I looooovve to have routines. As a college student, though, it can be hard to stick to them since my schedule is always changing. Once I found out I was going back to school as an on-campus student, I knew I needed to change some habits and set more of a routine. Since every day looks different and I never go to bed at the same time, I developed a night time routine of a few simple habits that can be completed each night to help me wind down when I’m ready. I know that I have perfected this routine so it will be easy to implement once I make the transition.
This post is in collaboration with Smile Brilliant. All opinions are my own. For more information please see my disclosure.
This routine has proven to work great for me and I hope that you find it beneficial as well! You might need to make some alterations to better fit your lifestyle but here are the basics of a great night routine that every young adult should have.
Exercise
I have found that any form of exercise helps me get out some extra energy and focus better for the rest of the night. My choice of exercise is walking my dog every evening. I typically go after dinner when it’s still pretty light out. Going on a long walk with my pup is the perfect way to wear him out (so I can get more done at night) and prepare me for the rest of the evening.
Get Cozy
After I finish my walk I’m usually ready to get changed and comfortable. I typically shower in the morning but if I am feeling icky or sweaty I will hop in for a quick body shower. Then I will throw on a big t-shirt and some comfy shorts so I can complete my night time routine comfortably.
Homework
Once I have exercised for a bit and got out the early evening jitters, I’m ready to settle down and do some homework or studying. I’m a major procrastinator, so I typically wait until later to do my homework (but hey, it works). During this time I try to eliminate as many distractions as possible. Realistically, doing school work takes me much longer than it should because I do get distracted frequently. I will work on my assignments until I have finished what is due the next day or until I’m too tired (and I don’t have anything due the next day).
Beauty Routine
I look forward to pampering myself every night and honestly feel like I can’t go to bed without it now. This part of my night time routine is what helps me get through my homework and is what truly begins to relax me at night.
Teeth
It’s no secret that I value good dental hygiene: brushing, flossing, retainers, the whole nine yards. I’m sure this has a lot to do with the fact that my mom is a dental hygienist, but it’s important nonetheless. My teeth are very important to me and when they look good, I feel good. That’s why I was so excited when Smile Brilliant reached out to me and wanted to collaborate.
I will start my teeth care routine by flossing every night. This is sooooo important for your teeth care and cavity prevention! After I have flossed, I go through my teeth whitening routine once a week with my Smile Brilliant at home whitening kit.
I have tried other methods of whitening but I am always on the hunt for the best, most cost effective method out there. After I got my braces off, I had a Zoom whitening treatment and loved the results. However, my teeth were extremely sensitive after the treatment and I felt like the results didn’t last as long as I would have liked. Obviously paying for Zoom sessions any time I want to whiten my teeth is not the most cost efficient. Soooo, for the last month and a half I have been trying out Smile Brilliant’s at home teeth whitening kit to see if it was a better option.
ALSO!!!!! I have a super exciting giveaway with Smile Brilliant at the end of this post so check it out!!
A Little About Smile Brilliant
Smile Brilliant offers a professional grade teeth whitening kit that gets sent directly to your home. In your at home whitening kit, you will receive everything you need to be on your way to a brighter smile. They cut out the middle man (the dentist) and provide you with the easiest way to get custom whitening trays for the best whitening experience.
One thing I love about the whitening kit is that it is soooo easy to use. They provide you with very specific instructions on how to make your impression molds and even provide extra supplies in case you mess up (like I did). After you have taken your molds, you send them back to Smile Brilliant with the provided shipping materials. Soon, they will send you your custom trays and you are ready to whiten!!
Once you get your custom trays back, you can whiten as much or as little as you want. Since I have sensitive teeth, I opt for 45 minutes every other day. After the time is up, I rinse the whitening gel and brush my teeth then apply the desensitizing gel for 30 minutes. When it’s been 30 minutes, I take my trays out and rinse them. I leave the gel on my teeth to continue working overnight. Finally, I pop on my retainer 🙂
I absolutely love this how easy it is to whiten my teeth now. The custom trays fit me perfectly and I started whitening as soon as I got them! The trays feel like they are part of your teeth and you don’t have to worry about holding them in place during the process. My teeth have never been terribly yellow, but with each use I have noticed less stains than before. Here are my before and afters:
As someone with thin enamel and highly sensitive teeth, I would absolutely recommend this kit. I haven’t had any problems with sensitivity while whitening for 45 minutes at a time. I also love that each syringe can be used for at least 3 sessions!
Skin Care
During the first part of my whitening process I will complete my skin care routine. Sometimes this involves doing a face mask, but this is rare. I’ll start by taking my make up off with a wipe. Then, I wash my face with my Clarisonic every night for the best clean possible. Once I’m done washing my face I make sure to moisturize. It’s a super easy routine but it works great for me!
Tidy Up
I typically like to tidy up in the 30 minutes that I have to kill while I’m using the desensitizing gel. This part of the routine includes doing any dishes that are left in the sink, gathering my pup’s toys into one area, doing laundry if I have any, and putting everything away where it belongs. Basically I just take a few minutes to make sure I have a clean space to wake up to tomorrow. It is also during this time that I pack my backpack for the next day so I have one less thing to do in the morning.
Update To-Do List
After I have cleaned up around the apartment I spend some time getting ready for tomorrow. At this point I will crawl into bed and pull out my bullet journal. I will transfer over any tasks I didn’t get to during the day and add anything else I know I have to complete the next day. I’ve learned not to get down on myself when I don’t get to everything on my list. This is so important to prevent stress.
Mental Health Time
Once my planner is up to date, I spend the end of my night time routine unwinding by focusing on my mental health. This can look like journaling, pleasure reading, or even watching some Netflix or YouTube videos. By this time I’m ready for sleep so I only last a little while before it’s time to shut the lights off.
Go To Sleep
This time varies every night. Sometimes I’ll be asleep by 10:30pm and other nights it won’t be until 2:30am. Obviously if you can keep a consistent bed time that would be ideal. However, that is not realistic for me.
Smile Brilliant GIVEAWAY
I promised a Smile Brilliant giveaway and I’m here to deliver! Smile Brilliant was nice enough to offer one lucky reader $149 credit toward their very own at home whitening kit!
THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
If you didn’t win, you’re still in luck! I have a discount code for you to get some money off! Use code basicallybeccasue for 10% off at checkout:)
What are some of your night time routine tasks? Let me know in the comments so I can create the perfect night time routine!
