5 Wellness Leaders Share Their Wind Down Routine
A wind down ritual at the end of a noisy day can be the difference between a restless night and deep, restorative rest. Repeating small actions each night, like turning off electronics or sipping your favorite tea, can help signal the brain that it’s time to slow down.
Rituals dedicated to sleep have become so important that it’s no surprise that “sleepmaxxing” has taken off as a TikTok trend. Videos tagged #sleepmaxxing have racked up hundreds of thousands of views, as people search for the perfect routine to upgrade their rest with the goal to wake up feeling truly restored.
To celebrate the launch of our new Sleep Teabag Sachets, we connected with five wellness leaders dedicated to helping people feel their best. These inspiring individuals, from an Olympian to a seasoned TV Fitness Coach, all share their personal wind down routines and tips that get them feeling ready to conquer the next day.
Looking to create your own evening routine? Brew your favorite sleepytime tea, press play on the Art of Tea Wind Down Playlist, and let our Ritual Assistant guide you to a calmer evening.
Meet the leaders
Jen Widerstrom
Wellness Educator
Los Angeles, CA
As a renowned coach from NBC's The Biggest Loser and the author of Diet Right for Your Personality Type, Jen Widerstrom understands profoundly how our daily choices, especially around food and drink, can disrupt our precious sleep cycle. Below, she shares her personal wind down routine she's honed to counter these interruptions.
Wind Down Routine:
My personality responds really well to systems to help my mind slow down, so that’s exactly what I made in my evenings. I have an alarm for bedtime that goes off at 8:30, and that’s when it all begins.
Any screen that’s on, I put aside. I take 200 mg of L-Theanine and sometimes a dropper of CBD if I’ve had a more intense training day. Next is my skin care regimen, which I’m religious with, and then I settle into bed with a paper book. (Currently it’s Dan Brown’s, The Lost Symbol, and it is so good!) At this point, my brown noise machine is switched on and I’m only using red light in my bedroom at this phase of the evening. After about 10 to 15 minutes, my sleepy eyes tell me it’s time to go down, and I’m asleep within minutes.
Sleep Tip:
Stop all food and drink one to two hours before bedtime. This was a game changer for me! Unfortunately, this included my cocktails as well, but when I ended all my fun a little earlier, my sleep quality went through the roof even on that evening, as I did decide to have alcohol. Stopping sooner with everything set me up, so much better.
Mads Hegelund
Tennis Coach
Los Angeles, CA
When LA's who’s who need to refine their serve or perfect their backhand, they turn to Mads, their go to private tennis coach. For Mads, being “on” means absolute precision and unwavering energy. So, how does he consistently bring his A-game? By keeping his ritual simple.
Wind Down Routine:
Most nights I’m coming home from a long day on court or working with clients so I keep it pretty simple. I’ll eat something light after a late padel or tennis session, and then I try to get my body to actually slow down. Sometimes that’s just putting on a podcast while I clean up the kitchen. Other nights it’s sitting on the couch with my feet up and doing some light stretching. A hot shower is always part of it. I’ll make a cup of tea or just drink water while I scroll a bit or write down a few thoughts from the day. It’s nothing fancy, just little rituals that tell me it’s okay to switch off.
Sleep Tip:
Don’t overthink it. For me, it’s as simple as cooling down after being active and giving myself at least 20–30 minutes away from emails or social media before I crash. Even just dimming the lights and putting your phone on silent makes a big difference.
Louise Hazel
Olympian & CEO of Slay
Los Angeles, CA
@louisehazel @slayathleticclub
Louise Hazel is an Olympic Heptathlete and the visionary behind Slay, a Hollywood private training facility and female fitness community empowering women to fully unlock their strength. With most days beginning before dawn, she reveals how she fuels her mission while also staying aligned to her own ambitious personal goals.
Wind Down Routine:
My wind down routine begins immediately after dinner at 6:30pm. I have a small sweet treat. At the moment I’m enjoying mini ice cream cones to satisfy my sweet tooth. I’m currently cutting my body fat from 19% to 17% and this takes a lot of discipline and organization. So I always end my day with a peppermint tea - it calms my stomach, silences my mind and any late night cravings, and helps me to maintain a calorie deficit. Even when I’m not cutting fat, tea prevents me from choosing unhealthy snack options.
Now that I’m no longer a competing athlete I don’t need to consume the same amount of fuel everyday and tea signals to my body that it’s time for my body to rest at 7pm.
I wake up at 5am and my body needs 8 hours of sleep so I’m in bed by 8:45pm which can be weird during the summer because sometimes it’s still light out - but it works! At 5am I’m ready to go and alert for my first personal training client at 6am at Slay, my women's first gym in Hollywood.
Sleep Tip:
My personal sleep tip is to always have a small bottle of water, bed socks and a sleep mask on you bedside table as cold feet, dehydration and ambient light can disturb your sleep and make it hard to get back to sleep if you wake in the night, so have these on hand in case you need them. Stress free optimal sleep preparation!
Alexis Haley
Director of Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara
Santa Barbara, CA
As the Spa Director of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s sprawling 42,000 square foot spa, Alexis Haley's daily mission is to create an environment where guests feel their most relaxed and optimal selves. And when she clocks out, she makes sure to bring that same energy in her own personal life by creating space to decompress with intention.
Wind Down Routine:
As a Spa Director, my evening wind down routines are about coming back to myself. I start by walking my dogs to decompress and reconnect with nature. When I get home, I light a calming candle and let the scent shift my energy.
My favorite part is my nightly skin ritual. It’s not just about products, but presence. A gentle cleanse followed by a nourishing mask helps me release the day. I sip my sleepy time dream tea (my must-have) and ease into rest feeling grounded, restored, and ready to do it all again tomorrow!
Sleep Tip:
Create a calming ritual that tells your body it’s time to rest. For me, that includes a warm cup of herbal tea, soft candlelight, and a nourishing skin mask. It’s not just about falling asleep, it’s about unwinding with intention.
Cesar Flores
Owner of BRICK Fitness
Los Angeles, CA
Cesar Flores isn't just the owner of Brick Fitness, he's one of the driving forces behind the vibrant, tight knit strength training community in Los Angeles. When he’s not coaching high performance athletes, he’s focused on staying grounded himself, making sure every part of his routine supports both his mental and physical well being.
Wind Down Routine:
Once the day starts slowing down, when the family is winding down, the lights are low. I make it a point to shift gears, too. Around 8:30 PM, I put my phone on Do Not Disturb, dim the lights, and move into chill mode.
I usually make a cup of herbal tea, something like chamomile or lavender. It’s not a big ritual, but it helps me slow my thoughts. Sometimes I’ll stretch on the floor, take a few deep breaths, or sit outside with my dog and enjoy the quiet.
On a good night, I’ll jot down a few thoughts or things I’m grateful for. Just enough to clear my head.
Keeping it simple and consistent helps me feel better the next day: mentally, physically, and just overall more grounded.
Sleep Tip:
Start winding down before your body forces you to. Even 15–20 minutes of doing the same simple things each night can train your body to rest better. It adds up.