What do you do before going to bed? Do you have a late night snack? Do you talk to your family members? Do you watch your favorite show? Do you worry about the next day?
Did you know that all your activities before bedtime play an important role in how you feel when you wake up the next day?
Your mental, physical, and emotional performances are affected by the last thing you do before bedtime and by the quality of sleep. Successful people make sure that their physical and mental health are taken care of to achieve more success. Here’s a list of what successful people do right before their bedtime.
10 Things Successful People Do Right Before Bed
1. They Read Books
Most successful people are avid readers and they do spend some time reading books before bed. These don’t have to be related to business or the economy. They read what relaxes them; it could be a book of any genre, a magazine, or even a comic book.
They believe that reading increases their creativity and passion in life. Joseph Addison has rightly said, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
2. They Disconnect From Work
Successful individuals make sure that they complete their work within the time they set for it. They make sure not to take work back home, even if they do it will not be continued for long hours. It is important to not associate your bed with work, otherwise, it will not be a place where you can relax.
Successful people try not to obsessively check their emails or dwell on work-related issues before bedtime. Most of us use our smartphones or iPads during the hour before bed. The use of technology before bedtime has proven to affect sleep quality and also causes disturbances in sleep.1
3. They Unplug Completely
Successful people make sure they are disconnected from the work world. However, this does not mean that they turn to social media or games on their cell phones before bedtime.
Studies show that exposure to cell phone screens or laptop screens before bedtime affect sleep quality. Using cell phones or laptops for gaming, surfing, or texting is associated with insomnia and disturbed sleep.2
Therefore, it is important to completely switch off your cell phones and shut down your laptops if you want to have good quality sleep.
4. They Value Family Time
Successful people make sure they spend quality time with their family and friends. It is important to balance your professional and personal life. Success is not only business; success is also when you have your loved ones by your side to share your achievements.
Having breakfast together, spending time with family members after work, or going to bed and talking about your day is a good way to spend time with family. Time spent with family cannot be replaced.
5. They Make A To-Do list
Clearing the mind before sleep is essential for successful people. They try to clear their mind by making a list of things they need to attend to the following day.
Writing your to-do list clears the mind of unwanted thoughts. In addition, if you happen to forget something the next day, you can always refer to your list. If it helps, sometimes crossing out the items on your list can give you a sense of relief and can also be considered a mark of completing a particular task.
Clearing your mind of unnecessary thoughts is important before bedtime.
6. They Write Down Their Accomplishments
Successful individuals make it a habit of writing down what they accomplish during the day. This could be something as simple as completing the tasks for the day or being present at a family gathering.
If you have reached your daily goals that you had set in mind, that also forms part of your accomplishments. Writing them down will make you feel happy.
It is also important to appreciate what you have to feel you have accomplished something during the day. If you are not grateful, you will end up feeling stressed and the feeling of “not enough” will haunt you even before sleep.
7. They Decompress Through Meditation
Meditation is good for both mental and physical health. Meditation helps you to stay focused and is also a good way to pump your energy levels. It helps you feel relaxed after a long day at work.
Try practicing meditation before your bedtime as it slows down your pulse, drops your blood pressure levels, and decreases the stress hormones. You can start with just five to ten minutes of meditation and then increase it slowly for better results.
8. They Get Enough Sleep
Most successful people stick to a routine. This also includes planning out their bedtime. They plan out their sleep and go to bed at the same time every night. This is one healthy habit you can follow for a good night’s sleep.
An adult requires at least a minimum of eight hours of sleep.3
9. They Follow A Bedtime Ritual
Following a bedtime ritual prepares your brain for sleep. Doing this every night will trick your brain to prepare your body for bedtime. These rituals can be brushing your teeth, washing your face, saying prayers, or even reading for a while.
Make sure that the routine you make does not involve stressful activities. Following activities that do not involve bright lights separates your sleep time from activities that can cause excitement, stress, or anxiety.4
10. They Avoid Alcohol
It may be true that alcohol makes you feel drowsy. However, it has negative effects on sleep quality. Alcohol, being a diuretic, can also make you visit the bathroom frequently, resulting in disturbed sleep.
Alcohol only keeps the people in the lighter stages of sleep, which means that they can be easily awakened and prevents them from falling into the deeper, restorative stages of sleep. Most successful people limit or avoid their alcohol consumption.
Now that you know the good habits of successful individuals, try adding them to your life.
References