A limited edition collection recently arrived at my workplace, and it has this really warm, spicy scent.
There are some really lovely shower gels, body care products, as well as reed diffusers and scented candles. I am really not trying to sell you anything here, absolutely not, but this scent is just so lovely. And as I was talking to customers, someone actually said that this scent reminded them of those warm October evenings when you are at home, all cozy and wrapped up in your little comfort zone.
And honestly, that got me thinking. First of all, I immediately decided that I am going to get one of those reed diffusers and a candle myself, because I just think they are going to be so nice for those warm October evenings at home. But also, I thought that this could actually be such a lovely addition to an autumn wind down routine.
Why I’m Rebuilding My Wind Down Routine This Fall
Because, to be completely honest, I kind of fell out of my wind down routine during the summer. Summer was just a little bit chaotic for me, and I stopped doing all those little things that would normally help me slow down in the evening.
But this autumn, I really want to get back into it and create this perfect little self-care evening for myself.
My Autumn Wind Down Routine, Step by Step
In my case, it would probably start with a nice shower, using a shower gel I really love. Maybe I would even put a little candle in the bathroom, do my skincare routine, and then afterwards go into my room, light a few more candles, tidy everything up, and get myself organized for the next day.
Then a little massage, maybe some dry brushing, either before or after the shower. Once everything is done, I make myself a nice cup of tea. I have actually been drinking a specific bedtime tea lately, and yes, you can technically drink it during summer too, and I did, but somehow it just feels so much more comforting in autumn.
Soft lighting, calming music, maybe an episode of a show, and then some journaling. Right before bed I usually put on body lotion and a little foot mask, which in my case is basically just a really rich moisturizer for your feet, then some hand care, because autumn and winter are hard on your hands, lip care, and then finally, bed.
Check off each step below as you build your own version.
Three Rituals Worth Adding
Tap each one to see why it earns a spot in your evening.
The CandleIf we are going to romanticize autumn, we might as well romanticize the evenings too.
The TeaYou can drink it in summer too, but somehow it feels so much more comforting once autumn arrives.
The SkincareA simple, consistent routine tells your skin, and your brain, that the day is officially over.
How to Wind Down Before Bed for Better Sleep
I think having a routine like this matters for so many reasons, not just because it feels nice and is good for your soul, but because there are actual psychological benefits to it. If you consciously spend that last half an hour or hour before bed preparing yourself for sleep, slowing down, and transitioning out of your day, you are probably going to sleep much better.
I really noticed this during the summer, because it was honestly quite hectic for me. There were so many nights where I would just come home and immediately go into shower, skincare, bed, sleep. I would fall asleep because I was exhausted, but it did not feel the same. When you do that every single day, it starts to feel like you are just running through your life. You are running through your days, running through your weeks, and suddenly another week has passed and you are like, wait, what even happened?
Whereas if you intentionally use that time before bed to slow down, collect your thoughts, and turn your attention inward, you actually feel much more grounded and put together. You can think about what happened that day, what you want to do tomorrow, what is on your mind, what you need to take care of, and what you are grateful for. It just gives you a little space to process everything.
Consciously transitioning out of your day instead of crashing straight into sleep helps your body actually rest, not just shut off from exhaustion.
A little space to process the day, what happened, what is on your mind, what you are grateful for, leaves you feeling put together instead of scattered.
Without a wind down routine, days blur into weeks and weeks blur into months. A few intentional minutes each night breaks that cycle.
If you are not a morning person, do your thinking and planning the night before instead. It makes mornings so much easier.
Not a Morning Person? Plan the Night Before
This is especially helpful if you are someone like me, because I am absolutely not a morning person. I cannot wake up early and immediately start thinking. I cannot imagine waking up and calmly planning my entire day. That is simply not happening.
So for me, it makes much more sense to do a little bit of that preparation the night before. I can think through what I need to do the next day, get things ready, organize my thoughts, and then actually allow myself to transition into sleep.
And I think that is the whole point of a wind down routine. It is not about creating a perfect, aesthetic, ten step nighttime ritual. It is simply about giving yourself a little bit of time at the end of the day where you are not rushing, where you are not immediately going from work, to your phone, to bed, to sleep. You are telling your brain, okay, the day is over now. We can slow down. We can breathe. We can let go of everything that happened today. And tomorrow can wait until tomorrow.
Romanticize the Evenings Too
I honestly think autumn is the perfect time to bring something like this back into your life. Because if we are going to romanticize the season, we might as well romanticize the evenings that come with it.
Light the candle. Make the tea. Put on the soft music. Take care of your skin. Journal a little. Get yourself ready for tomorrow. And then just let yourself rest. Because sometimes self-care really is just giving yourself permission to slow down.
Frequently Asked Questions About Building a Wind Down Routine
A solid evening wind-down routine usually includes a shower or skincare step, something calming like tea or soft music, a short journaling or reflection moment, and a final self-care step like body lotion or foot care before bed.
You create an autumn wind-down routine by layering cozy, seasonal touches, warm scented candles, a bedtime tea, soft lighting, into whatever nightly steps already work for you, then keeping the whole thing consistent even on busy nights.
Avoid going straight from your phone or work into bed with no transition. Skipping any kind of wind-down step tends to leave you tired but not actually rested, since your mind never gets the signal that the day is over.
A wind-down routine can take anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour. What matters more than the exact length is using that time intentionally instead of rushing through it.
A good fall evening self-care routine combines a warm shower or bath, skincare and body care, a calming drink like tea, some soft lighting or candles, and a few minutes of journaling or quiet reflection before sleep.
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