To ask what excites you about going to bed?

[Nancylancy]

I'm an extremely tired mum of 2 and I must hate going to bed as I'm always up late! I'm sabotaging my mornings and it needs to stop, so I want to replace Netflix and doom scrolling with something equally as enticing and enjoyable that I can do, but to help wind me down before bed - ideally in bed or in the bedroom to encourage me to go to sleep earlier.

Wise mumsnetters please help me!
What is your very enjoyable bedtime routine?
Do you do any wind down activities you love?

And also... What is a great bedtime purchase?
I'm thinking along the lines of:
-Fancy aromatherapy stuff
-A cool bedtime app (not meditation or "calm") that isn't so addictive I can't turn it off
-Mood lighting
-Low effort hobbies (I do like crosswords and codewords etc)
-Any tech I can get excited about like some kind of smart thing that tells me my bedtime routine or something?
-podcast or audiobook recommendations
-Sleep headband / headphones recommendations

I don't read books (I have loads of half-started attempts, I'm an audiobook convert now) and I just can't get on board with mindfulness type stuff - my attention span is way too short and I get bored and fidgety!
I enjoy crochet, colouring and crafts, but often it's just too much effort for the evenings.

I know, I'm so easy to please 😂
Posted here for traffic, it's not really an AIBU but clearly it's urgent because it's nearly midnight and I am reliant upon the wonderful Mumsnet to tell me how to settle down now 😂

The first thing I did after my divorce was to give my bedroom a makeover.

My dc are older now, so this might make a difference.

All of my bedding is white. And I bought the best quality I could afford for the sheets and duvet cover.
And I have a (white) silk pillowcase.
I make my bed every morning.

No dogs or animals are allowed on the bed.

I bought new curtains and lamp that match in a calm colour, and put a low light bulb in the lamp.

I absolutely adore my bedroom, it is my calm and serene space.

I don't really need anything else to get me into calm bedtime mode, as my room is just a calm space anyway.

This is a definite benefit of being single. Never in a million years would I attempt white bedding when I had a husband. Sorry fellas, but all this sweat and pillow dribbles are not conducive to the perfect white bed.

Best thing is reading my book in peace after a busy day.

Op Im so sorry to hear about your husband and your beloved dog passing away . I can’t imagine ever going to bed with out my dog . I literally can’t sleep with out him

Can you give me some eye mask tips.

When I bought my silk pillowcase, I received one as a GWP. So its silk as well.

I cannot sleep with it on. Do I just need to get used to it perhaps?

I find the elastic around the back annoys me, and I can feel it when I lie on it. And when I did try it, either it was on my head when I woke up lol, or I had chucked it off in the night and I found it on the other side of the bed.

I tried it as my clock does radiate a soft light, it doesn't bother me too much, but I thought it would block that light out.

And my silk pillowcase does help my hair not get all dramatic, but with the mask on it was VERY dramatic in the morning.

I could have written this! For me, the earlier the kids go to bed the more helpful, as I need to feel I have had my own downtime. I also started a book this week and I’m going to try no screen time and reading before bed.

I’ve been going to bed at like 1am and then up at 6.30 so I really need to change something! I feel like I’m going to fall apart if I carry on 😢

You don’t want it to be exciting, you need it to be enticing! Turn the heating right down and turn on an electric blanket in bed. You’ll WANT to go to bed to warm up 🤣

Podcasts! The Rest Is History is good.

I just buy the really cheapo ones! We're talking like £5 for 20 sort of range. Amazon or Temu.

I actually find them preferable to the more expensive ones, but the expensive ones tend to be far more bulky, and have really thick strips round the head.

The cheapo ones just come with 2 thin strands of elastic.

The elastic doesn't last very long, which is the downside. But I can usually make a pair last 3-5 months until the elastic is completely disintegrated. But being so cheap anyway, it doesn't matter.

I've been using them since my university days in the early 2000s, so I'm conditioned to sleep almost as soon as I put them on!

I look forward to bedtime sommuch more since I started letting my dog up on the bed to sleep next to me.

Ah, I am glad that it is just not me that thinks this one is quite uncomfortable. As the elastic is indeed quite chunky.

Perhaps I should try one of those that come in the airline kit, I am sure I must have some of those laying around somewhere.

Thank you for replying.

I have always had trouble with going to sleep! When I moved out, I treated myself to a much-coveted sleigh bed and some very expensive 1000 thread-count bedding. I love it! Then I got shutters to help me sleep in past dawn on my days off work, and they have the bonus of keeping the room quite toasty.

I'm all for lamps, a good book, or some knitting and a documentary. Although I do not admit to it publicly, I also like the fact that one of my dogs sleeps back-to-back with me, which was very warm when I had boiler trouble for a while!

It would be nice if delivery people didn't knock and disturb me sometimes when I'm in bed. I live in a ridiculously safe area, so please just leave my parcels in the porch and leave me to the comfort of my bed! (I'll obviously find it when I let my dogs out, as they like to take balls and things out to play with).

I love being in bed and sleeping but I hate going to bed.
I find it helps if I get ready for bed earlier, I get washed and changed then come downstairs for a bit. Then I need something to break the concentration of TV or my phone. DH often helps with this or I set an alarm and put it in the kitchen so I have to get up and turn it off. Ideally prefer to exercise in the evening but realistically that only happens once a week due to DC activities.
When I’m in good mental health though knowing I feel much better if I’m in bed by 10:30 than I do if I stay up later messing about is enough motivation.

I love going to bed as its the only time i get to myself.
I stick audible on for a couple of hours and listen to a book, and then when i can feel myself starting to drift i put my better sleep white noise app on - always fall asleep listening to the sound of rain.

Also a freezing cold bedroom and bed help me sleep much better. We have the heating off and the windows open, I fold back the duvet so the sheets are nice and cold.

Having sex with DH. Honestly I love it when we can go upstairs early(ish), both get a shower, climb into bed, lots of kissing and foreplay and then amazing sex and straight to sleep (after a toilet / wash trip obviously).

Like others my bedroom is my sanctuary. The room is completely clutter free, warm lighting, and blackout blinds. Bed made every morning and room aired most days, even if it is just for 10 mins mid winter.

Amazing mattress, high thread count white sheets, firm pillows, and nicely weighted duvet.

Routine wise. It starts in the bathroom with cleanse and moisturise face, teeth, hand cream and lip balm.

Nice pyjamas(right type for the temp).

Then usually read pre bed. Also always find having a glass of water by the bed helps. Other than water I am firmly no eating or drinking in bed.

My phone does stay in the room but goes on DND and I've got into the routine of not looking at it.

Thankfully my OH doesn't snore and is also a reader who doesn't have screens in the bedroom.

I put on the sound of waves over stones- the sound I’d hear as a child through my single glazed window, when we lived next to the sea in Wales.

Then I get comfy with my two dogs. The window is always wide open- even in winter.

Bliss.

I think the key thing is preparation well before you go to bed, or to the bedroom. I definitely need non-scrolling and non-game time time for a good hour at least before going upstairs. An unchallenging detective series like Midsummer or Vera is a good choice to allow your body to calm itself, perhaps while also lying down on the sofa.

I prefer actual books as they exercise and tire the eyes more quickly, especially in a dimmed room.

Like you, i find crosswords helpful, focussing on one difficult clue, e.g. anagrams as you can close your eyes and just focus on that one thing! It usually allows me to have a 30 mins snooze at lunchtime!

Slowing your breathing is also v useful, 1 long breath in, 5 seconds out slowly, and for as long as needed. Its you communicating with your body that there are no threats or worries and its time to sleep.

Tbh a bit of self love definitely helps as well sometimes, but maybe more for men...

However all this is while accepting there are going to be sleepless nights, but reminding yourself that eventually (tomorrow) your body will get so tired you will be able to sleep!