For me, the change came when I stopped chasing ‘the perfect night’s sleep' and started focusing on what I could control: consistency, sleeping environment, and what I eat and drink. Here’s the nighttime routine (and the sleep hygiene habits) that turned things around for me… My routine Here are the main steps in my evening wind down and bedtime routine that I aim for most nights. (I’ll explain the science behind all of these steps in more detail below.) I say ‘aim for’, because life happens.