A 1940s Bedtime Routine Could Hold the Secret to a Better Night’s Sleep
In today’s fast-paced world, winding down before bed often means scrolling through a phone, watching television, or catching up on a few last-minute tasks. But what if the secret to a better night’s sleep lies in slowing down and returning to simpler habits from the past?
One YouTuber decided to find out by recreating a traditional 1940s evening routine. Her experiment involved everything from a warm bath and old-fashioned hair care to knitting and reading by dim light. The experience offered an interesting glimpse into how people once prepared for sleep — and what modern life might be missing.
Why Are So Many People Struggling to Sleep?
Sleep difficulties have become increasingly common. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 15% of adults report having trouble sleeping most days or every day.
Several factors may contribute to this problem, including stress, anxiety, excessive caffeine consumption, and the widespread use of electronic devices late at night. These habits can interfere with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Sleep has long been recognised as an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Even Albert Einstein was reportedly known for prioritising rest, with accounts suggesting that he regularly slept for long periods and took daytime naps.
Today, however, many people find themselves struggling to switch off at the end of a busy day.
Could an evening routine inspired by the 1940s offer some useful lessons?
Recreating a Traditional 1940s Evening
Hannah, who runs the YouTube channel Real Vintage Dolls House, decided to experiment with a bedtime routine inspired by the 1940s after admitting that her own nighttime habits were practically nonexistent.
Life during the 1940s was shaped by the Second World War, rationing, and significant social changes. Women were often expected to maintain their personal appearance and household responsibilities, even while working demanding jobs in factories and shipyards.
After a long day, an evening routine provided an opportunity to wash, prepare for bed, and gradually unwind.
Hannah wanted to recreate that experience as authentically as possible.
Step 1: Taking a Bath
Her evening began with a bath after the working day had finished.
To reflect the restrictions of wartime rationing, she limited herself to just five inches of water. Although this was a small detail in her experiment, it highlighted how everyday routines were influenced by the shortages of the era.
After her bath, she changed into a comfortable set of silk-style pyjamas, complete with a matching dressing gown and house slippers.
The transformation immediately created a sense of comfort and separation from the demands of the day.
Step 2: Following an Old-Fashioned Hair Care Routine
Hair care was another important part of the evening ritual.
Hannah sat down to brush her hair, following vintage beauty practices that placed considerable emphasis on keeping it clean, smooth, and well maintained.
Women in earlier decades often washed their hair less frequently than many people do today. Some traditional methods involved using soap followed by lemon juice or vinegar to remove residue.
The familiar expression “squeaky clean” is associated with the sensation of clean hair or skin making a squeaking sound when rubbed, although the phrase has a broader history.
Brushing was also considered essential. One hundred strokes was a commonly repeated beauty recommendation, based on the belief that regular brushing helped maintain healthy-looking hair.
Although modern hair-care advice varies depending on hair type and condition, the ritual itself offered something valuable: a quiet activity that encouraged Hannah to slow down rather than rush through her evening.
Step 3: Taking Time for Personal Care
Hannah continued with several other traditional beauty practices.
She cleansed her skin with a cleansing cream, tidied her eyebrows, applied Vaseline to her lips, filed her nails, and arranged her hair in overnight rollers.
Each task required attention and time.
Instead of completing everything in a few hurried minutes, she worked through her routine gradually. These simple activities created a clear transition between the responsibilities of the day and the relaxation of the evening.
Personal care became more than a practical necessity. It was an opportunity to pause, focus on herself, and leave the day’s stresses behind.
Step 4: Knitting, Reading, and Switching Off
Once her preparations were complete, Hannah turned her attention to relaxing.
She dimmed the lighting in her room, settled beneath a blanket, and spent time knitting and reading a book before going to sleep.
There were no smartphones to check, no television programmes to watch, and no endless stream of notifications competing for her attention
The atmosphere was calm, simple, and deliberately unhurried.
Reflecting on the experience, Hannah described the bedtime routine of the era as a more thorough and communal ritual than she was accustomed to. Evenings were often quieter and more focused on basic comforts, rest, and family connections.
It was a striking contrast to the way many people approach bedtime today.
The Modern Habit That Could Be Disrupting Your Sleep
One of Hannah’s biggest observations was the absence of mobile phones and television from the traditional evening routine.
She believes that modern screens may be one reason so many people struggle to settle down at night — and research suggests that there is good reason to be cautious about their use before bed.
Using a laptop, browsing social media, or watching television has become a normal part of many people’s evening schedules. However, exposure to light at night, particularly from bright screens, can interfere with the body’s natural circadian rhythm.
Melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, typically rises as darkness approaches. Exposure to light in the evening can suppress or delay this process, potentially making it more difficult to fall asleep.The National Sleep Foundation has also highlighted concerns about light exposure close to bedtime.
Screens can affect sleep in other ways, too. An exciting television programme, a stressful email, or an endless stream of social media posts can keep the mind active when it should be preparing to rest.
Simply putting the phone away may not solve every sleep problem, but creating a quieter environment can be a useful first step.
Why a Longer Bedtime Routine May Help
Hannah’s experiment also raises an important question: Have we made our evenings too rushed?
Many people move directly from work, household responsibilities, and digital entertainment into bed without allowing themselves much time to unwind.
A deliberate nighttime routine creates a buffer between the day’s activities and sleep.
It might involve taking a warm bath, completing a simple skincare routine, reading a few pages of a book, or listening to calming music. The specific activities matter less than choosing habits that feel relaxing and repeating them consistently.
A predictable routine can help establish a sense of structure and signal that the day is coming to an end.
Of course, there is no need to recreate every detail of a 1940s evening. Some historical beauty practices were time-consuming, and not all of them are necessary or suitable for modern hair and skin care.
The more useful lesson is the value of slowing down.
What We Can Learn From the Past
Modern technology has brought enormous benefits, and few people would wish to return to the hardships and uncertainty of wartime Britain. Nevertheless, looking back at everyday habits can sometimes reveal simple ideas worth rediscovering.
Hannah’s experiment suggests that preparing for sleep need not be complicated. It may simply require giving ourselves permission to stop rushing.
Consider making a few small changes to your own evening:
- Reduce screen time: Put your phone away before bed and avoid checking notifications once you begin winding down.
- Create a consistent routine: Try going to bed at a similar time each night and following the same relaxing activities.
- Make your surroundings comfortable: Dim the lights, tidy your bedroom, and choose comfortable sleepwear.
- Choose a calming activity: Read a book, knit, journal, or listen to gentle music instead of scrolling through social media.
- Give yourself enough time: Allow a reasonable period to transition from the demands of the day to bedtime, rather than expecting yourself to switch off instantly.
These changes may not resolve every sleep difficulty, but they can help create an environment that is more conducive to rest.
Ultimately, the most valuable part of Hannah’s 1940s experiment wasn’t the vintage clothing, elaborate beauty rituals, or traditional hair-care techniques. It was the decision to slow down and make rest a priority.
Perhaps the secret to a more peaceful night isn’t adding another complicated wellness trend to our lives. Perhaps it’s learning to put the distractions aside, embrace a little quiet, and give ourselves time to unwind.
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