The art of unwinding

Blissfully belated ways to call it a day

KARACHI:

Let's face it: adulting is hard. By the time you've conquered your inbox, survived yet another meeting that could've been an email, and remembered to feed both yourself and your suspiciously judgmental houseplant, you're ready to face-plant into the nearest horizontal surface.

But before you resign yourself to a night of doomscrolling and microwaved shame, consider this: what if your evening routine was less "mandatory chore" and more "personal spa retreat for your frazzled brain"? Welcome to the art of unwinding, where counting sheep is so last century, and embracing your inner sloth is the new black.

Ghost your phone

It's 6PM, and your phone is buzzing more than a beehive on espresso. Emails, texts, social media notifications - it's like the digital world is hosting a rave in your pocket. However, this is the time to pull the plug. Before you break out in a cold sweat at the thought of being - gasp - unreachable, remember this: the world managed to spin just fine before you got that smartphone.

Set your phone to "Do Not Disturb" mode at a fixed time each evening. Start with 30 minutes if you're feeling jittery, then gradually increase it. For added fun, give your phone a dramatic "goodnight" ritual. Tuck it into a drawer with a lullaby, or create a tiny "phone bed" complete with a miniature blanket. It's ridiculous, yes, but it'll make you smile - and that's half the battle won already.

Cooking as meditation

Now that you've ditched your digital ball-and-chain, it's time to feed the beast (that's you, by the way). But instead of reheating the last day's questionable leftovers, why not turn cooking into your personal chill pill?

Here's the secret: it's not about creating a masterpiece that would make Gordon Ramsay weep with joy. It's about the process. Chop those veggies like they've personally offended you. Stir that sauce like you're stirring the cauldron of your enemies' tears. Get messy, get creative, and for the love of carbs, put on some music that makes you want to dance like nobody's watching (because guess what? Nobody is).

Bonus tip: Breakfast for dinner is always a winner. There's something delightfully rebellious about pancakes at 8PM.

Dump your thoughts

By now, your body's feeling good, but what about that hamster wheel you call a brain? Time to give it a well-deserved break. Grab a notebook - not your phone, nice try - and dump every single thought bouncing around your cranium onto the page.

Don't try to make it pretty. This isn't your middle school diary. Write about your day, your dreams, your deepest fears, or that weird dream you had about your teeth turning into skittles. The point is to get it out of your head and onto the paper.

For extra credit, try writing with your non-dominant hand. It'll slow you down, make you focus, and the resulting chicken scratch will be so illegible that you won't be tempted to re-read and overthink it later. Win-win!

Create your personal oasis

Now that you've exorcised your mental demons, it's time to treat your senses to a little party. Think of it as creating a blanket fort for your soul.

Start with lighting: Ditch the harsh overheads and opt for soft, warm lights. Candles are great, but if you're prone to accidental pyrotechnics, flameless options work too. String lights can turn even the most mundane space into a cozy wonderland faster than you can say "hygge."

Next up: scent. Lavender is a classic for relaxation, but if that's not your jam, get creative. Love the beach? Go for something oceanic. Miss your grandma's cookies? There's probably a scent for that. The point is to find something that transports you to your happy place.

Don't forget texture. Surround yourself with softness - fluffy blankets, plush pillows, that ridiculously soft robe you splurged on. If you want to take it to the next level, try a weighted blanket.

And for the cherry on top: sound. Whether it's the gentle patter of rain (there's an app for that), the purr of a contented cat (also an app for that), or the dulcet tones of David Attenborough narrating the life cycle of the dung beetle (oddly soothing), find a soundscape that lulls your busy brain into submission.

Prepping for dreamland

As the night winds down and your eyelids start to feel heavy, it's time for the final act: prepping for dreamland.

First, a revolutionary idea: set two alarms. One for when you need to start getting ready for bed, and one for when you actually need to be in bed. It's like having a responsible adult version of yourself nudging you towards good decisions. Ignore at your own peril (and resulting eye bags).

Next, try the "power-down hour." Divide the hour before bed into three 20-minute chunks:

1. Take care of any last-minute to-dos (so your brain doesn't ambush you with "Oh no, I forgot to..." just as you're drifting off).

2. Personal hygiene - brush your teeth, wash your face, apply your serums and potions. Your future self will thank you.

3. Relaxation time. Read a book (a real one, not on a screen), do some gentle stretches, or just lie in bed pondering the existence of parallel universes. Whatever floats your boat to the land of nod.

Sleep like you mean it

You've made it. You're in bed, your phone is in another zip code (or at least on the other side of the room), and you're cozier than a caterpillar in a cashmere cocoon. Now what?

If sleep doesn't come immediately, don't panic. Instead of tossing and turning like a rotisserie chicken, try this: Pick a category (say, "types of pasta" or "characters from Game of Thrones") and go through the alphabet thinking of examples. By the time you get to Vermicelli or Viserys Targaryen, you'll likely be drifting off.

And if all else fails, remember this: even if you don't sleep, resting your body and giving your mind a break is still beneficial. So lie back, relax, and give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing. After all, in a world that never stops, sometimes the most rebellious act is simply being still.