Evening Wind-Down Rituals to Help You Sleep Better This Summer
Summer evenings can be magical—warm breezes, golden light, and longer days full of life. But they can also leave your mind racing and your sleep schedule totally off track. Whether you're sensitive to light, overstimulated from screen time, or just too warm to wind down, creating an intentional evening ritual can help your body and mind transition into deep, restful sleep. Here's how to build one that actually works. 😴✨
🕯️ 1. Set the Scene with Soft Lighting
Swap overhead lights for cozy, low light as soon as the sun starts to dip. This signals to your brain that it’s time to slow down.
🕯️ Try:
Lighting a candle with a calming scent (lavender, sandalwood, chamomile)
Turning on a Himalayan salt lamp
Using warm-toned fairy lights for a soft glow
💡 Pro tip: Avoid blue light (phone, laptop, TV) for at least 60–90 minutes before bed—or use blue light glasses if you can’t fully unplug.
🌸 2. Do a Light Cleanse—Physically + Mentally
Clear your space and your head with a simple reset.
🧺 Evening tidy-up:
Fold your blanket, prep your morning outfit, wipe your surfaces
Light a calming playlist or nature sounds to set the mood
🧠 Mental cleanse:
Write down your “tomorrow list” so you don’t carry it to bed
Do a “brain dump” in your journal with no rules
Say out loud: “I’ve done enough today. I get to rest.”
🌿 3. Indulge in a Summer-Friendly Self-Care Ritual
Hot summer nights call for light, cooling rituals—not heavy lotions or long hot baths.
🛁 Instead, try:
A cool shower with eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil drops
Applying a gel-based body lotion or face mist
Using a jade roller or gua sha tool stored in the fridge
💆 Add: a 5-minute facial massage or scalp oiling to make it feel luxe.
📖 4. Choose a Non-Stimulating, Soulful Activity
Let your mind gently unwind—no plot twists, notifications, or adrenaline.
Ideas:
Read a physical book (fiction, poetry, or something spiritual)
Listen to a bedtime podcast or ASMR
Do a slow stretch routine or yin yoga by candlelight
📚 Best summer reads for bedtime:
The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert
Goodnight Mind – Colleen Carney
☕ 5. Sip Something That Says “It’s Time to Sleep”
Ditch the caffeine and pour yourself a dreamy, herbal drink instead.
🥱 Favorite sleepy-time sips:
Chamomile tea with honey
Iced tulsi + lemon balm tea
Warm oat milk with cinnamon and a dash of vanilla
💤 Treat it like a ritual: pour slowly, sit down to sip, let your body exhale.
🛒 Wind-Down Essentials on Amazon
Himalayan Salt Lamp Night Light: A soothing glow that naturally calms and grounds
Chamomile Tea with Lavender + Honey: A bedtime favorite to relax your mind and body
