Everyone already knows perfectly well that a good sleep, on which mental and physical health directly depends, is the key to successful work and life in general. But what you do before you go to bed and fall into oblivion can also make you much more productive when you wake up.
Seemingly small things like a hot bath or making a to-do list can determine how the day will turn out for you. Therefore, we have selected ten-night rituals that successful people perform right before bed.
Bedtime Rituals Of Successful People
You can also learn from the mentioned list of nightly rituals of successful people to become more productive.
1. Reading A Book
Many experts agree that reading is what influential and successful people most often do before bed. For example, Barack Obama and Bill Gates read at least half an hour before going to bed. There are many successful people who make time for reading before bed.
Thus, this process for them is an integral part of the schedule, which is not even negotiable. It doesn’t have to be fiction or non-fiction. You can also spend time browsing information from any other source. The main thing is to learn something new, increase creativity and thereby maintain an interest in life.
2. Disconnecting Devices
The burning screen of your smartphone mimics sunlight, which signals the brain to stop making melatonin. It is an important hormone that regulates circadian rhythm and tells our bodies when to sleep and wake up.
Thus, it can lead not only to sleep disturbance but also to vision problems, depression, and other serious illnesses. Set aside a certain amount of time to check your email and social media, then turn off your device and get ready for bed.
3. Going For An Evening Walk
While it is widely believed that late exercise can interfere with restful sleep, researchers at the US National Sleep Foundation have found that exercising, even right before bed, can help you sleep better.
Return to regular walks; it is scientifically proven that leisurely walking can reduce anxiety and stress levels. This is why many successful people go for an evening walk to keep their health in check.
4. Ditching Glass Of Wine
While writing her bestselling book, Prosper, Arianna Huffington turned to sleep specialists for advice on how to get better sleep. Her favorite is to avoid alcohol before bed. A glass of red wine will certainly help you fall asleep quickly.
But the National Institutes of Health believes that alcohol can negatively affect sleep quality. The researchers found that alcohol prevents people from falling into deeper, restorative sleep by keeping them in mild stages and waking up to any rustle.
If you also struggle to fall asleep at night due to your habit of alcoholism, chances are you won’t be active during the day. It is going to affect your success in the longer run. Thus contact alcohol and drug abuse hotline numbers to get help for your addiction problem.
5. Forgetting About Work
According to Michael Kerr, an international business speaker, successful people avoid thinking about work before they do to bed. They check e-mail, of course, but try not to concentrate on issues related to working life in one way or another.
Studies have also shown that if you continue to work or even think about it while lying in bed, it will be much more difficult for you to relax. Thus, it is very important that your bed remains what it was originally intended for. You need to distance yourself from work immediately upon coming home.
Allow your mind to recharge and do what you love to be energized the next day. Looping at work will only decrease your productivity, causing stress and increasing irritability. By taking a complete break from this home, you will truly relax and feel refreshed, and motivated to take on new tasks the next morning.
6. Making A To-Do List
By making a to-do list ahead of time, Michael Kerr says many successful people ensure that they get good sleep. You just spend a little time in the evening to fix tasks that should not be left without attention – and these thoughts no longer bother you at night.
For example, Kenneth Chenot, the ex-CEO of American Express, writes down three things every night that he wants to do the next day.
7. Spending Time With Family
We don’t think we need to prove once again that spending time with your family is very important. Laura Vanderkam, a writer, author, and speaker, claims that this is a fairly common practice among many successful people, despite their busy schedules.
Of course, you may not have time to go to bed at the same time as your partner or meet the children after school. But at least they try to take time to talk with them and share their impressions of the day with their partners.
8. Meditating Before Bed
Many successful people actually meditate for 10 minutes or more before bed. This helps them relax their whole body and put their thoughts in order. Some famous people include Jeff Weiner, executive chairman of LinkedIn, and Bob Stiller, the founder of Green Mountain Coffee.
9. Maintaining Personal Hygiene
Researchers at the National Sleep Foundation (USA) recommend creating a specific hygiene ritual that will signal your brain that you are getting ready for sleep. This may include brushing your teeth, washing your face, brushing your hair, etc. For example, Stephen King’s nighttime ritual involved washing hands and placing pillows in a specific order.
10. Relieving Stress
The most successful people always find ways to relax before bed. This allows them to relieve stress, fall asleep faster, sleep harder to wake up full of energy, and be ready for the new day. You can also do the similar to relax yourself. Think about different ways that can relax you? It may be a hot bath or listening to soothing music. Choose something of your choice.
We mentioned the nightly ritual of most successful people; you can also incorporate a few of these habits in your life to have a productive, successful, and active life.
