Creating a sustainable evening routine
A wind-down routine only helps if you actually keep it. How to build one that survives busy weeks — plus a simple checklist.
By Dr. Hannah Reid · Rest 
Dr. Hannah Reid 2 min read
Creating space for rest
Rest is not laziness — it's a skill. Why so many of us struggle to switch off, and how to practise resting without guilt.
Dr. Hannah Reid 2 min read 
Many of us treat rest as something we earn once everything else is done. The trouble is, everything else is never done.
Why rest feels hard
If you’re used to being busy, stopping can feel uncomfortable — even anxious. Thoughts like “I should be doing something useful” are common. Rest can also get confused with collapse: scrolling on the sofa at the end of an exhausting day isn’t always restorative.
Different kinds of rest
Rest isn’t only sleep. It can be:
- Physical — gentle stretching, a nap, lying down with your legs up the wall
- Mental — a walk without headphones, a few minutes looking out of the window
- Social — time alone, or time with people who don’t need anything from you
- Sensory — dimmed lights, silence, a break from screens
Practising rest
Start small. Schedule a ten-minute rest break in your calendar, just as you would a meeting. Notice what kind of rest you need in that moment, and choose accordingly.
Letting go of guilt
Rest isn’t a reward. It’s part of what makes everything else possible. If you find it impossible to slow down, or you feel exhausted most of the time, consider talking it through with a therapist or your doctor.
