When you first become a mom, there are moments when it feels like you will never have time to yourself again. But like most seasons of life, this passes and something magical happens – you start to get your evenings back! As your little one grows, they sleep longer stretches and have an earlier bedtime. Slowly but surely, you start to get the odd hour or two for yourself again. It’s time to start thinking about an Ayurvedic evening routine!
While Ayurveda recommends a solid morning routine, it’s just not always possible for moms of little kids. In my experience, evenings tend to be more predictable than mornings, so it’s key to use this time to your advantage. This article will show you how an Ayurvedic evening routine for moms can be a game changer when it comes to taking care of yourself.
Once you get a little bit of free time back, I will admit, it can be a bit uncomfortable at the start. You are so used to every minute of the newborn phase being taken up with feeding, changing, cleaning, cooking etc, that you might take a couple of weeks to actually slow down and realise you can breathe again!
So what do you actually DO with this free time? Well, let’s start with what NOT to do.
What NOT To Do In The Evening
#1 Stop Scrolling
This will not be popular, but the #1 thing you should absolutely not do with your evening is spend it on your phone. This is coming from someone who has wasted so many free evenings that I could have been doing something for ME, but instead I sat on the couch and scrolled through other peoples lives on Instagram!
Whatever app it is that’s sucking your time, this is your sign to uninstall it, at least for 1 week. In that time, you will see how much of your evenings you get back, and how much better you’ll feel as a result. It’s not to say you can’t reinstall it again, but taking a break will do you (and your mind) the world of good!
#2 Ditch The Drink
The amount of alcohol you drink is a very personal choice, but it’s important to avoid the trap of thinking a glass of wine is needed to relax after a long day! There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a drink, but when you are so exhausted from parenting, a glass of wine gives you a false sense of security that you are calm and relaxed. Really, all it will do is disrupt your sleep that night and you will more than likely wake up feeling evening more drained in the morning.
If you want to learn more about how even small amounts of alcohol affect your sleep, read this book!
How To Use Your Evening Routine Wisely
So, what SHOULD you do?
Well, that will depend! Every mom’s day will look entirely different depending on how many children you have, if you work or are a SAHM. Here are a few suggestions on how to get the most from your evenings, no matter what your day looks like.
1. Spend 15 minutes clearing up from the day and preparing for tomorrow
I’m not saying get the hoover and mop out and clean your house top to bottom, but there is really something to be said for waking up in a (semi!) organised environment. Here are a few things you can do:
- Throw all dirty clothes from the day in wash basket
- Stack the dishwasher
- Put toys away
- Quickly sweep any food your child has thrown on the floor at dinner!
- Get clothes and bag ready for the morning
- Write down any to-do list for the following day
This can be done super quick, and helps you actually unwind and shut off for the evening. Split the jobs with your partner to get it done asap so you can both relax.
2. Spend some time with your partner
Whether you are eating dinner, having a chat or watching an episode of your favourite show, it’s nice to spend a little time decompressing with your partner and talking about your respective days! This is also a great time to leave your phones on the other side of the room or put them in a drawer for an hour.
3. Practice your own Ayurvedic evening routine
It’s easy to let every evening slide past in an exhausted blur, but taking even 15-30 minutes to yourself before bed can make a huge difference! As a mom, this may genuinely be the first moment of the day that you’ve had to yourself. So what should your evening routine look like?
Ayurvedic Evening Routine for Moms
The main aim of an Ayurvedic evening routine is to encourage your nervous system to switch from sympathetic mode (fight or flight) to parasympathetic mode (rest and digest), and soothe Vata dosha. This will help you slow down and enter a relaxed state, ensuring you get a proper night’s sleep.
Here are a few suggestions that you can incorporate into your Ayurvedic evening routine. Remember to give yourself enough time to do your evening routine and still get to bed at a reasonable time (preferably by 10pm).
Start Here!
- Minimise light: Start eliminating blue light a few hours before bed, and switch on some lamps instead of bright overhead lights. Learn more about the importance of daily light exposure in this podcast.
- Have a bath: My absolute favourite way to shut off once little one is gone to sleep is to have a bath. The best part is no one can ask you to do anything 🙂 So get some bath bombs, a good book and enjoy!
- Practice Self Massage: Try an Ayurvedic Self Massage 1-2 times per week to unwind before bed.
- Skin care: Having kids is a real lesson on how little you can actually control! I’ve heard lots of moms say how much they love their skincare routine because it is something predictable and controllable in their day!
- Stretching: A light evening stretch (like this bedtime yoga) followed by some gentle breathing exercises is the perfect way to settle your mind before bed.
- Journaling: When you have 12,894 things on your mind, it’s almost impossible to shut your mind off. Taking 10 minutes to get everything out of your head and on to paper makes a huge difference! You can also consider jotting down a few things from that day you were grateful for.
- Meditation: It’s so easy to feel like you don’t have the time to meditate, but a small time investment can go a loooooooooong way. Try a 10 minute body scan exercise as you lay in bed.
- Reading: There is nothing more motivating to get to bed early than having a brilliant book waiting for you! Favour easy going fiction books before bed, something you can escape with! Leave any heavy or challenging reads for another time of the day.
Do What Works for You
You certainly don’t have to do ALL of these things every night. But if you can, commit to setting aside a small amount of time each evening before bed to do something just for you. It may not seem like much, but these little rituals will help you recuperate from your busy day and reset ahead of tomorrow. What is your favourite part of an evening routine? Let me know in the comments below!
Thank you for these wonderful examples of how to unwind when you’re a mother and wife. Your life and time is not always your own especially when you are working a 40 hour work week as well. I love baths and reading a good book! Yoga, meditation, prayer and stretching really works for me too. It’s all about the breath and we can always come back to it. Thank you for sharing this wonderful articled. Peace unto you.
You are absolutely right – time isn’t always our own as working mothers, but regularly taking breaks for ourselves (even short ones!) will make us happier and healthier moms in the long run which our kids will benefit from too. I’m so so grateful to hear you found this article helpful 🙏 Rebecca
Yes indeed! Regular breaks is key!