Most of us are probably pretty bad at sleep to begin with. At the least, do yourself a favor and start a “shutdown ritual” so your brain knows it’s time to relax.


As tips site Barking Up the Wrong Tree explains, your brain needs an adjustment period to get out of work mode. Otherwise you’ll keep going and going until you just pass out in bed. By establishing a shutdown ritual, you can wind down the activities of the day and let your brain know it’s time to get into a different mode:

Workday is over. But your mind is still going and going and going. You gotta get your brain out of “work mode” to relax. A simple ritual can help. Have a consistent little routine that let’s your overactive brain know “we’re done.” Research shows writing down what you need to do the next day relieves anxiety and helps you enjoy your evening.


Ideally, your ritual will involve wrapping up the tasks you haven’t finished and planning for the next day’s events. Once you’ve gotten everything handled, you can relax without worrying. However, your ritual should fit you. So whatever helps you chill out at the end of the day, just be sure to do it consistently. Over time, your brain will get with the program.

The 7 Step Evening Ritual That Will Make You Happy | Barking Up the Wrong Tree