Bedtime Tag

This post is in response to the Bedroom Tag that I’ve been nominated to do by Amanda Gene – thanks Amanda! There isn’t a lot I can say about my bedtime routine particularly, but it’s not something I’ve written about on here before, so I hope you enjoy reading my answers.

What is your usual bedtime routine?

I usually finish off my evening by updating my journal on my computer, then having a drink and maybe a snack while watching a bit of TV (either something I’ve recorded, or a DVD, or a streaming service like Netflix or Amazon), before cleaning my teeth and going to bed.

What are some of your favorite pyjamas to wear to bed?

I don’t have favourite pyjamas particularly. But the pyjamas I have are dark colours like navy or a dark red, either plan or with a simple pattern on them (checkered or stripes) And sometimes I don’t bother wearing anything at all, if it’s not cold and I feel comfortable that way. It’s not like anybody’s going to see me, and I can quickly slip on my pyjamas or dressing gown, or a casual jumper and trousers, if I need to get out of bed for some reason.

What is your current bedtime reading?

I don’t bother reading in bed. When I get under the covers, I just want to go to sleep as I’m nice and cosy. If I start listening to a book, which I’ve tried in the past, I’ll just doze off and miss some of it.

What would I find on your bedside table?

An Amazon Echo Dot, which I use as my radio alarm clock, and my iPhone.

What scent makes you sleepy?

I’ve never really thought about that to be honest. We have had diffusers in the house before – which are small glass jars containing a fragrant liquid with sticks stood in them, so the scent gets absorbed up the sticks and gradually disperses into the room. But they just added a nice aroma to the place, they didn’t send me off to sleep.

What is your usual bedtime and wakeup time?

Depends when I need to be up the next day really. I’m a bit of a night owl though, I’m quite happy to stay up watching TV for a while. So I set myself limits rather than an exact bedtime. If I’m at work the next day, the latest I’ll go to bed is around 1am. My alarm is then set for 7am, and I’ll get up at 7:30am. That gives me half an hour to relax, wake up and listen to the music that my Echo Dot has shuffled for me (it currently wakes me up to 80s songs, but I’ll occasionally change it for variety). Bear in mind that I’m a homeworker as well, so I haven’t got to worry about travelling anywhere. That’s a real plus! If I had to commute each day, I would have to get up a bit earlier, and thus have to go to bed a bit earlier.

On Friday and Saturday nights, when I don’t have to be at work the next day, I might stay up to 2am or 3am depending on what I’m watching and how tired I feel.  The time I get up on Saturdays and Sundays varies wildly though, given how often I go out and about to do different things. But if I haven’t arranged an early meetup or a special event, then on a Saturday I’ll get up around 9 or 10am to go grocery shopping with Mum, to get it out of the way and leave the rest of the day available. And on a Sunday I can quite easily stay in bed until noon for a nice lie-in.

What are your top three bedtime products?

Toothpaste and a toothbrush are the only things I use before bed. I don’t do any pampering or use beauty products.

What is your most common sleeping position?

I sleep on my side.

Do you have anything you like to take to bed with you?

No. When I was a kid I used to have loads of cuddly toys on my bed, but that was a long time ago. I do still have a couple of cuddly toys in the house, which have sentimental value, but they don’t come to bed with me.

What is your worst bedtime habit?

Maybe not going to bed as early as I should sometimes. I think the recommended amount of sleep is 8 hours, whereas I tend to spend about 6 hours in bed. But I feel I function fine that way, I’ve been in that routine for many years, and I’ve known of others who live on much less. I think it’s a very individual thing, rather than the 8 hours being a strict requirement. We’re all different. Snacking before bed probably isn’t always sensible either, but I don’t do that heavily.

So that’s it. Thank you again to Amanda for nominating me, and I hope you all liked my answers. And I nominate anyone reading this who fancies doing the tag themselves!