. I shower in the morning. I need the water on my face to help wake me up.
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