How do you unwind at the end of the day?
A question I never really pondered until recently. Six months ago, my answer would’ve been to find a new series on Netflix, plop down on the couch, and pour a glass of wine. I deserved that glass of wine! Homeschooling is hard. Working from home is hard. Having everyone home is hard. I was definitely in the “I deserve” mindset. I didn’t want to think anymore. I would scroll social media mindlessly and find myself comparing and complaining. My mind would race, and I had a hard time falling asleep. I was not getting a full 7-8 hours of sleep, in fact, most of the night was restless.
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Sound familiar?
I’m sure we can all agree that 2020 was a crap-shoot, but here is the thing: we have a choice to make every single day. Do I want to be better than the person I was yesterday, or am I content with mediocrity? Once the holidays were over and 2021 was here, I decided to make some shifts. I needed an evening routine that would allow me to unwind, de-stress, and fall asleep at a decent hour. I’ve always been a morning person, and have a solid, fool-proof morning routine, but I desperately needed an evening routine that was just as powerful.
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Giving your body proper rest and recovery time at the end of the day is one of the most important things you can do for your long-term health. Implementing 5-10 minute routines at the end of the day will help you clear your head, relax your muscles, and get you prepared for restful sleep. It also allows you to unplug from all devices at least 30 minutes prior to bedtime so your mind stops racing and you begin the process of unwinding much earlier.
Here is my nightly routine you can use, or modify around your schedule:
9:30 pm – All electronics are turned off
9:30-9:40pm – Put pajamas on, wash face, and brush teeth
9:40-9:50 pm – Complete controlled stretch & breathing exercise
9:50-9:55pm – Spray lavender mist on pillow, or rub calming lotion on my arms
10:00pm – Lights Out
* Sleep 7-8 hours- I wake up at 5:30am and find that 7.5 hours is optimal rest for me.
Now it’s your turn. Try this short controlled stretch designed to ease muscle tension, help improve blood flow, and incorporate stretching and breathing techniques to reframe your mindset and prepare you for proper rest & recovery. I promise you will be more relaxed, and experience better quality sleep when incorporating this routine nightly as a way to unwind from your day.
LISA FOUGHT
Lisa is a 41 year-old mom & wife who lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL with her husband Josh, and two boys, Jackson-8, and Hudson-6. She is a fitness fanatic who started her affection for sports at a young age through gymnastics, Volleyball, Track, and Cheerleading.
Lisa is from Lebanon, Indiana where she grew up and went on to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Allied Health Science and Secondary Education . After graduating college, Lisa moved to Charleston, South Carolina where she started teaching as an adjunct instructor at a community college. She pursued her group fitness certification while teaching at the college and has continued to teach group classes for the past 17 years.
Lisa currently teaches Yoga and Pilates at her community gym and is a Virtual Health Coach who helps pair women with fitness & nutrition plans that fit their lifestyle and budget. When she isn’t coaching, teaching at the gym, or leading a zoom workout, Lisa enjoys traveling with her family and spending time at the beach, or the waterparks in her community.
Lisa is thrilled to join the Peaceful Living Wellness community. She will be sharing some of her favorite workouts & nutrition tips with you.
