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The case for a nightstand notebook

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A cozy organic cotton eye mask on sale for $11 & other bedside delights

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Before-bed reading: A hack for accessing your favorite magazines

My one-year-old’s bedtime vibes are immaculate. Lamp glowing. Bedtime jazz playing softly. Warm bottle. Excellent picture book. 

My bedtime vibes, on the other hand, are not. And I acknowledge that with a lot of grace for myself, and all of us out there who plop into our beds, faces half-heartedly washed, at midnight. There’s a lot to do in the day! 

Anyway, this week, I realized that I need a bedtime ritual as regimented and relaxing as a baby’s. We got it right for babies. And we should do ourselves the same solid. 

Since the equinox came and went on Monday, the days are noticeably shorter, and cozy season is officially upon us, there is literally no better time. Let’s begin!

In order to go to bed earlier and add structure into the close of the day, my aim is to make bedtime a moment that I look forward to. Here’s how I’m doing it, but keep in mind, YMMV—you know best what will entice you to retreat to your bedroom and get some shut eye! 

🌒 Focusing on sleep, and only sleep. I read a few pages of The Power of Less recently…hilarious that I didn’t finish that book, given the title. So on the nose. Anyway, the book’s thesis of working on one thing at a time struck a chord with me. Rather than trying to meal prep in a more strategic way, start logging fall runs and go to bed early, I’m only focusing on sleep. My other self-improvement goals can wait. I need to rebuild this one habit for a bit before I stack any other changes on top of it.

🌒 Making a new nightly mantra. Repeat after me: Late evening is not a time to plot or scheme. It’s a time to relax. (I wrote this down and put it on my nightstand.)

🌒 I got a nightstand notebook, an analog way to jot down racing thoughts, to-dos, or things that come into my brain as I’m winding down. So often, after I’ve stashed my phone for the night, I’ll pick it back up to Google something or tap out a fleeting idea in my Notes app…and get sucked right back into the phone zone. The notebook gives me a place to capture those ideas and kind of tuck them into bed. I can do the Googling and the plotting in the morning. And by then, I’ve forgotten all about that random intrusive thought from 11:47 p.m. anyway.

🌒 Picking my non-negotiables: None of us need a long nighttime routine that’s going to cause stress simply by trying (and failing) to adhere to it. But like an adorable baby, I’ve realized that I do need structure. And I need vibes. Here’s how I’ve been spending the 15 minutes before bed:

Quick tip re: magazines, which are honestly, a nice change-up from books in bed because I can dip in and out without needing to scan back a few pages to remind myself WTH is going on: Digital copies are free on Libby so long as your library offers them, which feels like a huge life hack. I’m also only letting myself read magazines at bedtime, which motivates me to retire to my chambers. 

🌒 Bribing is OK: I think treating oneself to new pajamas, a serum, or a beautiful bedtime-appropriate tea is fair game here. Right?

Organic Basics, Core Sleep Poplin Pants—97% GOTS certified organic cotton, 3% elastane ($45 on sale, including the extra 20% off discount in cart)

Us Two, Pillowtalk Jasmine Tea—biodegradable tea bags ($9)

Worthwhile Paper, Moon Pattern Notebook—100% recycled paper ($16)

Coyuchi, Cloud Soft Organic Sateen Eye Mask—GOTS certified cotton with elastic band ($11 for the Pale Grey color way on suuuper sale)

Boll & Branch, Signature Hemmed Sheet Set—100% GOTS certified cotton, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 ($279 for a queen set)

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Sleep tight!
Jennifer @ Sway