Jennifer Aniston’s evening routine: five things she does to maintain her glow

‘DREAM’ ABOUT recreating Jennifer Aniston’s glow? Well, good sleep hygiene could be behind the actresses radiance and motivation. Earlier this year, the Friends star told SELF she’s developed an “ideal” sleep routine — one which sets her up for success. “When I have the luxury of maintaining my routine, it’s everything,” Aniston told the outlet.

But if you’re thinking Aniston’s one of those lucky people who falls asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow — you’d be wrong. Aniston is as a self-confessed “night owl” who’s struggled with insomnia, sleep anxiety and even sleep walking for decades.

Until recently, the Hollywood starlet said she’s done “all sorts of crazy things” to catch some Z’s. From watching the clock to calculate how many hours she had left to sleep — “a big no-no” Aniston told People — to counting the steps it took to reach the kitchen to make a hot tea. She even succumbed to “literally counting cracks” in the walls to exhaust her brain.

Now at 53 years old, Aniston has realised the importance of sleep and how it much it accounts for our overall health and concentration levels. She even called her skin and diet “terrible” when she wasn’t prioritising sleep. This led to her seeking professional medical advice to help monitor her sleep patterns — something she “absolutely recommends people do.”

“It used to be the last thing on the list, but you can’t really abide by the three pillars of health — which are diet, exercise and sleep— if you can’t really exercise and you can’t really eat right if you haven’t slept well because your body clock is so completely thrown off.”

But by implementing a nighttime ritual, Aniston said she’s now found peace … and quiet where sleep is concerned.

For those struggling to get some shut-eye or hoping to improve their bedtime routine, here’s Aniston’s top tips for reaching optimal REM sleep (rapid eye movement). Also, just FYI she’s a newfound ambassador for Seize the Night and Day, an informative sleep website, so Aniston’s surely onto something!

Related: Jennifer Aniston’s morning routine: four things she does every day

1. She keeps her phone out of the bedroom

While most of us have fallen down the social media hole during bedtime, Jennifer Aniston advises to turn off all devices. In fact, she even keeps her phone out of her bedroom completely to be devoid of any distractions. “My phone goes into the kitchen or the bathroom. I walk the dogs. I lock all the doors,” she told SELF.

2. Have the same bedtime each night

While we all have different daily routines, Jennifer Aniston said as an actor she’s made a “real effort” to prioritise putting herself to bed at the same time each night. For her, it’s 11pm. By establishing a consistent hour, it strengthens your sleep-wake cycle. “Make bedtime the same every night, which is challenging for us actors, because if we’re on a movie, the schedule is all over the place,” Aniston said.

3. Wash your makeup off before bed

Nothing feels worse than waking up with a full face of makeup — something which Jennifer Aniston often did. The 53-year-old admitted she never felt “great” falling asleep while in full glam. “Falling asleep on the couch and watching television and waking up at three in the morning in my twenties was not so great. Now, I wash my face.”

4. Have a hot bath

Better yet, Jennifer Aniston recommends one relaxes before bed with a long hot bath. “If I am lucky, I get a hot bath, which really helps,” she said.

5. Meditate and practice gratitude

Jennifer Aniston’s a keen advocate for meditation and practising gratitude — so much so that her morning routine also includes some positive self-reflection. But even if you struggle to sit still and meditate, it all counts. Aniston said even just a few minutes helps you to relax and unwind. “If I only have five minutes to do it, five minutes is fine. Usually, it’s just quieting down my thoughts. Or sometimes I’ll follow a meditation on an app.”

While her meditations vary, Aniston called her gratitude lists “important” in comforting herself before bed. “My meditations vary, but gratitude lists are really important, I believe. Every week I do them. We have a lot to be grateful for.”

And if you happen to wake up in the middle of the night, Aniston advises people to start some gentle meditation to ease yourself back to sleep.

Related: Jennifer Aniston on her wellness routine, feeling grounded and dealing with stress