Bedtime routines should be kept sacred, and as we wrote in ‘Aromatherapy And Your Bedtime Routine: 5 Reasons Why You And Your Children Should Try It’, you should do what you can to improve your mood and sleep cycle. Aromatherapy is a great option, and it can be made even more powerful with other practices like meditation. Given the current situation, personal stressors can be amplified by common sentiments like fear and anxiety. This familiar routine can give us some certainty and clarity.
While there may be many things beyond our control. It’s important to grasp that you have the autonomy to make yourself feel better even in the smallest of ways. Parsley Health’s Robin Berzin advises developing a meditation practice as a form of self-care during these trying times. While this could improve your mood, it also lowers cortisol and anxiety levels – this is why it makes a perfect addition to your bedtime routine. You may have difficulty sleeping due to all the thoughts racing around your head, so take some time to meditate and clear your mind so that you sleep better.
It can be adapted
If you are new to meditation, it’s important to understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all template for it. The beauty with meditation is that you can simply do what works for you. Whether this is through mindfulness meditation, prayer, or repeating a mantra to restore your focus – do what you are comfortable with and you’ll definitely be able to reap the benefits.
It boosts self-awareness
If you sit in silence, you’ll hear your innermost thoughts. Guided meditation, which involves listening to or reading thinking points, may help you reflect better. Moreover, the very act of meditation can help you learn more about what you are capable of. Legal mindfulness consultant Jeena Cho says that you can rid yourself of unwanted habits, and also connect with your purpose and see your reality more in-depth.
It builds confidence
You may have felt a sense of helplessness at one point or another in the greater scheme of things. Meditation helps you reclaim confidence by reminding you that you can take control of your thoughts. You may be able to catch yourself when you have self-destructive thoughts, and instead, see the value in positive self-affirmations as a form of empowerment.
It improves your quality of sleep
As your mind relaxes, your body will follow. Once you begin to take control of your thoughts, you will relieve your body of tension and likewise relax before bed. Some people keep a journal and write as a form of meditation. Clinical psychologist and family sleep specialist Dr. Whitney Roban states that keeping a night-time journal helps rid you of your worries, intrusive thoughts, and anxieties that usually keep you awake. The act of transferring these thoughts onto paper can unload the burden and put you at ease.
It realigns you with the present
People are often inclined to overthink regrets or things that have occurred in the past or are anxious and uncertain about what the future will bring. This is exactly why meditation is necessary – it helps you realign with the present. Meditation grounds you and makes you in touch with your current situation, for as long as you’re willing to commit to the practice.
There’s no better time to start than now. Once you get the hang of meditating, you may soon find that your bedtime routine is incomplete without it.
