A Wind-Down Routine for Easier-Feeling Nights

How the night feels often has more to do with the hour before bed and the room itself than with anything heroic you do once the lights go out.

Tune the room

• Keep it cool and fresh. A slightly cool bedroom is easier to sleep in; open a window when the air outside is good.
• Watch the humidity. Very dry air can leave your throat feeling scratchy. Aim for roughly 30 to 50 percent.
• Wash bedding regularly. Dust builds up faster than you would think.

Tune the hour

• Finish big meals earlier. Going to bed comfortably is easier than going to bed full.
• Dim the lights and the screens. Give your body a clear signal that the day is ending.
• Add a slow-breathing minute. The same longer-exhale pattern from the morning reset works just as well at night.

Keep a consistent rhythm

Going to bed and waking at similar times does more for how rested you feel than almost any single trick.