Slow Down: How to Turn Off Your Body and Mind Before Bed

There are nights when our bodies seem ready to rest, but our minds are still active. We lie down, close our eyes, but continue reliving the day, thinking about what remains to be done or the future. It's as if the moment of sleep is physically present, but mentally distant.

It's important to remember that sleep doesn't happen impulsively. It needs to be prepared. It's not enough to simply want to sleep; you need to allow your body and mind to recognize this as a safe and appropriate time to stop. Creating this environment begins long before you get into bed.

Bright light, noise, and constant stimuli keep the body alert. Reducing screen time and choosing calmer activities at the end of the day can help reverse this rhythm. The environment also matters: soft lights, a pleasant temperature, comfortable clothing, and calming sounds signal to the body that everything is ready for rest.

The mind responds to repetition and cues. Having a calm and consistent bedtime routine creates associations that facilitate this process. A regular schedule and simple habits like reading, taking a warm bath, or simply breathing deeply can help facilitate this transition.

Slowing down isn't a waste of time. It's giving your body and mind time to regroup. And it's in this transitional time that the path to deeper rest begins.