3 Healthy Ways to Wind Down Your Day
By Genevieve Cunningham
When it comes to living a healthy life, there’s a lot of talk about the mornings. Get up early. Have coffee with no cream or sugar. Exercise if you can. This kind of advice is there to help us set up healthy routines and a healthy overall lifestyle. But what about the rest of the day? And more specifically, what about the night time? To make your routine healthy from dawn to dusk, take a look at these three healthy ways to wind down at the day’s end.
Spend Some Time Outdoors
Even if it’s dark, go outside and get some fresh air. A little fresh air clears our minds, lowers stress levels, and calms the body as a whole. And if you go out in the dark, it can also signal to your body that it’s time to wind down and get ready for bed. Grab a cup of something warm and soothing to drink, go outside for a few minutes, and take some big deep breaths to help wind down your day in a natural and healthy way.
Follow a Bedtime Ritual
Our bodies like routine. When we follow the same routine every night, our minds tell the rest of the body that it’s time to sleep. By the time we’re finished with our routine, we’re quite literally ready for bed -- in body and mind. Your routine can look however you choose. Maybe you want to read for a few minutes, take a hot shower, brush your teeth, watch your favorite show, and then sleep. Great. Just find what works for you, and make it a habit that you do every single night.
Turn Off Technology
One of the best things that you can do for your health is to turn off the electronics for a while. Put your phone in the other room, turn off the TV, put away the laptop. Get a little quiet time with your family, with a book, or with a hobby. This allows the mind to slow down, and it also lowers stress levels in a big way. Make it a habit to get a little technology-free time every night, and you’ll likely find a boost in both mental and physical health.
The way that we end our days is just as important as the ways that we begin them. Use these tips to end your day in a healthy way. Before you know it, your health will see a significant boost and your nightly routine will be a part of your life that you don’t want to miss.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fort Collins, Colo.
