To be honest, with my hectic work schedule, I find it quite tricky to switch off at night unless I follow a proper winding-down routine. The activity I turn to almost every evening is reading a physical paperback book under a soft bedside lamp while sipping a cup of chamomile tea.
I try to do this practically every single night, usually for about twenty to thirty minutes right before turning the lights out. I make a conscious effort to leave my mobile phone charging across the room on my desk so that I am not tempted to check work emails or scroll mindlessly through social media feeds. I just prop up a couple of pillows, get under the duvet in my bedroom, and lose myself in a few chapters of a gripping novel or some light historical fiction.
What makes this routine so soothing is the complete break from digital screens. Throughout the day, my eyes are glued to monitors and bright displays, which leaves my mind buzzing with random thoughts and to-do lists. The tactile sensation of turning real paper pages, combined with the dim ambient light, signals to my brain that the day is officially over.
On top of that, immersing myself in a narrative acts as a sort of mental palate cleanser. It distracts me from whatever deadlines or minor worries were nagging at me during the afternoon. By the time my eyelids start feeling heavy, I feel genuinely tranquil rather than exhausted, and I usually drift off into a deep, uninterrupted sleep within minutes of setting the book down.