To read the previous letters, see PART 1, PART 2, and PART 3.
Okay, this is the finale in this chunky little series on staying grounded and present in a modern, chaotic environment! Evening rituals are so wonderful to close off the day with. And if you are having any kind insomnia/sleep issues this is also sure to help.
- Eat 2-3 hours before you go to bed, this sounds obvious, but if you’re a nighttime after dinner snacker you could be disrupting your digestion and not allowing your body to go into a state of rest. Likewise, if you’re having trouble falling asleep, try to have no caffeine or sugar after 1pm and see if this makes a difference.
- An evening stroll after dinner is rarely regretted.
- No technology before bed. Now Arran has a much more solid nervous system than me, and swears he is fine tapping away on an iPad etc right before bed, but whatever you THINK, the science is telling us otherwise. If we want quality sleep, Power Down before bed.
- When we train babies to sleep, we create a sequence that signals it’s time for bed. Create one for yourself. Some suggestions are, drink herbal tea or hot water. Prepare and drink an Ayurvedic sleep remedy. Work with essential oils. Have a bath or shower. Read a calming book, nothing too dramatic. Whatever is within your sequence, keep the sequence the same. This is really important. So two or three things in a particular order will create a mind-body link that it’s time to wind down and then go to sleep.
- We like to avoid bright lights and prefer lamps and candles at night once it gets dark. I love the ritual of lighting everything and getting the mood just right. At night we usually burn our Vedic Sandalwood Incense as it fills the rooms with the most beautiful scent.
- I bring to mind things I am grateful for from the day that’s been. Tiny things. A cute dog I got to pat. A nice message someone sent me. That I got to see a friend. Or teach an extra special meditation course session or have an inspiring meeting with someone. Do this every evening and it sets you up with all the warm feels you need to go to sleep soundly.
Obviously and sadly there is no single one magic formula. But the more you experiment with your personal structure, the more grounded and stable you will be once you discover your perfect nighttime ritual.
Sent with love,
Jac x