While your favorite candle flickers in the evening, and your bath water is running, there is something special in knowing that no matter what the day holds that it must eventually come to an end. Whether you’ve spent the day in total bliss celebrating someone you love, or an easy day doing all of the little things that bring you joy. Or maybe it was a day that wasn’t all that bright. How you spend your evenings not only serves as another opportunity to infuse joy in your day, but it also helps the future you of tomorrow. So, your day may start intentionally and unrushed.
It's not always about the things that we do, but more so how we do them. Hugging a friend who just needed a warm embrace or showing up each day with gratitude. Much like how we do any activity, habit or routine, it begins with intention.
This post is a gentle guide to creating a ritual that draws enchantment out to the very last second where your head hits the pillow and you drift off to sleep, and how this carefully thought-out night routine will help you to rise with just as much peace. Making slow living the only way of living in such a hurried world.
The Importance of A Good Night Routine
Living slowly and elegantly is about cherishing and creating luxury in the small things. Like an evening journal session by candlelight or ironing your bedding after a fresh wash. It’s creating habits that turn into routines, and then rituals, until soft intentionality becomes your rhythm. The soft notes of an enchanting soundtrack to a movie that is your life.
Starting with a thoughtfully curated night routine is a simple and achievable way to add romance to your every day. Everyone must eat, sleep, and bathe, but what makes the difference is how. And that’s where we’ll start.
An elegant night routine that makes tomorrow easier needs three layers:
1. Offer a gentle close to the chapter of your day
2. Carve out moments to reflect and honor yourself with elegant rituals
3. Prepare for tomorrow so that starting your day slowly is inevitable
3- Step Guide to An Elegant Night Routine
The Gentle Close
This is where you separate yourself from any and everything of the outside world. Making a declaration that your space is to cultivate peace and rest. Leaving grocery store runs, and post office errands at the front door. Whether it’s grocery shopping, a dry-cleaning errand, a seemingly endless task of Amazon returns. This small step creates an opportunity for you to turn off the setting of being where you must and doing what you must to rest. Not shutting yourself off from the world but recognizing that there can only be so much done in a day. You’ve done what you can of today, and your reset will help you to prepare to tackle what’s left tomorrow.
The Reset
The reset is where little actions add up to prevent you from sacrificing both time today and energy tomorrow.
1. Curate your outfit for the following day. Take a minute to check the weather forecast and choose your outfit. Setting out your outfit the night before helps you to intentionally dress as you want to show up for the day, not influenced by tiredness or the pressure of not having enough time to be thoughtful in your decision.
2. Pack your lunch for the next day and place the entire lunchbox in your fridge. Set out any dry snacks on the counter near the fridge. If you make coffee at home, drop a pod in the night before and make sure the water is filled, and your mug of choice is ready!
3. Any errands, tasks, or important events that were left from the day or are on your calendar for the next, take this time to write them down and schedule them into your day tomorrow.
4. Tidy up. This doesn’t have to be a deep clean just a small tidying after dinner, so your space is cozy and clean for the next day.
5. Set your alarm for the next day.
The Ritual
This ritual is where you take moments to honor yourself. After a day of pouring into others, this ritual is solely to fill your cup. Nothing is too small, or insignificant if it brings peace and joy.
You don’t have to use this exact ritual, understanding everyone’s priorities, and evenings look a bit different, but try it out and feel free to make changes to make it your own.
1. Whether you eat dinner at your dining room table, or kitchen island, make this your first moment to yourself. Make it device-free. If you’d like some form of entertainment, have a book close by that you can dive into while you eat.
2. Find a calming romantic playlist on YouTube (classical, Piero Piccioni, Balletcore, and French Jazz are some of my favorite)
3. Light a candle or two, or three! One in the bathroom, and one in your bedroom. So, like the music that floats through your speakers you’re surrounded by candlelight as you float through your routine.
4. Run your bathwater as you’re going through your skincare routine. Simple habit stacking like this helps you to have more time to your evening without sacrificing the luxury of taking your time.
5. Pick out your pajamas for the evening. From the set, to the socks, to the fragrance and lay them out on your bed almost as if they’re waiting for you. A gentle invitation of sorts.
6. After your bath, you’re moisturized and clad in your favorite silk pajamas nestled in your bed, it’s time to reflect and rest. Whether it’s journaling, spending time with Jesus, or meditating. Inviting rest even before you sleep.
Tips:
- This simple thing has been an absolute game changer for me and just screams elegant living! Getting a small TV with no internet, Wi-Fi, or cable – just a DVD player and settling it into a cozy corner on my kitchen counter. Eliminating the decision fatigue of thousands of movies and shows, on a dozen different streaming platform. Instead, just a small collection of some of nostalgic favorites to pop in while you cook or tidy up. This immediately elevates mundane chores and fills them with warmth and comfort.
- Try to limit screen time to 1-2 hours before bed. If you are going to scroll, you can create a little time during your bath or even after your reset. The more time you allow between screentime and your sleep, the better sleep you will get.
- If you don’t have a designated alarm clock. The health app on your phone helps to see what time you should go to bed depending on when you plan to wake up again making sure you aren't sacrificing quality sleep.
You don’t have to start everything all at once. The goal is to cultivate peace, not overwhelm. Start with implementing two of these steps into your evening routine and see how it makes you feel. Days can sometimes be hectic, and busy. The notion of “not having enough time” can feel like a crushing burden. If you have been feeling like that lately, then this is the perfect reason, and the perfect season to make time. We can’t pour from an empty cup. Going out into the world and pouring into everything and everyone else to have nothing left for ourselves is the reason prioritizing slow living is so important.
You deserve softness, and to live a rich life. The best way to honor and cherish ourselves is to make time to do just that in things like our morning routine, skincare routine, daily habits, and rituals. So light the candle, pour your favorite tea, and become the woman you dream of being by cherishing her now.
