In fact, many happy people have special rituals to make this before-bed time pleasant and relaxing. They look forward to prepare themselves for sleep and to do that with pleasure. Here are some before-bed rituals that happy individuals tend to do every evening.
1. They meditate
Happy people find some time before sleeping to meditate. The use of meditation was in fact scientifically proved. Regular meditation improves your brain work, fights with stress and depression, lowers the risks of heart attack or stroke, etc. Meditating before going to bed, you clear your mind of all the troubles of the day and get ready to rest before a new happy day.
2. They read
Happy people read! I’m not talking about news, magazines or Twitter. Happy people read books, stories or articles that inspire them. Reading a great inspiring book makes your imagination see positive pictures and motivates you to have positive life as well. If you fall asleep with good thoughts, you’ll fully rest and wake up with the desire to accomplish your goals.
3. They plan
Knowing what you will do the next day relaxes you and makes you feel calm and free. Before sleeping, happy people plan their next day so that they wake up with determination and a clear picture of what to do.
4. They analyze
Benjamin Franklin, for example, thought that time was the most precious resource and it must be spent right. At the end of every day he asked himself what good things he did that day and analyzed every hour. It let him understand what goals he achieved and what things he should work on. Try to do the same thing for 5-10 minutes before sleeping.
5. They feel gratitude
Happy people are always grateful for the things they have and people they know. This ritual is recommended to do in bed before falling asleep. Close your eyes and think about the things you are grateful for this day. Say thanks to the colleague who gave you a ride, or a waitress who served you very fast when you were late, or to your spouse who was there and supported you. Gratitude is a positive emotion that motivates you. Falling asleep with good thoughts, you will wake up the same.
6. They relax
Different people have different ways to relax. Happy people definitely have some ways as being stressful all the time is not the characteristic of happiness. Some people like to take a long bath with bubbles, some enjoy having a nice cup of tea, some people relax over their hobbies such as drawing or knitting, etc. Think of what makes you calm and relaxed and try to do that before going to bed.
7. They eat or drink healthy products
Of course, it is better not to eat at all, but there are some products that can be good for your sleep. You can eat a banana as it is full of serotonin that helps you to relax. Drinking a glass of warm milk with honey is classics. It calms you down and makes you sleepy. Herbal tea and oatmeal are also okay for a late bite. There are also some products that you should not consume before going to bed such as junk food, coffee and alcohol. Happy people feel great mentally and physically. And you cannot feel good physically if you eat three hamburgers before going to sleep.
8. They exercise
Happy people keep their body in shape. Running or heavy lifting before sleep are not the best things to do as it may be harder to calm down and have a good rest after that. However, stretching, doing yoga or some relaxing exercises is just the right thing to do.
9. They cut off the technology
There are so many unnecessary things we do with our gadgets before going to bed. We check our mail, we watch the latest news, we check if our friends posted something on Instagram, we let the world know that we are going to sleep via Twitter… Those things don’t bring any good and just kill time. Instead of that we can do many important things described above and below.
10. They create the atmosphere
Going to bed can become a nice ritual that brings you joy. Listen to a couple of relaxing songs, make sure it is warm enough in your bedroom and it smells good (essential oils and potpourri can help here). Happy people make their bedrooms feel comfortable and safe. Make sure your mattress is comfortable, you have enough pillows and nothing in the room has negative influence on you. Featured photo credit: db Photography/Demi-Brooke via flickr.com
