Category: Bedtime Routines

So, I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a specific bedtime routine that I stick to every night. There are obviously some things that I do every night like brush my teeth because you know, I’m not disgusting.

I guess I’ve never really given myself a routine because I am usually one of the luckier ones who can take a duvet and a pillow and pretty much sleep anywhere if I’m tired enough. The weird thing is though, ever since starting the creative process for The Truth About Bedtime… I have definitely noticed a difference in my ability to sleep soundly every night. I still haven’t decided whether it’s because we’re spending so much time researching, creating and talking about what it means to sleep and therefore I’m thinking about it so much that when it comes down to it, I’m struggling. I am aware of course that alongside making the show I have SO much going on, with two other modules (one being the big D word that I don’t dare mention) as well as trying to figure out what I’m doing with my life after uni so yeah maybe it is because my mind is going 1000mph constantly and it’s not shutting down at night. So, yeah, maybe it’s that.

I guess you could say then my bedtime routine at the moment consists of changing into PJs, brushing my teeth and having a wee, checking my room thoroughly for a mouse (long story) and then getting into bed and falling asleep… eventually.

C.M.

I start my night time routine round about 11 o’clock at night by getting a glass of water from the kitchen.
I then go up stairs, put my drink on a window sill next to my bed, and go next door to the bathroom.
I brush my teeth and remove any make-up I have been wearing on that day.
Washing my mouth out to make sure there is no lingering tooth paste, I rinse my retainer under cold water and put that on.
Once I’m back in my room, I get changed into my pyjamas.
I get under the covers, usually just a duvet cover and I go on my laptop between 40-60 minutes, catching up on YouTube videos, or reading a chapter of a story. Recently I’ve been watching an episode of RuPaul’s drag race on Netflix a night. Once the episode has finished and I’m all caught up with videos I will turn off my laptop and place it beside my bed on the floor. I get up to plug in my phone to charge and turn on a fan on a slow setting as I like to sleep with a constant noise, which blocks out any possible loud noises that can disturb my sleep. The slightest noise will keep me awake. After all that, I turn the lights off.
I get into bed, lying on my front with my head resting to towards the door or pathway in a room and hopefully go to sleep. Depending on how strenuous the day has been it can take up to 20-60 minutes to fall asleep. (There are some days that do not follow this schedule as my sleeping pattern varies).
Most of the time I only get about 5 hours of sleep a night, and while doing this exercise as made me realise that the lack of hours might be due to this route and what I do before sleep.

A.M

I’ve never really had a bedtime routine. I’m incredibly luckily, in the sense that most of the time I have no trouble sleeping at all. I tend to start my routine by brushing my teeth and having a wee (a bit TMI, but you do not want to get caught short when you’re all cosy). I then go upstairs and get into bed. I rarely wear pyjamas and I often just sleep in a t-shirt and leggings. I also keep my socks on in bed, an issue which is surprisingly divisive when you bring it up. Once I’m in bed (if my room is tidy I just get straight in, if it’s not I clear my bed, or just shove everything to the bottom, I have tiny legs, so it tends to not bother me). I’ll normally spend an hour or two on my laptop, making sure I have everything prepared for the next day, or looking at pictures of food. I usually have a podcast on whilst I’m scrolling, I find the noise comforting. When I’m ready to fall asleep, usually sometime between 12 and 1, I find something on YouTube I’d like to listen to as I find it quite difficult to fall asleep in my room with talking as a background noise. And then hopefully between 5 and 20mins later, I’m asleep. Simple as that!

E.H.

I have never had a bedtime routine, and I probably never will. Maybe that’s why I have such difficulty sleeping at night! Up until university, I’ve never had my own bedroom, always sharing with my sister, so that causes some disruptions to my night routine. I welcomed sleep as a teenager, getting it whenever I could and sleeping most of the day too, but moving into adulthood its quickly became something I fear and dread as the day progresses. There is no set time that I will go to bed, but my routine almost always starts with a cuppa tea! I’ll stick something on the telly, usually something binge-worthy like Gavin and Stacey or RuPaul’s Drag Race. In the meanwhile, I will take my make-up off, moisturise my face and then cover my face in Sudacreme to attempt to get rid of my spots (haha). When I get bored of TV or realise its actually getting too late and its probably passed 2 AM and I have a 9 AM the following day, I will brush my teeth and lay in bed for probably a good few hours until I finally drift off…. And probably get sleep paralysis! Ha!

L.R.

My bedtime routine stays pretty much the same every single night. I start downstairs watching something really trashy on TV with my housemates, then, once I get tired I go upstairs to start my proper bedtime routine. The first step is to pick out a nice pair of pyjamas. I am a self confessed pyjama person, so I have plenty to chose from. I then go to the bathroom to: have a wee, brush my teeth, wash my face and take my tablets. I then snuggle up under my duvet and start scrolling through my phone. I know you’re not really suppose to go on your phone before bed, but it makes me sleepy! Once I feel tired enough I turn my light of and go to sleep.