I wasn’t sure if this was a shareable post because anyone with big kids knows that there is no typical night. I might be ushering one child to an activity then swinging by to pick up the other and getting home in time to serve the crockpot dinner that has been simmering for the day.
However the more I thought about, the more I realize that while my nightly self care routine might not look like a candle lit bubble bath and spa music, there are certain habits that stay fairly consistent that contribute to my wellness and peace.
My Nightly Routine
Magnesium
In the beginning of 2023 one of my goals was to cut back on alcohol consumption. I wasn’t strict about it, just more mindful of whether I really wanted a glass of wine or if it was a habit. I know alcohol negatively effects my sleep, so I wanted to replace it with something beneficial to sleep quality. After having magnesium on my radar for a while, I finally did some research and gave it a try with fabulous results! Now almost every night I find myself craving a Sleep Well Mocktail, a delicious cherry limeade tasting concoction. I drink it while I cook or after dinner.
The magnesium (get the right kind- a glycinate or bisglycinate- I use and recommend this one) helps promote relaxation, reduces anxiety, promotes bone health and exercise recovery, among other things. You want a magnesium glycinate or bis-glycinate for this purpose (there are multiple forms of magnesium). I add a scoop of magnesium bis-glycinate to tart cherry juice, which is rich in antioxidants, can help muscle recovery, and is a natural form of melatonin (great for sleep). I use about 1/4-1/3 c (I don’t measure) tart cherry juice, then fill the rest of the glass up with a lime Spindrift. It will bubble because of the magnesium, so have a big enough glass. The result? A delicious beverage that will help promote a great night of sleep!
Shutting Down the Kitchen
This doesn’t exactly apply to right now since the kitchen is mid-renovation, but typically I don’t really relax until all the pots are scrubbed, dishwasher loaded, and counter tops wiped down. Afterwards I turn off the lights and light the candle (or turn on the battery operated ones more likely). It’s like a big sigh of relaxation to have the kitchen cleaned and closed.
Get Cozy
Most nights I shower; I just love getting into bed clean. A few nights a week I try to dry brush before the shower. Afterwards I apply body oil (I love the Primally Pure Lemongrass or Blue Tansy- use code AHEALTHYSLICE10 for 10% off your entire order) and do a lymphatic massage roughly once or twice a week. I’d prefer to do it every night but sometimes I’m just ready to be in pajamas and on the couch. Same with castor oil in the belly button/on the belly; I’d love to do it every night, but it ends up being once or twice a week.
Skincare Routine
My current skincare routine is fairly simple. Remove make up with Take the Day Off. Tone skin with Thayer’s. Apply Primally Pure serum. I bought the trio of serums (soothing, plumping, and clarifying) and truly like them all so I alternate between them. Then I apply the Primally Pure plumping cream which is tallow-based, which David loves to pick on me for. Finally I apply this eyebrow and eyelash serum.
Teeth Hygiene
Typically I floss and brush but I’m still wearing aligners (which I am so over, but have about 2-3 months left), so I also soak those in a cleanser and scrub them well before putting them in for the night.
Connect with the Kids & David
I love that we all hang out in the living room at night. Sometimes I’ll blow dry the girls’ hair or read them a story. Sometimes H will practice the guitar while K looks at family albums or the Picturepedia. Sometimes they’ll look at Pinterest with me for projects we’re working on. Sometimes we’ll watch a Shark Tank. It’s a nice chill time together on nights when we don’t have any late activities.
Scroll
Once the kids head to bed (anywhere from 8:15 to 8:45), I’m usually pretty done for the day. I might play Wordle but often I will scroll IG or Tiktok while cozied up next to David on the couch while he scrolls Twitter (or X?) or researches stuff on his computer. I’m trying to reel this one in a bit but sometimes at the end of the day I feel like I “deserve” the mindless scroll, which will often make me giggle or inspires me, so is it really so bad? 🙂
Head to Bed
David and I always turn in at the same time, usually around 9:30. We let Finley out, plug in her collar, lock all the doors, and hop into bed. Sometimes we watch a show (New Girl has been our most recent go to) then I kiss David goodnight and tape my mouth shut. Lucky man, huh? Beef tallow and mouth tape! Ha. I’ve probably been doing this for 1-2 years now and notice deeper, more rejuvenating sleep as a result. I could go off on a tangent on mouth breathing, breath work, and all, but if it’s an area you’re interested in, I recommend the book Breath: A New Science of a Lost Art.
Habits I’d love to add in:
Reading
I know an easy fix for this would be to read instead of scroll, but I can’t seem to make it happen. I prefer reading or listening to books in the morning or afternoon hours when my mind is more awake. Perhaps because I prefer health and self improvement books to novels? I guess I should ask myself if this is a truly something I want to change or not, or maybe I just need to get a really good novel? I saw Kristin Hannah just came out with a new one set during the Vietnam War and I usually love her stuff!
Journaling
Nothing wild, because between the blog and our picture books I feel like I am always busy trying to document or reflect on life, but I have a Five Year Journal that I’d love to be more consistent writing a memory or a gratitude in each night.
What about you; what does your nightly routine look like? Favorite habits? Habits you’d love to create?