If you are transitioning into spring right now, these are 15 tips for your night time routine that can help you get better sleep and adapt to the changing season more smoothly. Try this evening routine after work to make the most of your night. 

When the cold of winter comes along, it’s normal to desire the warmth and comfort of a cozy routine. 

But when Spring arrives and starts to change your environment, comfort is no longer what you need. 

I find that whenever Spring starts to reveal itself, my body starts to respond, too. Additionally, I don’t feel like I need as much sleep and I get the desire to start doing more active things. I tend to feel more motivated and energetic instead of the lethargic and quiet pace I gravitate towards in the winter. 

Do you notice anything in your own temperament that changes when spring arrives? 

When that change in the weather starts to happen, it makes sense to change some of the daily routines you’ve kept in response. Instead of creating routines that are warm, slow, and cozy, you can create a spring routine that is uplifting, active, and motivating. This will help you transition more easily into the new season and it will also help you take advantage of your natural boost in energy during this time. 

I want to share with you 15 tips for a night time routine that can help you turn your cozy evening routine into a motivating night routine that will help give you energy in the midst of a season of renewal and growth. After the tips, you will also find an evening routine template that provides an example of how to implement some of these tips. 

15 Night Time Routine Tips for Motivation During the Spring Season

Tip #1: Learn something new or develop a skill

Spring is a great time to learn something new. Now that the days are getting longer again, it’s easier to feel like getting more done. Use this energy and motivation to develop your skills and enjoy the growth of the season! 

Here are some things you can try: 

• Pick up a new language
• Learn new cooking skills
• Try a new song on an instrument you already play
• Learn about a time in history you’ve been curious about
• Listen to a podcast that teaches something new
• Try a new sport or form of exercise
• Learn a new card game or board game
• Develop skills in some form of art
• Develop your computer skills

Related Post: How to Stop Feeling Stuck and Transform Life

Tip #2: Get outside

With the weather starting to warm up, this is a great time to take advantage of the outdoors. Exercise outside when you can or just enjoy a calm walk through nature. When you observe the snow melting away and the plants starting to grow, you will sure to return home inspired and refreshed.

My favourite thing is hearing the birds finally starting to chirp again. It is a sign that summer is on its way! 

Tip #3: Eat healthy and early

Spring is a good time to start cutting back on the amount of food you are eating. To help your stomach digest food in this season, swap the oil for spices. According to Ayurveda, spring is the optimal time to enjoy spicy food, so add some heat to your meals! 

It is also a good idea to eat early so that your body has time to digest before you sleep. This will make it easier to fall asleep, too. The ideal time to eat is three hours before bed. 

Related Post: How to Practice Mindful Eating and Actually Enjoy Your Food

Tip #4: Put away the tech

This never changes from season to season; it is always important to put the technology away at least an hour before bed.

It’s definitely easier said than done and I personally fail to follow this tip quite often, but it will absolutely help you prepare for sleep better if you do follow it.

The light from your screens tricks your body into thinking it’s still not night time and keeps you awake longer because of it. Put away the screen and let yourself slow down. You’ll notice right away how much sleepier you feel at bedtime when you follow this night time routine tip. 

Related Post: 7 Digital Boundaries That’ll Free You From your Smartphone

Tip #5: Read a book

This tip is a lot easier to follow! Instead of turning to the tv at night, opt for a good book. This is a great form of entertainment that will help your body calm down for the evening. 

Related: Check out the Bibliophile Book Review Series to get ideas for your next read!

Tip #6: Take time for reflection

This activity will look different for everyone. This is a great time for prayer, Bible study, and worship. It is also a good time to write in a journal or to meditate. For some, maybe you will just want to lie still for a few minutes and focus on wiping your mind clean of all of the thoughts that are cluttering your brain. It’s up to you how you want it to look! 

Related Post: 20 Helpful Journal Prompts to Reflect on Your Year

Tip #7: Connect with someone (or something) 

Winter tends to be a little less of a social time, but when spring comes along, it is a great time to start opening up again. Reach out to a friend or family member, play with a pet, or even take extra time to care for your plants. The act of caring for a living thing can be so healing for the soul and will get you feeling much more motivated at the end of the day. 

Tip #8: Prepare for the next day

Since spring is all about growth and starting to get more done, making preparations for the next day is one great way that you can keep yourself motivated and productive throughout the week.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for the next day that will have you waking up feeling more ready for the day ahead: 

• Review goals
• Write a to-do list
• Pack bags
• Plan your outfit
• Set any reminders

Related Post: A Realistic Cleaning Schedule Anyone Can Manage

Tip #9: Tidy the house

This is another way you can prepare yourself for the day ahead. Spring is a good time to start to clean out the house, so if you like to do spring cleaning, you could take some time every day to tackle some of the more forgotten areas of the house. If not, a simple clean sweep will do the trick just fine! Look for any items that are out of place and clean up any obvious messes you spot. 

Related Post: Tody: The free app that will change the way you clean

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Tip #10: Have a quick shower

In the winter, a warm bath is where it’s at, but in the spring it just doesn’t feel as necessary. If you’d like a bit of rest and relaxation, then a bath is definitely still a good option, but if you’re just looking to rinse off, then a rejuvenating shower will do the trick.

Just make sure it’s not too hot because it will dry your skin and it will make it harder to fall asleep. A warm shower one hour before bedtime is the best way to approach it. 

Related Post: How to Make Your Shower Routine a Restorative Practice

Tip #11: Do a simple skincare routine

Spring is not as drying as winter, but it’s still a relatively dry season, so you don’t want to go too crazy with skincare.

Personally, I stick to a two-step cleansing and moisturizing routine and I exfoliate once every three days. You will need to find what works best for you, but do your best to keep it simple. 

Tip #12: Drink warm milk with nutmeg

Warm milk is a great drink for an evening routine as it will fill you up and relax you. The nutmeg will also help you feel sleepy, priming you for a good night’s rest. 

Tip #13: Give yourself a foot massage

Using some coconut oil, massage your feet before you go to bed. It will get the blood flowing and relax you.

Personally, this was the night time routine tip that has made the biggest difference for me. I feel like it helps to warm up your feet and makes your whole body feel relaxed and ready for sleep. You don’t need to be a professional to give yourself a foot massage that you enjoy, either! 

Tip #14: Stretch

When considering what type of stretches you want to do, it is best to look at your body’s specific needs. For example, if you spend all day at a computer, it would be a good idea to stretch your neck, shoulders, and wrists. If you spend all day on your feet, it might be a better idea to spend more time in inversions to decompress the spine. There are lots of great yoga routines that can guide you through some effective exercises. 

Tips #15: Lie down with your legs up the wall

This is a great rejuvenating pose that is not exactly stretching but is definitely good for the body. It helps calm you, lengthens the hamstrings, relieves your legs and feet and relaxes your muscles (among other benefits). And all you have to do is lie down with your legs up the wall for up to twenty minutes! It’s a great time to enjoy a podcast or even meditate. 

Common Questions About Night Time Routines

What is a good night time routine? 

These night time routine tips are helpful in figuring out some of the ways that you can make your evening better, but how should you actually approach your night time routine?

Routines are unique to each person and they change depending on the season of life that person is in. That’s why we have to think carefully about how we live our lives in every season. A good night time routine is one that is filled with things that will help you in your current season, not hurt you. 

Here are some signs that you have found a good night routine: 

• You fall asleep easily
• When you wake up the next day, you feel refreshed
• You feel calm at the end of the night, not stressed or anxious
• Your body feels good at the end of the night
• You don’t feel too hungry or too full
• You feel satisfied with how you chose to spend your time

If you do not experience these symptoms, then you haven’t found your ideal routine yet. Experiment with the different tips to see if any of them help you get closer to the perfect routine for you. 

Additionally, if you want a template to start with, you can check out my example evening routine at the bottom of this page. 

How can I sleep better at night naturally? How can I stay asleep for 8 hours? 

If you feel like you’ve got a night time routine that you enjoy but are having trouble staying asleep all night, then I’ve got another article that can help you. It’s full of ideas and natural remedies to help you sleep more soundly at night.

Read more about how to improve your sleep with this article: 30 Helpful Strategies to Sleep Better at Night 

Why do I wake up worrying at night? How can I stop thinking at night? 

If you struggle with worry and anxiety at night, it is likely because you were worrying during the day and didn’t deal with the issue. You will need to follow tip #6 and take time before you go to sleep to reflect. But don’t just ruminate on bad thoughts; make sure that you are working towards letting those thoughts go. Consider each worry you have and let it go so that you are not burdened by a bunch of anxious thoughts when you fall asleep. 

Another trick I use (I was prone to nightmares as a kid) is to listen to a podcast or radio show before going to bed. It ensures that you’re not thinking too much about your own problems because your brain is a little more distracted. This solution has saved me from many nightmares over the years! 

Finally, make sure you have a notepad and pencil beside your bed every night. If you wake up worrying, just write down the worries and ‘save them for later.’ This might help you fall asleep faster because the worry is recorded for you to deal with when you are more awake. 

If morning anxiety is also an issue for you, I would recommend doing a morning brainwash. Read this article for more guidance: Morning Brainwash: How to Start Your Day Right.

How long does your night time routine take? 

My ideal night time routine starts at 5 pm and ends at 10 pm, but life happens, and this ideal standard often has to be sacrificed.

What I would recommend is that you have an ideal night routine that goes from the end of your work day to your bedtime, but have a 1 hour night routine that includes all of the most important night activities.

For example, in an ideal night time routine, I enjoy doing some learning and then taking quite a bit of time reading, stretching, and enjoying family. However, if I am having a really busy day, then I do a one-hour night routine that involves drinking warm milk, reading, reflecting, and stretches

This ensures that, even during a busy week, I am doing things that are good for my body in the last hour of my day. 

Do I work better at night? 

This is an interesting question from an Ayurvedic standpoint. They would argue that, yes, everyone works well at night, especially after 10pm, but that this is why you should be in bed by 10pm every night. 

Let me explain. 

According to Ayurveda, the body goes in cycles throughout the day. Some hours of the day tend to be more productive and energetic than others.

For example, between the hours of 2 pm and 6 pm, we tend to get a little sleepy, but our creativity flows best at this time.

From 10 am to 2 pm we work best on our more analytic tasks and we have an easier time digesting food.

You will also feel that same energy and focus from 10 pm to 2 am, but Ayurvedic practitioners explain that this energy is best utilized while you’re sleeping to repair the body. If you miss this bedtime, you will likely get a surge of energy that will then make it harder to fall asleep.

So yes, it is likely that you will work well between the hours of 10 pm and 2 am, but that does not necessarily mean that you should be awake during those hours. 

What is the best time to sleep and wake up? 

I like to follow the Ayurvedic clock as closely as I can, so the sleeping hours I would recommend are 10 pm to 6 am. 

However, this doesn’t mean that you must follow it. If your schedule doesn’t allow this, then don’t worry about it. And if you are already satisfied with your sleep schedule then don’t change it. Experiment with different times and stick with what works for you! 

My Ideal Evening Routine After Work

5:00 | Take the dog for a walk | Take the opportunity to go outside and enjoy nature while also taking care of your pet. If you want a little extra socializing, go to a dog park and chat with some of the pet owners there. 

5:45 | Prepare dinner and develop a skill | Depending on the dinner you make, it might require more of your attention, but if you have the type of dinner that requires little prep and mostly wait time, then you can also develop a skill while you wait. Listen to an educational podcast, read a book, or try an art skill! 

6:15 | Eat with family and enjoy their company | I find eating with other people is a great way to enjoy a meal! 

7:00 | Prepare for tomorrow and clean the house | Now that the messiest part of the night routine is over, this is a good time to make sure everything is clean and prepped for the next day. Once you’re done, you can fully relax and wind down for the night. 

7:45 | Reflection | Take some time to think back on your day. You can pray, do a Bible study, meditate, or just breath. 

8:30 | Shower and skincare | Once you’ve spent the time letting go of the events of the day, it’s nice to signify that mental cleansing by physically cleansing your body afterwards. Imagine all of the craziness of the day washing away as you shower. 

9:00 | Drink some warm milk (and read) | Once you’re all warm and cozy from the shower, drinking some warm milk will set you up for more relaxation. I like to read while I’m drinking. 

9:15 | Stretch and massage your feet | Stretch out any sore spots that developed throughout your day and give your feet a nice massage. 

9:40 | Legs up on the wall (and read) | For the last twenty minutes, rest your legs on the wall and read while you lie there. If you get really sleepy, then cut it short and go to sleep early. Otherwise, do the full time.

10:00 | Lights out! | Now that your body is relaxed it’s time to go to sleep! 

I hope that this information has inspired you to take another look at your own night time routine. Our best routines change with every season of life, so don’t hesitate to change things when they stop working for you. Experiment with different things and see what helps you most this spring. 

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