3336: 7 Ideas to Implement a Calming Evening Routine by Michelle Summerfield with Becoming Minimalist

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_00]: This is Optimal Living Daily, 7 Ideas to Implement a Calming Evening Routine by Michelle Summerfield with Becoming Minimalist.com.

[00:00:10] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm your narrator, Justin Malik.

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[00:00:15] [SPEAKER_00]: This is where I read to you every day of the year from some amazing articles with the author's permission,

[00:00:20] [SPEAKER_00]: all in an effort to make your and my days even just a tiny bit better.

[00:00:25] [SPEAKER_00]: So with that, let's get right to our next article as we optimize your life.

[00:00:32] [SPEAKER_00]: 7 Ideas to Implement a Calming Evening Routine by Michelle Summerfield with Becoming Minimalist.com

[00:00:41] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm no stranger to rushing around, operating on overload and essentially being a chicken with no head.

[00:00:48] [SPEAKER_00]: In my previous corporate life, I lived life at light speed and in complete chaos for 16 years.

[00:00:55] [SPEAKER_00]: I felt I never had time for the good things I knew I should be doing.

[00:00:59] [SPEAKER_00]: But running at light speed and neglecting self-care eventually catches up with you.

[00:01:05] [SPEAKER_00]: You burn out.

[00:01:06] [SPEAKER_00]: That's when your mind and body scream,

[00:01:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Hey human, please get me off this darn merry-go-round now!

[00:01:14] [SPEAKER_00]: One of the most important things I ever did was to listen to my body and create a calming evening routine.

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER_00]: It's made such a difference.

[00:01:22] [SPEAKER_00]: Now, I turn my phone off at least an hour before bed to let my mind unwind.

[00:01:28] [SPEAKER_00]: I do a peaceful evening yoga routine,

[00:01:31] [SPEAKER_00]: followed by a 5 or 10 minute meditation session which relaxes my body,

[00:01:36] [SPEAKER_00]: relieves the stress of the day and puts my mind into a peaceful place.

[00:01:41] [SPEAKER_00]: I used a quiet time right after to wash my face and practice gratitude before going to bed.

[00:01:47] [SPEAKER_00]: If my mind is still a bit overstimulated, I'll read a chapter of a book which usually has me nodding off.

[00:01:54] [SPEAKER_00]: Now I get it, not everyone has a lot of time in the evenings.

[00:01:56] [SPEAKER_00]: But that doesn't mean you can't create your own simple routine by starting small.

[00:02:02] [SPEAKER_00]: By making just one change to your evening routine,

[00:02:05] [SPEAKER_00]: you'll be on your way to bringing calm, peace and stress relief into your life.

[00:02:11] [SPEAKER_00]: My routine starts an hour before bed but only takes 20-30 minutes total.

[00:02:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Finding just 5-10 minutes to do one calming activity will get you started.

[00:02:22] [SPEAKER_00]: If you're looking for stress relief from your busy day,

[00:02:25] [SPEAKER_00]: I highly recommend creating a calming evening routine that works for you.

[00:02:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Here are 7 ideas to try out.

[00:02:33] [SPEAKER_00]: 1. Turn off your phone and be still for 5 minutes.

[00:02:38] [SPEAKER_00]: During that quiet time, tell yourself you deserve peace and calm.

[00:02:44] [SPEAKER_00]: You deserve to take care of yourself.

[00:02:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Always putting everyone else first isn't fair to you or to them.

[00:02:50] [SPEAKER_00]: I turn my phone off at least an hour before bed to calm my mind and eyes

[00:02:54] [SPEAKER_00]: from all the technology I've been using throughout the day.

[00:02:58] [SPEAKER_00]: 2. No TV or news before bed.

[00:03:03] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't watch the news at all anymore.

[00:03:06] [SPEAKER_00]: As a sensitive person, I know how negatively it can affect me,

[00:03:09] [SPEAKER_00]: so I keep it out of my life.

[00:03:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Think of it, that time sitting in front of the TV could be used doing something

[00:03:15] [SPEAKER_00]: to better your mind, body and well-being instead.

[00:03:19] [SPEAKER_00]: I know we all love Netflix.

[00:03:21] [SPEAKER_00]: The key is to be mindful of your TV use and know when it's not giving you

[00:03:25] [SPEAKER_00]: the peace and calm you need.

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER_00]: 3. Read a chapter of a book.

[00:03:31] [SPEAKER_00]: This is one of my favorites.

[00:03:33] [SPEAKER_00]: I recently got rid of my TV so I could have a reading nook in my room instead.

[00:03:37] [SPEAKER_00]: No matter what book I've read, it's never been a waste of time.

[00:03:41] [SPEAKER_00]: In fact, most have changed my life for the better.

[00:03:45] [SPEAKER_00]: It doesn't matter what type of book, although I do recommend something

[00:03:48] [SPEAKER_00]: that won't get you thinking too much.

[00:03:50] [SPEAKER_00]: The idea is to calm down.

[00:03:52] [SPEAKER_00]: I've got two types of books I read in the evenings,

[00:03:55] [SPEAKER_00]: spiritual self-help or a trashy romance novel.

[00:03:59] [SPEAKER_00]: 4. Yoga

[00:04:02] [SPEAKER_00]: I added yoga to my evening routine about six months ago and it is so relaxing.

[00:04:07] [SPEAKER_00]: It focuses my mind and my awareness on my body.

[00:04:11] [SPEAKER_00]: If you're new to yoga, it's not super difficult.

[00:04:13] [SPEAKER_00]: If you're worried about flexibility, start off with a beginner practice.

[00:04:18] [SPEAKER_00]: I use the free Yoga Studio app on my Apple TV.

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_00]: I started with a beginner practice until I felt comfortable to move to intermediate.

[00:04:26] [SPEAKER_00]: Yoga is a great way to not only add some relaxation to your day but also exercise.

[00:04:32] [SPEAKER_00]: If you've been sitting at a desk job all day,

[00:04:34] [SPEAKER_00]: the flexibility practices work wonders.

[00:04:38] [SPEAKER_00]: 5. Meditate

[00:04:40] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't meditate regularly.

[00:04:41] [SPEAKER_00]: In fact, I find it extremely hard to sit still for more than five minutes.

[00:04:45] [SPEAKER_00]: My cat distracts me by sniffing my hand

[00:04:48] [SPEAKER_00]: or the movement of family around the house keeps me aware of every noise.

[00:04:52] [SPEAKER_00]: When I do manage it, it's calming and grounding.

[00:04:55] [SPEAKER_00]: The constant stream of thoughts in my head slows down

[00:04:59] [SPEAKER_00]: and I feel peaceful after.

[00:05:01] [SPEAKER_00]: You don't have to do anything special or buy an app.

[00:05:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Simply focusing on your breathing and saying,

[00:05:06] [SPEAKER_00]: breathe in, breathe out as you breathe is good enough.

[00:05:10] [SPEAKER_00]: When I do my evening yoga, I'll follow it up with a five-minute relaxing meditation.

[00:05:16] [SPEAKER_00]: 6. Practice Gratitude

[00:05:19] [SPEAKER_00]: This is one of my favorite parts of my evening routine.

[00:05:22] [SPEAKER_00]: Every evening, I take a few moments to think about

[00:05:25] [SPEAKER_00]: what I'm grateful for and who I'm grateful for in my life.

[00:05:29] [SPEAKER_00]: This practice has the power to change your mindset and your life.

[00:05:32] [SPEAKER_00]: It calms me and helps me appreciate everything I have.

[00:05:36] [SPEAKER_00]: It works so well that I use it to combat my desire to buy new things.

[00:05:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Whenever I have the urge to go back to old habits and buy something,

[00:05:45] [SPEAKER_00]: I practice gratitude.

[00:05:47] [SPEAKER_00]: It reminds me of all I have, the people,

[00:05:50] [SPEAKER_00]: the roof over my head, the healthy food, everything.

[00:05:54] [SPEAKER_00]: And the urge to shop falls away.

[00:05:57] [SPEAKER_00]: 7. Journal

[00:06:00] [SPEAKER_00]: Did you do a deer diary when you were a kid?

[00:06:03] [SPEAKER_00]: There's no reason not to try the adult version.

[00:06:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Simply getting your thoughts on paper or reflecting on your day

[00:06:08] [SPEAKER_00]: has amazing calming and healing powers.

[00:06:12] [SPEAKER_00]: I reflect on my day by asking three questions.

[00:06:15] [SPEAKER_00]: What went well? What can I improve?

[00:06:18] [SPEAKER_00]: What was I grateful for?

[00:06:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Creating a calming evening routine was the best thing I've done.

[00:06:25] [SPEAKER_00]: Now I wake up feeling refreshed and fall asleep faster

[00:06:28] [SPEAKER_00]: without a million thoughts rushing through my head.

[00:06:36] [SPEAKER_00]: You just listened to the post titled

[00:06:37] [SPEAKER_00]: 7 Ideas to Implement a Calming Evening Routine

[00:06:41] [SPEAKER_00]: by Michelle Somerfield with BecomingMinimalist.com

[00:06:44] [SPEAKER_00]: and I'll be right back with my commentary.

[00:06:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you to Michelle, a guest writer on Joshua Becker's site.

[00:06:50] [SPEAKER_00]: I've probably done all of these at some point or another

[00:06:54] [SPEAKER_00]: and in different seasons of life, which I think is fine.

[00:06:58] [SPEAKER_00]: You might enjoy one during one period

[00:07:00] [SPEAKER_00]: and then enjoy another on another day or year.

[00:07:05] [SPEAKER_00]: So for example, I journaled before bed

[00:07:07] [SPEAKER_00]: pretty much every single day through college.

[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_00]: But after that, I didn't really find much use.

[00:07:14] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure I would have found benefit,

[00:07:15] [SPEAKER_00]: but it wasn't calling my name like I felt it was before.

[00:07:19] [SPEAKER_00]: So I haven't journaled regularly since then

[00:07:21] [SPEAKER_00]: and that was a long time ago, not to date myself.

[00:07:24] [SPEAKER_00]: And gratitude has come and gone here and there

[00:07:27] [SPEAKER_00]: but I'm currently back at it.

[00:07:29] [SPEAKER_00]: Same with meditation.

[00:07:30] [SPEAKER_00]: For me, where I am right now, I find those helpful

[00:07:33] [SPEAKER_00]: and I like how I feel doing them.

[00:07:36] [SPEAKER_00]: But they might not be for you right now.

[00:07:38] [SPEAKER_00]: That's why there's 7 to choose from

[00:07:39] [SPEAKER_00]: and also why she said you can start small

[00:07:42] [SPEAKER_00]: if you feel like you just don't have that kind of time in a day.

[00:07:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Doing one of these will be helpful

[00:07:48] [SPEAKER_00]: and a kind thing to do for yourself.

[00:07:51] [SPEAKER_00]: So think about what calls to you most right now

[00:07:54] [SPEAKER_00]: and try it out tonight.

[00:07:56] [SPEAKER_00]: And let me know how it goes.

[00:07:58] [SPEAKER_00]: I always like to hear what's working for you.

[00:08:00] [SPEAKER_00]: So thank you to Michelle for this one.

[00:08:02] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for being here and listening every day.

[00:08:04] [SPEAKER_00]: Have a great weekend and I'll see you tomorrow

[00:08:06] [SPEAKER_00]: where your optimal life awaits.