Put Yourself to Bed
I've spent much of my life putting other people to bed.
Babies.
Children.
A teenager who snuck out at night.
A young adult with questionable sleep hygiene.
A partner who wakes up at 3 a.m. like it's a personality trait.
That's a lot of years.
A lot of half-sleep.
A lot of one ear open.
In my family they say I sleep like a dolphin.
One brain awake.
One brain resting.
One eye open.
One eye closed.
Always listening.
And truthfully?
Some of us were never good sleepers to begin with.
But a few years ago, I decided something radical.
If I could put my babies to sleep...
I could put myself to sleep.
There is something sacred about closing a well-lived day.
Not collapsing into bed.
Not scrolling into unconsciousness.
Not dragging the unfinished emotional business of everyone you love under the covers with you.
Closing.
I acknowledge the work I did.
The dragons I fought.
The heartships I felt.
I sort what's mine to carry...
and I gently return what isn't.
Then I wash away the day's pollution.
I clean my teeth.
I treat my skin.
I braid my hair like Ma Ingalls.
I wear silk nightgowns—no polyester, no rayon.
Two sets of fabulous sheets.
Cold water on the nightstand.
A story in my hands.
And when the light goes out...
I begin my gratitude.
Not the fluffy kind.
The grounded kind.
"Thank you for my workout this morning
at the gym I love
with the people who know, like, and believe in me.
Thank you for the bills I paid—
office rent, cold medicine for my sister,
nail services,
lunch at The Morning Star.
Thank you for neighbors who wave.
Trash collectors who avoid the crack in my driveway.
My dog—snow queen of the porch.
Thank you for two hospital trips today.
For gas money and flexibility.
For Nurse Chris—not Mom's nurse today,
but checking in anyway.
Thank you that my son is home,
cooking in the kitchen
I already cleaned
and put to bed."
And then...
"Let my body heal itself now.
Closed mouth breathing.
Deep slumber.
Dreams like white tigers and sailing ships."
And finally:
Goodnight, Love.
My best friend.
My greatest inspiration.
My hype girl.
My most trusted confidant.
Myself.
God, you made me this way.
Thank you for all these gifts.
Goodnight.
(Light out.)
My friend...
You do not need perfect sleep hygiene.
You need ritual.
Completion.
Gratitude that roots you in sufficiency.
Tonight, put yourself to bed.
Not your phone.
Not your to-do list.
Not your worries.
You.
Energy recognizes energy.
Self-care isn't selfish—it's sacred.
And the version of you you're becoming?
She deserves to be tucked in.
Goodnight.
If you enjoyed this post, join my inner circle of people on a mission to design a life they don’t need to escape from!
