Creating Joy While Staying Home: Evening Rituals

by Brooke Forry

Where morning rituals have the ability to get your day started on the right foot, evening rituals are just as important in helping you unwind, take time for yourself, and get a good night’s sleep.

Here are a few easy rituals to integrate into your evening routine:

WEAR “REAL” PAJAMAS

If you’re like me and you’ve been wearing pajama pants and mismatched t-shirts to bed forever, do yourself a favor and buy some real, legitimate pajamas. I don’t know why it took me so long, but they’re a true delight. I bought some inexpensive Stars Above pajamas from Target that are soft and super cozy; someday perhaps I’ll splurge on a pair of gorgeous Printfresh pajamas, made here in Philadelphia.

HAVE A SPOT OF TEA

After my kids are in bed each night I’ve started making myself a cup of decaf tea. It’s the perfect way to wind down as I settle in to watch some Netflix/Hulu/Prime/anything-but-the-news.

GET YOUR SKINCARE ON

Since you’re likely out in the elements less and wearing makeup less frequently, it’s the perfect time to treat your skin with some extra care and experiment with new products. I’ve finally found the perfect nighttime moisturizer for my skin (hello, Weleda Skin Food) and my evening skincare ritual feels like a little extra pampering.

WRITE IN A 5-YEAR JOURNAL

It might seem like a strange time to start a one-line-a-day journal since the days often blend together, but I’ve actually found that now is a great time to keep track of all the little things that make our days unique. I have been writing in mine almost every night since May; it’s nice to look back and see that, despite cancelled vacations and plans, we’ve still had fun and made family memories.

READ LIGHT FICTION BEFORE BED

Reading before bed makes me sleepy… which is exactly the point. I usually stick to light fiction, or at least nothing scary, so my mind is focused on the story (and, more importantly, not swirling in thoughts). When I can’t keep my eyes open anymore, I usually fall asleep right away and sleep soundly until morning.

SLEEP ON A SATIN PILLOWCASE

I recently started wearing my natural curls again, and a satin pillowcase was recommended for keeping my curls intact between washes. Curly hair or not, it’s a pretty delightful way to fall asleep, and is a good idea to keep any hair type healthy.

What are your favorite evening rituals? Share on social media and be sure to tag us @balanceboundplanner on Instagram.