Testing Breathwork Before Bed: What I Learned About Rest
I wanted to see if breathwork before bed could help me slow my mind and fall asleep more easily. So I tried something simple: dimmed lights, no screens one hour before bed, and a minimum of 10 minutes of steady breathing.
The first few nights were calm, almost meditative. By the weekend, my routine slipped — a mix of laughter, late nights, and moments where breathwork quietly took a back seat.
Even so, the experiment taught me something important about rest: it’s not about perfection, but presence.
The First Ritual
After writing about why sleep matters, I wanted to test something simple — a ritual I could repeat consistently to see what really makes a difference.
I’ve done breathwork on and off for a year — sometimes in the morning, during midday, and even before bed. Every time, I notice the same thing: my mood lifts, my energy feels steadier, and there’s this gentle sense of calm that lingers after.
So for this first experiment, I decided to try to stay consistent and commit to breathwork before bed. I wanted to see if that same quiet, grounded feeling could help me unwind before sleep.
Andy helped me find a few Breathe with Sandy videos on YouTube — short sessions we could follow together before bed, without me needing to look at a screen.
🌙 The goal wasn’t to fall asleep instantly, but to create a gentle transition; a signal to myself that the day was over.
Reflections from a Week of Breathwork Before Bed
The first few nights went surprisingly well. I felt ready to sleep after each session — calm, grounded, and heavy in a good way. The breathwork seemed to quiet my mind just enough for rest to feel close.
Still, not every night was smooth. One evening, we forgot to turn on the mosquito repellent, and I spent hours half-asleep, itchy and frustrated. Another night, I drank too much tea before bed and woke up twice.
Those little details reminded me how much the body matters — breathwork helps, but the basics still count.
By midweek, something shifted. My energy felt steady from morning to evening, and I woke up with a lightness that stayed through the day. I even noticed fewer cravings and less restlessness, as if my body wasn’t reaching for extra stimulation.
There were moments of imperfection, such as late-night plans, delayed workouts, and a bit of confusion when my schedule changed, but overall, the ritual held me. Doing the breathwork practices with Andy made it easier to stay consistent; it felt like winding down together, not just following a routine.
I didn’t manage to do it every night, but even that felt like part of the lesson. The difference on the days I practiced was undeniable — calmer evenings, slower mornings, and a softer kind of focus that stayed with me.
🌘 Breathwork didn’t knock me out instantly, but it created the space for sleep to arrive naturally.
What I Learned from Breathwork Before Bed
This experiment reminded me that rest isn’t something you chase — it’s something you create space for.
Breathwork before bed didn’t change everything overnight, but it shifted the tone of my evenings. It helped me unwind without needing noise or distraction. Even on nights when I didn’t fall asleep right away, my body felt calmer, my breathing slower, and my thoughts less demanding.
I also realized how much consistency matters — not in a strict, all-or-nothing way, but in how a simple ritual shapes the mind. When you repeat something gentle often enough, it becomes a signal: it’s time to soften, time to let go.
🌾 The real takeaway wasn’t perfect sleep — it was awareness.
Awareness of how small choices — a breath, a pause, a few quiet minutes — can change the way rest begins.
Would I Continue the Ritual?
Absolutely, but with gentleness. Breathwork before bed feels like a quiet companion rather than a tool. It doesn’t demand perfection or pressure; it just invites stillness when I choose to show up for it.
What I love most is that it doesn’t need much: no timers, no apps, no goals — just breath, dimmed lights, and presence. If you’re new to the practice, guided sessions on YouTube can be really helpful — I use Breathe with Sandy. And if you don’t want the glow of a screen, an e-ink device or similar can work beautifully too.
I know how much better I feel when I do it, but sometimes I honestly don’t prioritise it. Some nights, other things take over. And that’s okay because the breathwork practice is still there waiting, quiet and patient, for when I return.
🌾 Each time I return to it, it reminds me how close stillness really is — never lost, just waiting to be noticed.
Closing Reflections
Each of these experiments feels like a quiet conversation with myself — a way to listen more closely to what rest is asking for.
Breathwork reminded me that slowing down doesn’t always mean stopping. Sometimes, it’s simply noticing the space between one breath and the next.
I’d love to know:
🌙 Have you ever tried breathwork before bed?
🌙 What helps you slow down when the day is over?
Feel free to share your reflections in the comments below — or tag us @longbluofficial on Instagram if you’d like to share your own Rituals for Rest.
For now, my next experiment — Yoga Nidra — will wait until our renovations are complete. Once the dust (and sawdust) settles, I’ll be ready to begin.
Elevate your rituals. Empower your nights. Evolve with restorative sleep.
Love,
Mikki