Evening Habits of People……You ever meet those magical unicorn people who say, “Oh, I always sleep eight hours straight. Like a baby”? And you’re standing there, bleary-eyed, with three hours of broken sleep and caffeine pumping through your veins like jet fuel—thinking, how is that even possible? Yeah. Same.
I used to think people who slept well were just genetically blessed. Like, some people get green eyes, some people get curly hair, and some people get the ability to sleep through a thunderstorm and their neighbor’s 3 a.m. karaoke session. But nope—it turns out they’ve got a secret weapon: evening habits of people who sleep like a baby.
And listen, I used to be terrible at nights. I’d scroll TikTok until the “you’ve been scrolling too long” warning popped up. I’d tell myself I’d just watch one episode of something, and suddenly it was 2:45 a.m., and I was halfway through a crime doc about an insurance scam in Wisconsin.
But I started noticing the difference when I copied some of these little bedtime quirks from my friends who actually slept. Spoiler: they’re simple, sometimes silly, but kinda life-changing.
The “Shut Down” Ritual
The people who sleep like a baby? They actually shut down their lives before bed.
I don’t mean powering down like a robot (although honestly, that would be easier). I mean—closing the laptop, putting the phone on “do not disturb,” doing small stuff that signals to their brain, hey, day’s over.
My cousin does this thing where she lights a candle every night at 9:30. That’s her shutdown cue. For me, it’s making a cup of sleepytime tea. For you, maybe it’s brushing your teeth while singing badly into your toothbrush microphone. Whatever works.
It’s less about what you do and more about telling your brain: We’re clocking out, baby.
Screens? Yeah, Not So Much
I know, I know—you’ve heard this one. But seriously, people who sleep like a baby aren’t doom-scrolling Twitter in bed. They’re not letting blue light fry their retinas like french fries.
When I stopped bringing my phone into bed (I charge it in the kitchen now—bold move, I know), my sleep quality went up like 200%. At first, I had withdrawal symptoms (reaching for a phantom phone that wasn’t there). But now? I actually fall asleep faster.
You don’t have to be extreme. Just maybe swap the last 30 minutes of phone time for a book. Or literally staring at your ceiling. Ceiling cracks are surprisingly fascinating.
They Trick Their Brain with Routine
Babies sleep well because they’ve got rituals: bath, lullaby, boom—bed. Adults? We binge chips in bed while streaming murder shows. (Not the same vibe.)
My friend Kelly swears by doing the exact same three steps every night: wash face, brush teeth, stretch. If she skips one, she feels “off.” It’s like Pavlov’s dogs, but for sleep. The repetition tells her brain, shhh, we’re powering down now.
I started doing something similar: skincare + book + herbal tea. My brain now associates moisturizer with sleep. Weird, but it works.
Temperature Games
I used to think sleeping was just… lying down and hoping for the best. But apparently, people who sleep like a baby actually pay attention to stuff like room temperature.
Optimal sleep happens around 65–67 degrees. Too hot? You’ll toss like a rotisserie chicken. Too cold? You’ll wake up hugging yourself like a sad burrito.
One of my friends literally turns her AC down at 10 p.m. every night. Another cracks the window even in winter. I’m not that hardcore—but I did finally get a fan, and wow, the difference.
Lighting: Set the Mood (but PG, please)
Ever notice how harsh ceiling lights make you feel like you’re in a dentist’s office? Not great for snoozing. People who sleep like a baby usually dim the lights before bed.
I bought one of those Himalayan salt lamps (yes, the hipster pink rock thing). Do I believe it’s purifying my aura? Not really. But does the warm orange glow make me feel like I’m about to drift off in a spa cave? Absolutely.
Even just switching to a soft lamp instead of the overhead light is a game-changer.
The “Brain Dump”
You know when your head hits the pillow and your brain goes:
- Did you pay that bill?
- Remember that embarrassing thing you said in 8th grade?
- What if raccoons take over the world?
Yeah. That’s why some people swear by the “brain dump.” They literally keep a notebook by the bed and just write out everything swirling around in their heads.
I tried it. At first, it felt silly—like I was gossiping with myself. But writing out the junk made my brain stop nagging me. It’s like saying: Okay brain, it’s on the list, you can chill now.
Movement (but not CrossFit, calm down)
People who sleep well usually move their bodies in the evening—but not like, intense HIIT at 9 p.m. More like light stretching, yoga, or even just walking around the block.
I laughed when someone told me stretching before bed helps. Then I tried it once and literally melted into my mattress like butter on pancakes. So yeah, I’m a believer now.
Food & Drink Habits (a.k.a. No Tacos at 11 p.m.)
Here’s the deal: people who sleep like a baby don’t eat a giant greasy meal right before bed. Because nothing says insomnia like lying flat while your stomach tries to digest three burritos.
They also avoid caffeine after, like, 2 p.m. (I used to laugh at that rule while sipping cold brew at 6 p.m. Guess who was wide awake at 1 a.m.? Me.)
Instead, they go for herbal tea, warm milk (grandma vibes, but legit works), or nothing at all.
Weird Little Extras That Actually Work
- Weighted blankets. Like being hugged by a cloud that doesn’t judge you.
- White noise machines. I thought it’d be annoying, but it’s weirdly soothing—like TV static’s cooler cousin.
- Scent rituals. Lavender spray, eucalyptus, whatever smells like calm to you.
One friend even plays the same soft jazz playlist every single night. His wife is over it, but he’s out cold in five minutes flat.
Real Talk: I’m Not Perfect: Evening Habits of People
Look, I still mess up. Sometimes I binge-watch a show until midnight. Sometimes I eat ice cream in bed. Sometimes I fall asleep with my lamp on and wake up confused at 3 a.m.
But when I stick to these evening habits—even just a couple of them—I sleep better. Like, baby-level better. Which means less cranky mornings and fewer “I need three cups of coffee to be human” days.
If You’re Starting Small
Pick one thing. That’s it. Maybe tonight you dim the lights early. Maybe tomorrow you do a brain dump. Maybe you stretch like a sleepy cat for 30 seconds.
It’s not about perfection—it’s about tricking your brain into relaxing. Babies have routines. Adults can too, minus the bedtime lullabies (unless you’re into that, no judgment).
Quick Evening Habits of People
- Shut down ritual (tea, candle, whatever works)
- No screens 30–60 min before bed
- Stick to the same little routine nightly
- Cool, dark, cozy room
- Write out the brain junk
- Gentle movement
- No caffeine or heavy meals late
- Optional extras: weighted blanket, white noise, lavender
Fun Reads if You Wanna Go Deeper
- Check out Sleep Advisor if you want rabbit-hole level sleep hacks.
- Or this hilarious post on The Cut about people’s bizarre nighttime routines—it’ll make you feel normal.
- Suggested Outbound Links:
- A fun piece on travel-inspired movies to pair with these books
- A quirky personal blog about [accidentally booking the wrong flight](https://www.the Everywhereist.com/)
