One of the secrets to a peaceful, stress-free, healthy, and productive life is a healthy nighttime routine. As breakfast is the most important meal of the day, your nighttime is the most important part of the day. The reason being – it’s the time your body sleeps and relaxes, to boost itself for the next day. What you do every night before bed could mean the difference between a good night’s sleep and not.
So, if you want to make your next day healthier and productive, you have to follow a nighttime routine to reap all the benefits. Here are all the things you need to do.
10 things you need to do every night before bed
1. Read a few pages
Want to relax and unwind? Reading is a great way to relax your mind and body. Not to forget, reading comes packed with benefits – for starters, you acquire knowledge, develop analytical, comprehensive, and critical skills. The list can go on but the point remains the same – reading is the best thing you can do for yourself.
While you are at it, do not finish the entire book in one night. You cannot compromise your sleep even when you are hooked to the book. Additionally, make sure you don’t read digital books, but paper books as they would be much healthier for your eyes.
2. Keep gadgets away
We have been told for ages that long and continuous exposure to gadgets is not good for the eyes and brain. They are not good for your sleep either as the blue light from the screen can strain your eyes and affect your sleep quality.
So, make sure you keep gadgets away at least an hour before you sleep.
3. Turn on the diffuser
Want to have a calm and peaceful sleep? Diffusers are the answer. They have been a rage in recent years for the right reason – Essential oils in diffusers produce an aroma that can leave you enchanted and de-stressed in no time. Ergo – plug them in before you sleep. We use them in the girls’ room to help them wind down and actually get sleep right away instead of tossing and turning and not getting sleep. My favorite oil for them is Lavender because their problems are minimal compared to us adults, so Lavender is generally great for them. If you want to use doTERRA like we do, you can grab yours here. I use the Serenity Blend for Steve and I to help relax our minds and help us settle the problems we might be trying to get away from during the day.
However, if you are worried about electricity consumption – be assured that diffusers typically use little electricity. If you still would want a different alternative, you can go for room fresheners and tea-light diffusers. (If you choose the latter, make sure the tea-light is away from anything combustible – including curtains, sheets, and wooden surfaces.)
4. Prepare for the next day
Have a bag to set? Clothes to select and prepare? Vegetables to cut? Refill and refrigerate the bottle? Do them the night before if you want to spare yourself the morning rush. If you have kids to get ready, knowing what to make for breakfast and also how you will get them to school is important to plan so you leave on time.
5. Stay away from caffeine
Addicted to coffee? We all have been there and we all love it unconditionally. However, as much as you can’t keep yourself away from coffee before you sleep – you have to if you don’t want to stay awake like a night-owl. Having said that, ban all caffeinated products, including green tea as it contains trace amounts of caffeine.
6. Plan the next day
Have lots of tasks to do tomorrow? Plan your day ahead. Prepare a to-do list and a schedule to stay motivated and productive the entire day.
7. Do Breathing exercises
Do you know why Yoga and meditation are life-changing? Because they include breathing exercises. Ergo, if you cannot indulge in meditation at night, do a five-minute breathing exercise before you go to sleep – Not only will it relax your body and mind but will also improve your body functions through an increased supply of oxygen.
8. Stretching
Stretching in the morning certainly has its own benefits, but stretching before you sleep is no less beneficial for your body and sleep. Stretching can increase blood circulation, relieve muscle tensions, and can even make you feel more relaxed.
However, ensure that you do not indulge in workout-like stretches – be gentle, you don’t need to get your body alarmed – you have to relax it.
Bear hugs, Knee-to-chest, Spinal twists, Child’s Pose, Butterfly stretch are some of the ones you can try for a good night’s sleep. If you need a better routine and want to do yoga classes, or even foam rolling, I love my Peloton app for that exact thing. Use this link to get 60 days for free!
9. Remove make up- Do some skincare
Your skin goes through a lot during the daytime – the stress, pollution, dust and dirt, whatnot. The least you can do is take care of it at the end of the day. For starters, remove your make-up, apply a face pack, and moisturize your skin. Aka give your skin the care it deserves.
10. Lastly, some tips to improve sleep quality
Make it a rule to sleep at least 8 hours a day. Go to bed early if necessary to achieve that goal, or sleep late if you are more of a night owl. Here are some additional tips that can help you have that sound and deep sleep you wish all night.
Sleep in total darkness – Close the curtains
Make sure your bed is cozy.
The room is cool.
Sleep with an eye mask. – Our favorite one here which Steve uses nightly and I use when we travel.
Play calm noises in the background.
Refrain from midnight snacking.
Exercise during the day.
Have a few more tips to share? Feel free to enlighten all of us in the comment section. You are most welcome there.
At the end of the day, we desire a financial standing. But for those of us with limited income, it’s extremely difficult. So, what do we do? We begin saving a little. We skip buying a bit costly yet nutritious groceries, turn off the ACs and sweat, go walking or biking long distances, and buy cheaper bread. But the thing is, you are doing nothing but torturing yourself by making drastic changes, and on top of it you are not even saving significantly.
I say, change your approach. In fact, money-saving does not necessarily involve drastically changing lifestyles. However, you have to be slow and steady and make small changes to collectively make big changes in the end.
If you don’t know where to start, here are some tips.
How to live frugally in 2021
50 simple frugal living tips that work
Make shopping lists. Make sure you stick with them and do not go buying something that is not on the list.
Look for cheaper brands for every product you use. (Collectively it will make difference)
Is it cool outside? Great, open your windows, turn off your AC to save on electricity.
Use coupons and schemes that help you save more.
Pack your lunch, don’t eat out.
Opt for homemade meals even on weekends.
Draw yourself a budget and operate on that.
Buy in bulk if you find money-saving deals.
Look for second-hand products.
Walk short distances, or cycle your way there. But do not take cars for short distances.
Plant your own vegetable garden.
Create a zero-waste week (Save the environment while saving money)
Always check on Amazon before you go buy something at an offline store. In fact, you can get things at a very low price on Amazon.
Do not buy bottled water. Take your own water bottle and fill it wherever you can. My go to is my Hydro flask – durable and also keeps the liquid nice and cold!
Go for homemade cookies, jams, and bread.
Set no-shopping months to control your expenses and shopping instincts.
Do not do window shopping, even on shopping apps. If you have to pass your time, read some books instead.
Borrow and wear. Have a party to attend this Saturday? Cool, instead of buying a new dress. Consider borrowing it from a friend. Another way to get new outfits each month is to use a service like Fashion Pass. In fact, they are my favorite for borrowing outfits and returning unlimited each month! Use my code AJ4W to also save on your order!
Differentiate between what you want and what you need. Buying what you need, would help you save money.
Invest in energy-efficient appliances to save your bills.
Downsize and then shift to a smaller house that fits your family. (When you can save on rent, don’t think twice)
Be self-reliant. Have a tap to fix? A bulb to change? Don’t hire help, learn these basic skills.
Cut the cable, instead invest in subscriptions.
Go for handmade gifts. They save money and express your feelings best. In fact, our favorite way to do birthday cards is have the girls make them for people.
Look for free community classes. The local library usually has great resources!
Opt for automated saving.
Create an emergency reserve to practice risk management right at home.
Invest your extra money in equity. We’ve done well with stocks and real estate! But it does take a little time to learn and perfect. But once you get it, it’s so helpful!
Go side-hustling to make additional income.
Sell your clutter for cash.
Invite your friends for get-togethers instead of going out for lavish dinners.
Cut your gym membership and then invest your energy in equally effective home workouts.
Program your thermostats optimally. Our favorite ones to use and program are the Google Nest theromostats. We also use them in our own home as well as our short term rentals!
Stop using your credit cards.
Buy second-hand goods.
Opt for line drying your clothes, it saves electricity.
Make use of local libraries.
Lend books instead of buying new ones, this helps you also cut down on the clutter in your home.
Avoid wastage of resources to cut out on your electricity bills.
Use online wallet services to get cashback, discounts, and offers.
Family outings? Visit places that don’t cost a thing. For instance, a picnic near the lake, or even camping.
Embrace minimalism.
Consume leftovers if they are not stale.
Always bargain.
Get a free hobby.
Go for e-newspapers
Do thorough research before buying anything.
Go for DIY tricks.
Recycle and Reuse.
Go for homemade remedies.
That’s all from my side. So I hope these tips help you to live frugally. Start today, and then save for a better future.
Hey there! How do you save money? Have some tips that you want to share? Then feel free to drop them in the comments below.
If you’re a blogger or a business owner, you would want to scale your business and bring in more traffic. In order to do so, you need to upgrade your marketing strategy so as to keep getting readers and customers.
The best option to grow your readers is through Pinterest marketing. Pinterest is more of a visual search engine, unlike other social media channels. However, last year, Pinterest came out with lots of new changes which frustrated the bloggers, especially the small niche ones. Thus, it’s so very crucial to have a proper strategy for Pinterest marketing in order to beat all the upcoming algorithm changes.
The 10 min Pinterest strategy for 2021
Here’s a 10 min Pinterest marketing strategy that will skyrocket your traffic in 2021:
Redo your Pinterest account
If you already have your business account on Pinterest, it’s time to update it according to the new changes. Pinterest clearly stated that they would be preferring more relevant content from creators so be mindful of what you’re posting on your boards.
If you have your personal boards for inspiration, make sure that you are hiding them all. You surely don’t want to distract your ideal user with some cute quote pins or mood boards.
Claim your site, enable rich pins, redo your description so as to reach the maximum audience. It’s essential to keep updating your Pinterest profile timely.
Create fresh pins
Pinterest also made it clear that they will be preferring fresh pins over the re-pins. So the creators all over the world are focusing on creating multiple pins for the same content. Also, make sure that your pins are highly engaging, attractive, and have a call to action. Having a CTA to the pin makes it easier for the readers to take some targeted action.
More video and story pins
Being a visual platform, Pinterest also announced that they will be pushing video and story pins more in 2021. Moreover, the story pins enable the users to check your profile towards the end of the slide. This will increase your views and saves.
It indeed takes more time to create a story and video pin than creating static ones but it’s all so worth it in the end.
Choose the right keywords
Pinterest SEO is super important in order to gain targeted traffic. Use the keywords that are relevant to your niche at various places such as pin title, pin description, board title, board description, and main profile details.
Make a list of all the words that your potential reader and customer will be looking for. Know their pain points and craft the content accordingly.
Having the right keywords will help you gain more readers for your site and you can leverage Pinterest’s power of redirecting the traffic.
Check your analytics
Checking your analytics matters the most because it gives you a clear idea of what your user or readers are searching for.
Your analytics will give you a clear idea of what you should be posting more and the best time as well.
Learn to study your Pinterest analytics and focus more on saves and clicks. It’s so easy to get impressed by the monthly views but keep in mind that it’s just a vanity number. What matters the most is having more clicks and this comes with consistency.
Conclusion
In the end, Pinterest can be the powerhouse of generating more traffic and helping your business to grow wide. However, it indeed requires some tactics and patience to grow your Pinterest account.
I hope that you put the above points into practice and be consistent with your Pinterest marketing, I’m sure; you will totally gain the desired results.
Also, do let me know which strategy helped you the most this year.
As a millennial who grew up super poor, the fall of 2008 and into 2009 was something I don’t really remember. I was still a poor college kid, trying to figure things out. I don’t remember the crash for different reasons.
For me, 2008 was the year that my dad burn 11% of his body with me finding him and helping put out the fire in January. At the end of June, my first nephew and the one who still influences my parenting, drown in a swimming pool. My dad was still recovering from his burns and his 48 day hospital stay. I barely went back to work as a server.
I don’t really remember the restaurant industry slowing down either. I’m sure it did, but my mind was so hectic and crazy that it was the last thing I could think about. I sort of remember when the market started to recover a few years ago, and now know for sure the last 2 years it for sure was good.
2020 Economy
So now, with the whole virus thing and places being closed and people potentially losing their jobs, I will remember this. Not only as a business owner, but as a Wife, Mom, newly homeschooling teacher, and consumer. Mostly, I will remember the fear and uncertainty everyone is having over the whole situation.
On one hand, I’ve got my husband who’s a business owner and employer who’s nervous about having a business to return to once this is over but also knowing that money needs to be made to continue operating and keeping people employed but on the other the health and safety is such a concern.
Another hand is my business is based on helping people and sharing products, experiences, and opportunities for people to also enjoy in their own lives. One of those businesses includes a few AirBnB properties that have basically become their own ghost towns due to the reduction in travel.
As a Mom with younger children who don’t quite understand the whole situation of what’s going on and then adding in homeschooling unexpectedly, I can only imagine what parents were saying in 2008 when life went hectic. It’s clear to me where our priorities have been the last few years as parents when the girls ask why we can’t go to Target or to get another new toy.
Lastly, as a consumer, I want to shop because that’s how I handle stress.
I also like to support small businesses, and empathize with those businesses who literally don’t know if their doors will be open tomorrow. I realize not everyone is like this, and I feel like now is when the pyramid schemes and sleazy sales tactics come out that just feel icky to me. I’ve been holding back on sharing with my audience things I’ve purchased and continue to purchase because I know if I have those feelings, I know others are thinking and feeling the same thing.
It’s super clear the sleaziness is coming out more and more each time I check my inbox when I find these random emails from people whom I’ve not interacted with in YEARS trying to sell me stuff.
Immediate unsubscribe.
So yes, I’m a bit scared and confused as this is similar to 2008 but also different because we have a huge pandemic throwing a wrench into the workforce and economy. I hope for everyone on this planet that it ends soon, but also realistically know that’s probably not going to happen. Going forward, I will continue to consume and shop and live life as best as I can as normally as we can to help leave a positive experience for our girls during this time. We will modify and not go out to dinner as much or purchase things mindlessly or take things for granted. We will clear and keep the clutter clear because spending time in social distancing will help with ensuring once this is over, we will enjoy staying at home versus not.
I hope this is helpful for other millennials in a similar situation and those who may be reading this that have little to no idea what I’m talking about. Just know, everything comes in cycles and this too shall pass.
And someday, we will look back on this and hopefully learn from the things we went through during these times. I have for sure left things behind that no longer serve me, and learned a WHOLE LOT about myself, my girls, my husband. We’ve made deeper relationships, and connected on different levels than when we were rushing around all the time. Hopefully you have done some deep diving and learned some things about yourself and not just focused on the negative.
As always, I’m here if you need to chat, or a shoulder to lean on. Send me a DM on Instagram.
benefits – for starters, you acquire knowledge, develop analytical, comprehensive, and critical skills. The list can go on but the point remains the same – reading is the best thing you can do for yourself.
reason – Essential oils in diffusers produce an aroma that can leave you enchanted and de-stressed in no time. Ergo – plug them in before you sleep. We use them in the girls’ room to help them wind down and actually get sleep right away instead of tossing and turning and not getting sleep. My favorite oil for them is Lavender because their problems are minimal compared to us adults, so Lavender is generally great for them. If you want to use doTERRA like we do, you can grab yours here. I use the Serenity Blend for Steve and I to help relax our minds and help us settle the problems we might be trying to get away from during the day. 
indulge in meditation at night, do a five-minute breathing exercise before you go to sleep – Not only will it relax your body and mind but will also improve your body functions through an increased supply of oxygen.
have to be slow and steady and make small changes to collectively make big changes in the end. 
Pinterest clearly stated that they would be preferring more relevant content from creators so be mindful of what you’re posting on your boards.
niche at various places such as pin title, pin description, board title, board description, and main profile details.
However, it indeed requires some tactics and patience to grow your Pinterest account.
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