As it seems like our days get busier every year, taking time to relax and wind down in the evenings is an absolute must. This gives your mind and body a chance to transition from the chaos you experience throughout the day to a slower and smoother environment that better promotes sleep. If you're having trouble winding down in the evenings, there are a plethora of different items that you can add to your home to be more effective at it.

CBD

One fairly easy way to help push your body into a more relaxing state is CBD. This substance is available in a wide variety of forms, ranging from tinctures and gummies to edibles and vapes. By introducing CBD into your system, it will help to reduce inflammation and enhance your mood. Both of these are key necessities to help relax the mind as well as the body so that you're more capable of getting a good night's sleep.

Books

A simple method for helping you calm down in the evenings is to read a book. If you can get a traditional paperback book where you're able to physically flip through the pages, you can help to quicken the time it takes you to relax. However, even reading on a tablet is a great way to help redirect your mind and let the stresses of your day melt away.

Journal

A journal can be a great addition to your wind down routine. It will allow you to get out all your concerns, stressors, joy, and every other emotion you've felt throughout the day. When you're able to physically write these feelings down, you will remove them from your mind so that it can quiet down for the evening. You may even find that it helps you acknowledge your daily accomplishments so that you can feel more accomplished at the end of the day.

Massage Chair

If you've ever spent any time in a massage chair at the gym to relax your body after it's been moving. Why not consider having a massage chair at home? These chairs are specifically designed to put you in more relaxing positions and will physically help to loosen your muscles. When your body is physically able to relax, it goes a long way in relaxing your mind as well.

Diffuser

Time and time again, studies have shown that different aromas can induced different feelings and moods in people. For example, lavender, chamomile, margarine, sandalwood, and clary sage have all been shown to have a relaxing effect on the body. One of the easiest things you can do to wind down is to simply put one of these scents in an aromatic diffuser. After a few minutes, you're going to smell the aroma and start to feel the relaxation.

Hot Tub

We've all heard that a warm bath is a great way to reduce muscle tension and wind down at night. However, unless you have a larger spa -like tub, it can be challenging to relax in a typical shower. A great investment that you can make for your home is an outdoor hot tub. These provide a spacious setup so that your whole body can comfortably relax.

Fireplace

If you've ever sat around a firepit on a warm summer night, you know how relaxing it can be to simply stare into the flame. You can help to bring that form of relaxation into your home by investing in a fireplace. These come in all different forms, including traditional wood burners and even electronic models. The whole idea is just to ensure that there's some sort of flame so you can stare at it and allow your mind to drift off.

Get a Furry Friend

Pets are by far one of the best ways to help you wind down in the evening hours. By getting a furry friend, you can easily cuddle up and allow the stresses of the day to go away. Just spending a little bit of time petting your dog and watching how much they enjoy it will be enough to put a smile on your face and lighten your heart.

If you currently find it very challenging to wind down in the evening hours to get a good night's sleep, then you simply haven't found the right routine. Fortunately, by implementing just a couple of the items we went over above into your life, you can actively work to get better at winding down. Just remember to try multiple things until you find the ones that work best for you.

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Still River Wellness