Nighttime Essentials to Help You Unwind

Even with a bedtime routine, evenings can be unpredictable. Some nights, I’m ready to crawl into bed right after dinner, and others I’m wide awake and motivated to suddenly reorganize my entire life. This means it’s especially helpful to have a flexible routine full of nighttime essentials to help you unwind no matter where you fall on that spectrum each night.

*This post may include affiliate or referral links. At no extra cost to you (and with a special reader discount, in some cases!), I’ll receive a small commission or other rewards to help support An Ideal Life. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases*

The information in this blog post is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read online. The author of this post is not a licensed medical professional and does not assume any liability for any actions taken based on the information contained in this post.

A Bedtime Snack

A small snack before bed is slowly becoming a non-negotiable in my nighttime essentials list. I’ve noticed that low blood sugar is one of my most insistent migraine triggers, and my various other health issues mean I do best when eating a few smaller meals throughout the day rather than fewer larger meals.

I’ve recently discovered these reusable snack containers and they’re absolutely one of my favorite things right now. I fill all twenty of them with a variety of different snack options. New post soon to come sharing some of my favorites!

Meal Prep Containers

Some days, I’m already covered on this part but, if not, I’ll take a few minutes for meal prep as one of my nighttime essentials. This might be some overnight oats for the next day, defrosting tofu for tomorrow’s dinner, or even refilling those snack containers I’ve already mentioned!

Right now, I’m mostly re-using old containers from the deli or takeout for my meal prep. If I were picking up dedicated containers for the task, though, these would be on my list:

• Overnight oats containers with spoons
• Bento boxes – 5-compartment & 3-compartment
• Salad dressing & condiment containers
• 4-oz. Food Jars
• Bluey snack container

Tangential step: prep any pills, vitamins, or water bottles now, too!

A Tidy Space

Once I’ve eaten and prepped anything planned for tomorrow, I make myself wash the dishes, then do some general tidying—just a quick walk-through of the space. I might spend a couple minutes just folding my blankets, tidying my workspace, or clearing off the kitchen table. It’s another one of those little things that makes tomorrow a little easier.

Oral Hygiene Tools

Mundane but important. My nighttime routine is typically brush teeth & mouthwash (AM adds tongue scraper and floss), though I’ll add the occasional whitening serum or strip as a little extra self-care. Be sure to read the instructions on the latter—some say not to use close to brushing.

I have my eye on this quip sonic toothbrush and have been instructed by my dentist to use this mouthwash specifically.

Skincare Products

I’ve written about my skincare routine and even the impact of skincare for chronic migraine, but it’s always evolving. Right now, I’ve been using my bedtime routine to double-cleanse and do most of the extra self-care-focused steps like sheet, clay, or under-eye masks. My rough daily routine, though, includes cleansers, eye drops, toner, any acne patches needed, hyaluronic acid serum, lavender oil, a night cream or overnight mask, a lip product, and cuticle oil.

Medical Maintenance Tools

For me, this step is primarily taking my blood pressure! I like to do this right after skincare so, at least theoretically, I’m a little relaxed. I love my Withings BPM connect! This could also include checking your temperature, blood sugar, or other data.

Pajamas

There’s nothing like the AuDHD urge to buy every variation of clothes that are actually comfy, right? One of my most consistent finds is these Way to Celebrate pajamas. The sets are so cute, and so soft! They come out with new designs for most holidays and seasons, though they haven’t had Christmas/winter holidays options yet, which makes me so sad. Bonus points if you grab a pair of fuzzy socks and/or comfy slippers, too!

Pills & Vitamins

One of my very last tasks before bed is to take my vitamins and medications. I have separate cute pill cases for morning and night, and try to keep two bottles of my vitamin B2 gummies on hand so one can live in the kitchen and one on my nightstand.

Stretching Routines

This and my next few items are a bit more flux additions to my nighttime essentials routine. With energy and functionality limitations, I can have high hopes but try to maintain realistic expectations!

Stretching is one of those “sometimes” nighttime essentials but it really does make a difference when I am able to do it. I hold a ton of tension in my shoulders and neck and, thanks to hypermobility, plenty of other spots, too. I do have to be careful, with that in mind, but I’ll try to do a few “bed yoga” poses before bed on good days.

A Journal

Whether you use a five-minute journal, a gratitude journal, one of our guided journals, or even a blank lined journal, taking a few minutes to journal for bed can be a great way to help clear your mind after a long day.

Meditation Tracks

Spending a few minutes meditating or even falling asleep to a guided meditation is such a soothing way to get ready for bed! Dauchsy meditation is a particular favorite—they have a full playlist full of sleep meditations!

A Good Book

Arguably my favorite of these nighttime essentials is reading! I love to grab my Kindle Paperwhite (the only e-reader that doesn’t immediately trigger my migraine attacks) or a good old-fashioned book and escape into a story for a little while.

If you are using a paper book, I definitely recommend finding some soft lighting to read by. Even a clip-on reading light can be enough for some! Add a warm, cozy blanket and you’ll have what might just be the comfiest way to end the night.

The beauty of a routine full of nightly essentials that it doesn’t look the same for everyone, or even from one night to the next! Whatever combination helps you unwind is the right one.

What are your favorite nightly essentials that help you unwind? Let us know in the comments!