Want to be more intentional about your night-time schedule?
Read on to discover three manageable ways to spiritualise your sleep routine and learn how these ancient practices can help you today ...
Let's be honest: we’ve all binged our favourite show before bed or mindlessly scrolled social until we can’t keep our eyes open. But have you ever wanted more from this time of the day?
In this piece, we highlight three bitesize practices that you can introduce to your nightly schedule, so you can discover what difference spiritualising your sleep routine can make to your everyday life – even if you only have five minutes spare.
So, whether you want to reflect on the day behind you, or be more intentional about the day that’s ahead, these recommendations aim to help you become more in tune with your spiritual self – and less likely to fall down TikTok rabbit holes.
Do you regularly practise gratitude? Perhaps you have a gratitude journal or you try to appreciate moments of joy as you go about your day.
According to recent studies, intentionally engaging in a daily practice like gratitude journalling can lead to better sleep and ease anxiety. It's even shown to boost immunity and increase long-term happiness. Sounds like a pretty good addition to make to your night-time routine, right?
But is practising gratitude a spiritual act in itself? In simple terms, no. Lots of people express gratitude without it being a spiritual thing; they just want to appreciate the good things in their life.
However, gratitude can become a spiritual practice when we’re intentional about how or why we receive these blessings in our life. It can take on a spiritual meaning when we ask if a higher being – be it God, the universe, or another entity – plays a part in the good things we receive, and whether we want to say ‘thank you’ in response.
But what does the Bible say about gratitude? And can this ancient text offer guidance on practising gratitude today?
Parts of the Bible are a little bit like an ancient gratitude journal. Different authors express gratitude for the blessings in their life, giving thanks to God for what they have.
So, if you’re new to practising gratitude, or you want to try expressing gratitude in a spiritual way, where should you start?
If you’re new to practising gratitude:
If you’re new to practising gratitude spiritually:
Have you ever tried praying? It might be something that you do regularly, something you’ve done in the past or it could be completely new to you.
But what exactly is prayer – and is it something that everyone can do?
Put simply, prayer is a chat between you and a greater being. Everyone can pray, if they'd like to – it's not reserved to people with specific beliefs. And there’s no set way to pray, either. It's a personal experience.
That said, praying can feel strange, tricky or even a little awkward, especially if it’s not something you’re used to.
So, where do you start with prayer? And how can it help spiritualise your sleep routine?
When you pray, you can talk about anything you’d like: how your day’s been, the things that made you smile, the things you’re worried about, the areas in your life where you’d like to see change. You can even search ‘prayer prompts’ as a way to inspire your thoughts.
But why pray before bed?
Often, people choose to pray at the end of the day because it’s a natural point to reflect on the day behind you, giving you time to ponder how you feel about the situations you’ve faced.
It's a good time to reflect on the high points of the day and acknowledge areas that may have brought you pain or worry. It offers you a chance to ‘hand over’ situations that are too heavy to carry to a higher being who’s able to take this from them.
Are you a fan of guided meditations? Maybe you’ve got your go-to meditation channels. But have you ever thought about trying out a spiritual meditation?
Sure, the Bible is viewed as a ‘religious text’, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t access its words if you don’t consider yourself overly religious.
For millennia, people across all kinds of cultures, traditions, ages, lifestyles and circumstances have meditated on texts from the Bible. They’ve drawn hope, wisdom and comfort from its words.
But how do you meditate on the Bible?
One way is to read the words for yourself. If you choose this approach, you might find it insightful to pause after each line, asking questions like:
If you’re keen to try this approach, you might like to dip your toe in the water with a few lines from the book of Psalms – the Bible’s songbook. It's full of poetic reflections on topics like love, loss, faith and hope, which lend themselves to meditation. This includes more well-known examples, like Psalm 23, which starts ‘The Lord is my shepherd’.
Alternatively, there are lots of guided meditations online that are inspired by the Bible, which talk you through a few verses, leaving space for you to pause and reflect on the words – what they mean to you, and whether they can help illuminate the situations you’re facing today.
So, why not test out one of these approaches and explore for yourself what impact spiritualising your sleep routine might have on your life today?
In search of a calming meditation before sleep? Using ancient words of wisdom, our guided meditation lets you reflect on the day that’s passed, celebrating joyful moments and seeking resolution where needed.
Wondering how to stop worrying? Want to help calm anxiety? Try this ten-minute guided meditation based on ancient words of peace.
Want to take time to reflect on the healthy relationships in your life, and remind yourself of the value you add to others? Using ancient words of wisdom, this guided meditation is designed to help you feel loved and love others better.
Read the Bible 
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