Have you ever gotten so great at a routine in your life that you didn’t even have to think about it? Or maybe you got so great at it that you looked forward to it every day. Perhaps you even were upset when you weren’t able to do it. For some people, this routine may have been getting ready for school in the morning. For others, a routine like this could have taken the form of an unhealthy habit or destructive relationship.

Imagine if you had a routine every night that focused solely on self-care. It’d be a gamechanger, right? Buckle up because you’re about to get hit by a few value bombs that will empower you to keep moving forward. Here are a few nightly routines to care for your mental health that you can apply in your life today.

1. Arouse your senses

First things first, begin your nightly mental health routine by dimming the lights, lighting some candles, and getting into your most comfortable pajamas. This will get you in the mood to start the rest of your routine. In other words, you’re officially going from “day” mode to “me” mode.

2. Tidy up

A great way to make yourself feel good is by decluttering your surroundings. According to House Method, simply tidying up a few things in your home can leave you with the feeling of accomplishment and productivity. One easy example is doing the dishes every night before you go to bed. You can fall asleep knowing that you won’t have to look at dirty dishes in the sink the next morning.

You may have heard of the tidying up guru, Marie Kondo, whose philosophy is to only keep things in your house that spark joy. She uses a system for decluttering that includes going through all of your belongings and deciding to either keep it, donate it, or throw it away. You can apply this cleaning method in your life by getting rid of items you own that don’t spark joy.

3. Prioritize

After tidying up, you can start thinking about any changes or projects you’d like to start. In a journal, write down one to three projects or ideas you’ve had throughout the day. By referring to these things as priorities, you’re validating their credibility and are more likely to follow through on them.

One example of priorities could be budgeting for regular home repairs or finally looking into interior designers in your area that can help you create your dream home. Whatever it is, this is the time you can be honest about big ideas you’ve had.

4. Journal

After jotting down your priorities, it’s time to reflect on your day. A journal routine is one of the best ways you can help yourself think with clarity. Keep track of how you feel each night and jot down what went well in your day, what could have gone better, and what you can do better tomorrow.

Here’s a short example:

Today’s Rating: 7/10

1. What went well? I had a great workout and made good food choices.
2. What could’ve gone better? I could have tried connecting more with my co-workers.
3. What will I do better tomorrow? Look for ways to connect with those around me.

At the end of each week, you can see an average of how you were feeling that week. You can also note whether or not you followed through on what you said you would do better on the next day. This is a simple way to be self-aware and work toward self-improvement.

5. Deep breathing

The last part of this nightly routine includes deep breathing or meditation. This is a practice you can do right before you fall asleep. Laying on your back, stacking your hands on your stomach, and taking deep breaths can help you calm your mind instead of thinking about all of the things you have to do the next day.

Pranayama is a yoga practice for controlling your breathing. One technique is called the 4-7-8 method, and it’s famous for helping people fall asleep in 60 seconds once you practice twice a day for two months. To do this, exhale like you’re blowing out a birthday candle. Inhale through your nose for four seconds. Hold your breath for seven seconds. Exhale for eight seconds. Repeat three times.

If you’ve never done a nightly routine, it may take some work to apply this to your life. Apply each practice slowly, understanding that you may not get to your entire routine each night. Give yourself grace through the process and don’t try to be perfect. The point of a nightly routine is to de-stress and be intentional about caring for your mental health. Take your time and enjoy it.