You go from full speed to lying in bed with a racing mind and nothing in between. A wind-down routine isn't about relaxation tips. It's a physical sequence that gradually shifts your brain out of go-mode.
Going to bed isn't one step. It's a transition from active to passive, and your brain may resist that transition hard. Without a bridge between "doing things" and "sleeping," you end up lying in the dark thinking about everything you didn't do today and everything you need to do tomorrow. The wind-down is the bridge.
Each step in the wind-down is a sensory signal: dim the lights, change into pajamas, warm drink, no screens. Your brain won't decide to feel sleepy, but it will respond to the environment changing. Ready Time sequences these cues and tells you when to start each one so the transition isn't a decision. It's a routine.
More routines