cozy fall bedtime routine

hello.

there is something so comforting about adapting your morning or nightly routine with the changing of the seasons. my mornings tend to be hectic and chaotic which is why i take extra steps in my nightly routine to unwind and relax.

because it’s sunday, i thought it felt appropriate to talk about cozy autumn evening routines. yesterday i shares some recent media consumption (articles, video essays, podcast episodes), so be sure to check that out, too. perfect reading for late mornings in bed paired with pumpkin waffles and a hot coffee.

cozy fall routine:

-candles:

the best way to set the mood for the evening is to start with scent. as much as i love the nostalgia of bath and body works candles, a lot of the scents tend to be too overpowering and cloying so i will opt for something more subtle/ natural. my favorite candle from diptyque is opopanax. it reminds me of something from my childhood. it’s warm and slightly gourmand- very comforting. i also really enjoy this oatmeal cookie candle and the sweet vanilla cinnamon from anthropologie. and this pumpkin candle from nest is great. at night, i prefer using my candle warmer to tame the throw, which alleviates my allergies.

-shower favorites:

i’ve written about my love for orpheon by diptyque on here- this is my favorite shower gel of all time. it’s the most sensual luxe bath product i’ve ever used. there’s tonka bean, cedar, and juniper berry. it’s perfect and makes a great gift, too. i’m also very fond of jo malone’s english pear and freesia shower gel. this was my favorite before discovering orpheon. lush sticky dates is another great one! but it’s harder to find. philosophy just released their holiday bath gels, which i also love. but the longevity of scent with lush and philosophy is disappointing.

-body care:

there are very few gourmand body lotions i love. let me tell you my favorites since this is a cozy, comforting, nightly routine. this one has a cult following for a reason- the price is right and the scent is perfect for bed. it’s the eos vanilla cashmere and it’s perfect. another luxe option is the ambre vanille body butter from laura mercier. this reminds me of my childhood and i’m sad they don’t make the creme brulee scent anymore. strawberry pound cake is the best gourmand lotion from bath and body works. i get a ridiculous amount of compliments on it when i swear it. i know it’s autumn, but this scent carries itself much more like a warm butter pound cake which is perfect for bedtime.

-tea of choice:

obviously the sleepytime bear tea is the best (and it’s my halloween costume this year) but if you’re looking for something unique, i recommend osulloc chamomile and sweet apple tea. osulloc makes the best tea (moon walk is my favorite- but it’s caffeinated so it’s better to drink that during the day). another calming bedtime drink is warm soy milk with honey and cinnamon. you can always opt to make a calm tea latte (chamomile tea steeped in hot milk with a drizzle of honey).

-journaling:

i usually journal twice a day now that i've seen how much it has improved my mental health. journaling before bed (and before you put on a film or read a book) is a great way to unwind from your day and get into relaxation mode. you can even do this while putting on a cozy fall playlist in the background to set the mood.

-film:

put on a film or tv show that is comforting. since we’re in autumn, you can opt for one of the spooky cute films like winnie the pooh, nightmare before christmas, coraline (yes, i find this film comforting). sometimes we’re not in the mood for autumn. if that’s the case, the real housewives of new york is my kryptonite.

-sweet treat:

i always always always have dessert before bed. whether it’s ice cream, a warm brownie or cookie, or sometimes a piece of dark chocolate with almonds, i prioritize my treat time. you can also make pillsbury pumpkin cookies. annie’s makes a great pumpkin cinnamon roll ready to bake treat.

-book for bed:

the last thing i do before i fall asleep is read. here are three i recommend:

the very secret society of irregular witches (a cozy cringy witchy book)

ina garten’s memoir (a comforting memoir for people who love to cook)

intermezzo by sally rooney (one of my all time favorite lit fic books that feels autumnal and hot and sad)

-slumber:

hot girls sleep with stuffed animals <3 bartholomew bear is my little snuggle buddy every single night and i can’t sleep without him

my hatch is one of the best sleeping “tools” i’ve ever gotten. not only does it wake me up gently with the sweet sound of birds in a woodland forest, but because i wake up at 5am, it creates an artificial sunrise with ambient lighting for me so my body will want to wake more naturally. it also has meditation features, music options, and tons of other things you can play with.

okay, that’s all for now.

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i love you.

bye.

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