Redefining Relaxation: No More Wasted Evenings In Front of the TV & Scrolling
Discover how to end your day with more purpose and alignment🙏🏾✨
When was the last time you watched a TV show or a movie worthy of your time and energy?
And what I mean by worth it is, something that inspired you to shift, create, or consider something new or interesting in your life.
I know that is not the purpose of television, that its goal is mainly to entertain, yet I cannot help but wonder if this isn’t all a trick to keep people stuck and small.
I have a solid morning practice. My evening routine, however, has not been very consistent or aligned with how I want to live my life for a while.
Lately, I find myself unwinding at night by turning on the TV and watching something random until I fall asleep on my partner’s shoulder out of boredom. Yikes.
When I am in Barcelona, I don’t have that problem as much, mainly because there are too many fun things in the city that I would rather do than plop myself on the sofa and watch TV.
I like to wander around the old town until after dark, getting home for dinner with my parents at 21:30 sharp (that’s 10:30 pm for the US folks).
When I am there, I often finish my day reading a book, I write down a couple of things I want to accomplish the next day, and I’m in bed and asleep before midnight.
When in the US, however, I live in the woods, surrounded by lush nature where life is slower and less stimulating, and my evening relaxation habits flaunter.
As the days grow longer, I am committed to building better evening habits, alternatives to watching TV in the evening or scrolling on my phone that will help me get better rest.
Moreover, after watching this reel (ironically enough), I realized that ending my days unintentionally did not help me in the mornings, either.
So I invite you to consider,
How do you end your days?
If you want to join me in the quest for better evening habits that can help you end your day in more alignment, get better rest, and wake up refreshed and ready, check out the following ideas I have been exploring, see what inspires you!
✨Grab a Book
In Catalonia, we are avid readers. It was recently Sant Jordi, a beautiful day to celebrate books, roses, and Catalan culture.
In honor of my favorite holiday, here are a few fiction reads to start a new evening habit:
✨Intentional Movement
Whether it's a few yoga postures or an evening walk, moving your body helps to release tension from the day, especially if your lifestyle is quite sedentary, and it’s also good to release mental clutter.
Last weekend I went on a staycation on the river and was inspired to practice yoga outside at Sunset, helping me connect to my late-day intention. I created a yoga practice for you, filmed with the Bayou as the backdrop.
Did I get destroyed by mosquitoes even with the Linai screen? Maybe… but that is where learning to breathe through it all comes in handy. 🙃
I hope you enjoy the gentle evening yoga sequence and the sounds of the water and the wind chimes.
✨Gratitude Practice
It’s easy to forget to pause and be grateful for what we have, for how far we’ve come.
Take a few minutes each night to grab your journal and write 3 things you’re grateful for that day. This will help you align with the goodness in your life and invite more.
You could also try my free guided meditation with affirmations to release the day and connect to a sense of ease.
🌸May Gatherings
As we explore our paths to better evening routines and mindful living, let's come together to connect in this month’s online gathering, hosted on the free platform Insight Timer.
✨ Flowing with Resilience | Accessible Yoga for Inner Strength
This May, I invite you to join me for a special class in honor of World IBD Day, celebrated annually on May 19th.
This day unites individuals like me in our journey with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis—chronic conditions known as inflammatory bowel diseases.
This free accessible yoga session will help you foster resilience through gentle, nurturing movement and breath awareness focusing on building strength from the inside out. (Donations are always appreciated! 🙏🏾)
If you’re an EkhartYoga member (or want to become one) join me for a Full Moon Flow to embrace change and growth on May 20th!
What are your favorite evening routines, and how do they help you? Share in the comments below!
Until we meet again, remember to pause often, breathe deeply, and stay kind.
Much love,
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It’s funny because I’m the same - my morning routine is pretty solid but my evening routine is not. I find when my partner is away I usually end the day reading with some classical music on and I enjoy that. When he’s home we usually watch things together and he plays with my hair (which can also be nice). I’d prefer if we weren’t on a screen but I’m not yet sure how to change it.
Good work, Laia :)