Whether tomorrow will be a better day depends on what you do right before bed. Do you watch Game of Thrones? Binge-watch Netflix? Or Think about the rude behavior of your ex whom you have met accidentally while stockpiling snacks before the lockdown?
People with direction and purpose in life not only have fixed morning rituals but nighttime rituals as well. It helps them function efficiently instead of behaving in a clumsy way and messing up with daily goals and work schedules.
Science confirms that having a bedtime routine besides enough sleep is healthy for both kids and adults. It comes with numerous mental and physical health benefits like high energy level, good mood, lower stress, anxiety, decrease in cardiovascular risks, and other health issues.
This is why bedtime routine is one thing common with the most successful people. Want to know their daily night time activities? What do they do to stay motivated, passionate, and energetic?
Here are 10 things most successful people do right before bed
1. Finish a ritual
A ritual can be anything a walk, calling your best friend, prayer, meditation, listening to music, exercise, and bath that sends a psychological signal, that you’re ready to sleep.
Actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow, take an Epsom salt bath every night to wind down. When it comes to this ritual Oprah Winfrey is a bathing professional. She has different bubble baths, salts, oils, and beads. She also meditates before going to bed. Joel Gascoigne, the Buffer CEO walks every evening right before bed. Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence prays every night and feels strange if she doesn’t.
So simple and cost-effective rituals to quiet your mind. Isn’t it? Something everyone can do to rest, relax, sleep well, and energize themselves for the next day.
Related: Why Successful People Are Choosing to Wear the Same Thing Every Day
2. Connect with family
For married couples, sex is an exercise that has a strong influence on health and wealth. Surprised?
Well, Nick Drydakis studied the effect of sexual activity on wages and found that people who had sex four or more times a week earned a salary 5% higher than those who didn’t. People who weren’t having sex at all made 3.2% less than their counterparts who were having sex.
According to the World’s longest study report by Robert Waldinger, only good, healthy relationships keep us happier and healthier. Else you will be prone to loneliness, anxiety, depression, poor sleep, insecurity, fatigue, and unsuccessful life.
Related: What Makes You Happy? Harvard Study Finds #1 Way To A Good Life
Truly successful people are smart enough to balance work and life. Because they are well aware of work burnout. So, they wrap up their work right before bed and spend quality time with their partners and read stories for kids or play with pets.
3. Disconnect from technology
Yes, it seems crazy when you are addicted to checking out Instagram Stories snuggling inside the blanket. Although it’s painful, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s Cheif Operating Officer, never forgets to turn off her phone right before bed. So that she is not woken up or disturbed.
Watch out this video to know how using smartphones before bed affects sleep:
If you are spending most part of the day working on a computer or laptop, it is wise to unplug from smartphones at least 30 minutes before bed. According to a U.S based study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, heavy use of technology before bed leads to sleep problems and depression. The reason is most of these smart devices emit blue or short-wavelength light that suppresses melatonin – an essential hormone with the ability to entrain the sleep-wake rhythm.
If you’re reading this don’t forget to unplug from the world completely tonight!
4. Plan for the next day
Do you know Kenneth Chenault, the CEO of American Express writes down three things he wants to accomplish the next day? Such planning is essential to stay focused, keep your resources ready, be productive, and keep distractions at bay.
