Okay, I have to tell y’all this is a really weird post for me.  I’m not one to shy away from being vulnerable (there have been plenty of times I let my weaknesses all hang out), but this one is something I’ve felt like I should share for a very long time.

All my life I always knew I was a “worry wart”, a perfectionist, a little bit neurotic, and while I certainly don’t live a perfect life and am actually a pretty messy, disorganized person when it comes to channeling my creative side with projects and random furniture makeovers, anxiety is something I struggle with on a daily basis.

I constantly worry and let the smallest things stress me out.  But I don’t at all mention that to have a pity party, just to say if you struggle with the same thing, you are definitely not alone.

So the other week, my friend Jennifer from Town and Country Living (whose blog is incredible by the way) asked if I would like to join in with a group of bloggers once a month for her Cozy Living series.  One Saturday every month, we will share some aspects of our lives, our seasonal traditions, and/or our homes that create moments to evoke feelings and memories that say “home” to us.

And while this subject is starting off not quite as upbeat as probably some of the others I’ll share later in this series, I promise there’s a happy ending.  Because you know what I’ve learned about calming the anxiety monster?  To make time to care for myself so I can be the best mother and wife I can be.  (You deserve a time-out, girlfriend. You really do.)

Somehow when the daylight gets shorter, the weather turns chilly, and our family’s schedule kicks into high gear, I end up with this crushingly overwhelming anxiety, if I’m not careful.  So it’s the perfect excuse to add a little extra coziness around bedtime to make sure I’m always at my best.  I thought I’d share a few ways in case you struggle with the same thing.

7 Ways I Relieve Anxiety at Bedtime:

(Some affiliate links are provided for convenience.)

1. Invest in good bedding.

On Day 1 of moving into this house, I ordered 3 fresh sets of my favorite sheets from Amazon that cost all of $25 each.  They feel like buttah!  I always get white so I can bleach them, if needed.  And this squishy, thick duvet is cooling in the hot months but toasty warm during the chilly times of year.  I loved it so much that I bought one for our guest bedroom too (which I haven’t shared with y’all yet since it is literally just a bed in an otherwise empty room and that’s it).

Right now, we also have this Boll & Branch grey flannel duvet cover and waffle blanket that are splurges for us, but they are SO soft and it feels like heaven crawling into this bed every night.

2. Read a little from a devotional every night.

Ever since the school year started in September, I’ve been taking time to read a section out of a devotional each day.  There’s something about giving all of my stress over to God to lift a weight off of my shoulders.  I’ve really enjoyed the Girlfriends in God app, but I just started this one that I’m really excited about called Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet With Jesus.

Ever since Robert and I got married, we’ve made it a bedtime ritual to hold hands and take turns saying a prayer together too. It helps us talk about what’s stressing us together while strengthening our faith and making God a very central part of our marriage. That one act each night solidifies that we’re not alone in anything we might be facing.

3. Light a great smelling candle.

Even if it’s only for a few minutes, there’s just something calming about the glow of candlelight. I try to light one after dinner to get any cooking smells out of our house.  I’ve really been meaning to try this stress-relief one because apparently it’s a must-have.

4. Drink a cup of hot nighttime tea.

I’ve been on a tea kick lately, and it’s done wonders for calming my stress.  I really like a lot of the Harney and Sons brand in decaf.

5. Keep the TV and electronics out of the bedroom.

Robert and I started out in our marriage with no TV because we could only afford one, and that was in our little apartment living room.  So we never really had the chance to miss a TV.  But I know we’ll never introduce one because it makes our bedroom feel like an escape from the world.  We keep our computers out of our bedroom too.

6. Wash bedding with lavender or spray some lavender essential oils diluted with water on your pillow.

I always wash our bedding with Mrs. Meyers Lavender Laundry Detergent and Mrs. Meyers Lavender Dryer Sheets, and I sometimes mix a few drops of lavender oil in a spray bottle (ya know… if I’m feeling uber fancy) to lightly spritz on our pillows.  Total escape.

7. Decorate with neutrals.

Maybe gray and cream and beige are boring to some people, but I love how I can walk into our bedroom and instantly feel soothed.  If you constantly feel stressed out, bust out a paint can of neutral (here are some of my favorite neutral colors).

Oh, and you can add about 50-70 drops of lavender or chamomile essential oils to a gallon of paint to keep your bedroom smelling spa-like too.

I don’t get to do all 7 of those things every single night, but I find when I’m crazy stressed at the end of a long day, if I take some “me time” to do those things, I sleep so much better and wake up feeling like Supergirl.

Just proof that being a homebody is the best cure for almost anything, right?  I welcome those dark, chilly nights just so I have the excuse to snuggle up at home with Robert and Olivia whenever we need a break from the day-to-day.

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will sustain you.” – Psalm 55:22

You can hop over to see all of the other bloggers’ traditions, recipes, and fall cozy living tips on the tour too:

AKA Design | Bless’er House | Duke Manor Farmhouse | Finding Silver Pennies

Flat Creek Farmhouse | Little Glass Jar | Making It in the Mountains | Sincerely, Marie Designs

Thoughts from Alice | Town and Country Living | VinYet Etc.

Do you have any stress relievers you like to do?  Does anxiety seem to hit you this time of year too?  Are there ways you make your home extra cozy this time of year?  Because really… are there ever too many?

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