We’ve all seen those hyper-aesthetic, 12-step evening routines on social media that look beautiful but feel like a second full-time job. When a wind-down routine requires an hour or more, of rigid, unyielding steps, it stops being relaxing and just becomes another thing on your to-do list.
As someone who values a simple, intentional lifestyle, I don’t have time for wellness fluff. My evening routine isn’t a strict checklist—it’s a low-maintenance menu of options that I choose from based on my energy that night, or my mood.
The goal isn’t perfection; it’s about signaling to my mind and body that it is safe to slow down. If I only do even just one of these things tonight, it’s still a win.
If you want to build a restorative evening ritual that actually sticks, here is the honest, realistic menu I choose from to reset, unwind, and glow from the inside out.
1. The “Closing Shift” (5–10 Minutes)
Before I can transition into rest mode, I have to close out the day mentally and visually. I spend just five to ten minutes doing a quick “closing shift” for my physical and digital space:
- Clearing my desk: Cluttered space equals a cluttered mind. Putting things away means I won’t wake up feeling flusterred or stressed that I’m super messy.
- Closing laptop tabs: Physically closing out the day’s open tasks helps separate my working hours from my personal time.
- Brain Dump: I will pen-to-paper write down the tasks I need to complete. It’s better to let it out on paper, instead of ruminating on your to-do’s for the next day.
- Picking an outfit: Prepping my clothes for the next day removes one more decision from my morning, making my wake-up routine completely effortless. It also helps to put everything you need in your bag that you’re using for the next day too.
2. The Evening Shower (The Physical Reset)
I always start my actual physical routine with a warm evening shower. A hot shower does more than just wash off the day—it triggers thermoregulation. The warm water increases blood flow to your skin, and when you step out, your core body temperature rapidly drops. This natural temperature dip mimics the body’s biological transition into sleep, signaling to your brain that it’s time to produce melatonin and to sleep. The hygiene component is important as well, it can remove the day’s sweat, environmental pollutants and allergens that can transfer to your bed. Energetically. I also use this as a way to “wash” off the energies of the days, clear my energy and reset completely. It’s a non-negotiable physical reset.
3. The Minimalist Glow: Facial Oils & Intuitive Skincare
(These are the ones I use, Shop it Here)
Right after I step out of the shower, I lock in moisture with a super simple, low-maintenance skincare routine. I am not someone who uses a 10-step skincare routine; instead, I listen to what my skin needs that evening.
Most nights, I lean into pure, nutrient-dense botanical oils. I love pressing a few drops of Vitamin E oil or Moringa oil into my skin. Actually I’m super generous with it and put it all over my face and neck. But depending on your skin type use more or less depending on what you feel. The Vitamin E oil I use is a blend with jojoba, rosehip, and other oils, it smells amazing. It’s great to nourish, and hydrate skin as well as reduce fine line and wrinkles. It’s great for the whole body too.
Moringa oil is an absolute powerhouse—it’s incredibly lightweight, packed with antioxidants, and helps soothe any inflammation without clogging pores. Want to learn more about Moringa Oil? Read my blog post [Everything you need to know about Moringa Oil for your Face].
Other nights, if my skin is feeling a little extra tired or dry, I might throw on a hydrating skin mask while I wind down. I also have to time it so it’s on a day when I wash my hair because I don’t like doing a mask when my hair is freshly cleaned. Like everything else on this list, it’s not an everyday rule. It’s just a simple, deeply nourishing step to let my skin recover and glow overnight.
4. The Internal Comfort: Castor Oil Pack & Heating Pad
On nights when I need deep, comforting relaxation, I lay down with a castor oil pack and a warm heating pad. I aim to do this 3–4 times a week (skipping it completely whenever I’m on my period).
Castor oil packs are an old-school wellness favorite for supporting lymphatic drainage and liver detoxification. When you place a warm heating pad over it, the gentle heat drives the oil deeper into the skin while instantly soothing the nervous system. It feels like a warm, grounding hug for your digestive tract. To make it super simple, I rub the castor oil directly onto my skin over my liver, and cover it with a cotton cloth. Make sure to wear something you don’t mind getting dirty although, you only want to use a small amount of Castor oil.
5. The Cellular Glow: Red Light Therapy
(Get the same panel as me, here.)
This is where my budget-friendly red light panel comes into play. I previously committed to using this consecutively for 90 days straight and saw an incredible difference in my skin texture and sleep quality. Now, I keep it maintainable by aiming for 3–4 times a week for 20 minutes each session.
I usually do this before bed. I feels so relaxing, and gets me in the mood for sleep. It delivers the exact therapeutic wavelengths my body needs for muscle recovery and a skin-deep glow, without requiring a massive, expensive luxury setup. If you’ve never used a panel, learn more about the [5 surprising benefits of using a red light panel].
6. Low-Blue-Light Entertainment & “Boring” Books
While I’m letting my red light panel or heating pad do their work, I unwind with a story. I’m usually reading whatever I’m vibing with, or playing some cozy games. I try to avoid watching television shows at night, opting instead to read on my iPad. (Sometimes that doesn’t always go to plan though) To completely protect my sleep cycle, I always make sure my iPad is flipped to ‘Night Shift’ with the brightness turned all the way down. Warm tones are much gentler on the eyes and won’t disrupt your body’s natural melatonin production as much.
I don’t read self-help or hustle-culture business books at night. Honestly? Sometimes picking a slightly boring fiction or nonfiction book is the ultimate sleep hack. I start reading and my eyelids start getting heavy. It’s the best way to fall asleep.
7. The Ambient Mindset: Subliminals & Calming Music
To completely shut off the background chatter in my brain, I love to play calming ambient music or subliminals in the room while I’m reading, or doing any of these things on this list. It fills the space with a soft, peaceful frequency and drowns out any noise, it really acts as a white noise too. Because I typically listen to subliminals that are rain sounds, or don’t have any music with lyrics. I usually make a new playlist every month based on what I’m manifesting that month.
The Intuitive Options I Add When I Can
On the nights when I have a little extra energy or need a deeper emotional release, I’ll pull out a physical notebook for a pen-to-paper gratitude journal reflection. I haven’t done this one in a while—and that is entirely okay! I tend to journal every morning so by the time the evening comes around I might not feel like it.
That’s the beauty of an intuitive evening routine. It adapts to you; you don’t adapt to it. By treating your evening as a fluid menu of self-care instead of a rigid rulebook, you create a sustainable lifestyle that honors how you actually feel.
Want to see the exact budget-friendly tech I use to power my evening cellular glow? [Check out my honest review of the $60 tabletop red light panel here!]
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