Night time rituals

[Rumze]

Contrary to popular belief , I dont really drink before bed.
Yes I know that doesnt make it any better.

BUT my night time rituals have helped sleep comfortably and happily for the last 9 years. I drink warm milk , I have one sweet thing - usually a muffin heated up.
While the milk and muffin are heating, I remake the bed . I tend to just dress it up in the morning and thats always my side but for sleeping the sheets need to be tucked in and pillows fluffed and blanket on neatly!
I put on my jammies and then while drinking my warm milk , I watch two funny shows. Now it normally varies depending on whats on tv.
It can be as simple as a fraiser rerun . Or Mike and molly or Happy Endings etc etc current tv funnies.
But alas its summer so I quite happily watch my old dvds and currently its 3rd from the Sun and Malcolm in the Middle. Its quite fascinating to watch the kids grow up in that show but anyway if I seem extra ditzy/peppy its because Im watching happiness before bed.
Brush my teeth and put cold water on the bedtable for waking up thirsty.
And then finally I drift off the noise of my white noise rain making app that slowly fades over 30 min.

Its when I dont do this that i have incredible difficulty sleeping

What do you do to get ready for bed? What are some of your rituals?
Do you watch news, do you tuck yourself in an hour before bed to read while sports recaps are on ? Green tea or no caffeine after 8 rule etc

[Cyrian]

What an odd thread, I feel inspired.   I have no solid ritual, the bed is made when I wake up and when I get tired I fall asleep in it, other then that my days are usually made up of as much random crap as I can manage to cram into it.  I guess I'll have to wait and see if this makes me way too chaotic or odd...

[Talon]

A curious topic indeed.

I set my phone to silent, check all the doors are locked, turn off all the lights and then the last thing I do before bed is brush my teeth and stretch. I also try not to drink much after 8pm.

My bed is rarely made (I am a confirmed bachelor) but I straighten the sheets and covers as I get in.

That's about it, really. Oh, then I usually lie there for about 40 minutes waiting to fall asleep. My mind is very active and needs time to wind down. I have been told this is not healthy.

[Mixxi]

Wow, Rumze. Your bedtime ritual is more organized than most of my work time. I just tend to wander upstairs and fall into bed. My bed used to tend to accumulate books (years as a book editor made the printed page my security blanket), but now my iPad and the library it contains is suspended over my bed on one of these http://www.amazon.com/iPad-Floor-Stand-SwingHolder-Compatible/dp/B005QSXVF2%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquid1502671-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB005QSXVF2.

The only real ritual I have is to kiss my husband goodnight. Even on the rare occasions that we fight, we always have that last kiss of the day. Perhaps that's why we'll be marking 29 years of marriage this year.

[Alirrin]

I generally declare it "time for the bedtime rituals" between 10 and 10:30, as much to alert my wife to what time it is as for myself.  I then go adjust the blankets (pull the corners down slightly to make entry easier, put a small towel over my pillow, make sure the extra blanket is in reach for my wife in the middle of the night), adjust the window (from fully open to just cracked) and close the blinds, then head to the bathroom.  Evening asthma/allergy medication, brush teeth. Then lie down and read on my iPad until my wife arrives. (I don't sleep well alone, so I have stopped trying. Yes, this makes solo travelling a bitch.)

The only real ritual I have is to kiss my husband goodnight. Even on the rare occasions that we fight, we always have that last kiss of the day. Perhaps that's why we'll be marking 29 years of marriage this year.

That's awesome, Mixxi.  My wife and I will celebrate 23 ourselves this fall.

[Rumze]

We have kinda that rule to. Whatever happens during the day, dont go to bed mad at each other.

Its a great rule and I can see that its a rule that has worked incredibly well ! 29 and 23 years of marriage.  Thats awesome!

[Askari]

Hmm, maybe I should institute a rule that I never go to bed mad at myself...

[Mixxi]

Oh, we go to bed mad at each other. We just kiss each other, too. Mad kiss. I think it's an artform that anyone in a long-term relationship has practiced at one time or another. 

[Rumze]

The mad peck - im kissing because I should but dont think im not mad at you anymore .

[Lyrima]

Hm to the angry kiss.  Somehow I don't think that's why you've celebrated so many years together

Night time rituals:

Many evenings, I play tetris right before bed.  I'm really good then.  It's odd.  Even if I don't play tetris, I do cruise my websites: FB, here and one other spot.  A goodnight check in.

Head upstairs to wash up.  I wash my face and apply the unguents, ointments and creams to my face and neck. Floss and brush my teeth.  Sometimes, especially during the summer, I must wash my feet.  Something about going to bed with dirty feet (from wearing sandals or going bare foot) makes it hard to sleep.  I can't wear socks in bed either

The bed is usually a catastrophe.  I must make it before sleeping.  This entails re-tucking in the bottom sheet around the corners and the top sheet at the base of the bed.  Then the blanket is straightened so that it is centered on the bed. 

Often, even during summer, I'll use the heating pad to warm my spot up in the bed.  As it warms, I'll read a book.  I always, always ALWAYS read a novel before bed.  If I don't, I'll have terrible nightmares.  Just the way it is.   I often fall asleep holding the book within 5 or 10 minutes.  Wake slightly, put it on the nightstand, roll over facing Blaek's side of the bed and go right to sleep.

I have to face his side of the bed because when he comes to bed, he holds me and he likes to face my side of the bed.  I've found that I must get some sleeping time in on my left side before he arrives.  Once he's in bed, we're cuddled together and facing to the right for the rest of the night.

Great thread! Really interesting to read what others do.

[PinkRose]

I don't have a routine. I'm online or I'm watching TV and then it's time for bed.
I brush my teeth and go to bed. I usually face my wife's side of the bed, then just before falling asleep roll over to face my side. I sleep a good 7 hours most nights.