Hey everyone!

This is blogmas day 11. I’m super excited to bring you my Cosy Winter Nighttime Routine. If you’re from the southern hemisphere, no doubt you are fed up of me complaining about how it gets dark so early. 

Rather than continue that negative attitide towards darkness, let’s appreciate what we already have and make it cosy!

When it’s dark outside and you’re all wrapped up warm and safe inside, it feels hygge. This nighttime routine – hygge inspired – helps me embrace the darkness outside and not get too mad about it!

My nighttime routine begins at 6pm, when I completely stop work. I make a promise to myself not to work past 6pm, because – well – I deserve it! Online learning has given me a lot more flexibility in terms of schedule. On a normal, in-person school day I could be working until 8pm with the endless homework and assessments. Everyone is different so please don’t compare your habits to mine! I am about to share them with you but just because you do things differently doesn’t make you any better or worse than I am.

6pm

At the moment I’m watching Downton Abbey. While I watch it I’ll either make some scrunchies for my little biz, knit, do some colouring… I love doing this to break up my day. It always stretches my creative muscles 🙂 Oh, and you can buy a scrunchie from me right here! All the profits go to a service trip to Kenya where I’ll be facilitating school sessions for less priviliged children.

While I do my crafting, I light a candle. I’m burning a gingerbread one at the minute that adds a sweet, festive aroma to my room. Lighting candles brings out the ‘hygge’ in me and singles it’s time to wind down. And nothing beats the cosy vibes it emulates. 

7pm

Around 7 I like to tie up some loose ends. I’ll do blog admin: reply to DMs, comments, read your posts, sort through my emails. It’s the only time of day I get to spend on my blog! But a little goes a long way.

This will be the last time I go on social media until the morning. When I do carry on scrolling late into the night, it defintely has knock-on effects the following day (making me feel sluggish and less positive). I don’t know why it does because my feed is the most wonderful place! It might just be do with constantly being updated with other people’s lives.

7.30pm

I head back to the computer and start writing a blog post. Getting down initial thoughts will help me the following day when I need to finish the post. I don’t write the best in the evening, but you can always edit a bad page.You can’t edit a blank one! Blogmas is really exciting and writing so much doesn’t burn me out creatively, but it sure does take a lot of work.

8pm

This is the time I get ready for bed. I’ll hop into my pajamas, wash my face or maybe have a shower! Treating the end of the day as if it is something makes it worth something. Because it is dark and gloomy you can (I catch myself doing this) get ahead of yourself and start wishing about the next day rather than appreciating the one you’re in! But a nice little pamper, whether that be a nice shower or skincare routine, sets you up nicely for the evening ahead.

8.30pm

Towards the end of the day I do a quick power-clean and tidy up my room, getting set up for the following day. There might be a pile of papers I need to sort through, or clothes I need to put away. Small tasks can build up but 8.30 is when I just clear off as many from the to-do list as possible!

8.45pm

Speaking of to-do lists, anytime before 9 I’ll check in my bullet journal to see what I have done, what I need to complete, plans for the following day etc. While I have my bullet journal out I like to sit in bed and write down what I’m grateful for. By the time I’ve done a bit of journaling I’m normally really tired!

9-10pm

Often I’ll go to bed at 9 which is considered quite early. Although I’m ashamed of being a granny when it comes to bedtime! I listen to my body, and 9pm is shut off time. Sometimes I’ll fit in a bit of reading before bed but it honestly depends on the day. Since it’s Christmastime, I have my colourful lights strung around my room and these add a magical touch to the end of the day.

I hope this post inspires you to create your own nighttime routine if you don’t already have one. Routines can be boring but adding flexibility (like this one) makes it easier to stick to. A good routine sets you up for success! I personally find that without routine I’m a bit hopeless. If a ‘How To Create A Good Routine’ post is one you want to see, then do let me know. After a few years of using a structured morning and night routine there are a few tips and tricks I have under my belt that can help you!

What do you do every night, to set the next day up for success?

And please don’t feel guilty if you don’t have a good routine at the moment. Covid-19 sucks and it’s thrown us all off our axis. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, stressed or anxious about what lies ahead. Just remeber that everything is temporary. If you need to speak to someone, I’m always here for you.

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