Saying positive affirmations before going to bed can help calm our minds, reduce stress levels and promote a more optimistic and encouraging outlook for the next day; they can also help reinforce a sense of self-empowerment.
Studies have shown affirmations can have a constructive and beneficial impact on our mental health and overall well-being. It may feel a little awkward to express something positive to ourselves but repeating these optimistic and reassuring statements can reprogram our negative thought patterns; cultivating a mindset that improves self-esteem, manages stress and anxiety and increases motivation.
Affirmations alone are not a substitute for specialist help in treating mental health issues; they’re an effective tool to use when we need to give ourselves an emotional boost. It’s important to note that if we’re struggling with thoughts of helplessness, self-harm and/or suicide; affirmations should never replace professional/medical support. If further assistance is required, some resources have been included at the end of this article.
How To Use Positive Affirmations
There’s no right or wrong way to use affirmations; they can be said out loud, repeated as an internal meditation or even written down in a journal. What’s most important is that we feel relaxed and won’t be interrupted when trying them out — they aren’t time consuming, but they do require some focus.
Personal affirmations are statements we repeat to ourselves that resonate with us or counteract a specific negative thought/experience. They don’t have to be perfectly worded or detailed; their job is to help convey and visualize self-compassion and/or confidence. Even if at first we don’t fully believe the messaging; after a little bit of time, positive affirmations can help reset our frame of mind and improve our well-being.
The best time to use positive affirmations is whenever we need to uplift or comfort ourselves; there’s never a bad moment for a quick mental redirection or pick-me-up. Many people, however, find it helpful to incorporate them into their daily routine first thing in the morning or just before they go to bed. Finding what works for us is key to successfully focusing on our own capabilities and self-worth.
How To Write Your Own Affirmations
Coming up with our own daily affirmations is relatively easy; they can be as broad or specific as needed. It all starts with identifying the areas of our lives that we want to improve or the feelings/situations we have to work through. Once we’ve established their function, we can then write short, positive statements that reflect the change or encouragement we want to see. Using present tense is advised as affirmations are meant to reinforce, conceptualize and manifest auspicious thinking and beliefs.
Remembering the following five points will help when writing and using positive affirmations:
1 | Identify what needs to be improved.
2 | Use specific, positive statements that affirm a desired outcome.
3 | Use present tense language to make affirmations more powerful.
4 | Repeat affirmations daily, ideally in the morning and/or before bed.
5 | Believe in the affirmations and trust that they will help us achieve our goals.
When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life. | Jean Shinoda Bolen
End Your Day With Positive Affirmations
No matter what kind of day we’ve had, it’s always a good idea to provide ourselves with a chance to quiet our mind and foster self-compassion. Whether our time has been filled with productivity and happiness or struggles and mistakes; there’s usually something to take stock of or consciously process in a more healthy way.
Here are 15 positive night-time affirmations to choose from:
- I release all of today’s worries and doubts; I trust in my ability to find the solutions I need.
- I forgive myself for any mistakes I made today; they will become lessons I can carry forward with me.
- I trust that everything I did today will work out for my highest good.
- I did my best today and I am grateful for all the blessings that are yet to come my way.
- I trust in the journey of my life; I appreciate the challenges that help me grow and learn.
- I am capable of achieving my goals and dreams; I will rest and then begin fresh in the morning.
- I am healthy, happy, and whole; I am deserving of success and abundance.
- I am confident in my abilities and my worth; my value is innate.
- A new day is an opportunity to radiate positivity and kindness towards others as well as to myself.
- I can surround myself with encouraging energy and love; I am deserving of this.
- I am at peace with myself and my life.
- I trust in the natural rhythm of life.
- I am ready for peaceful and rejuvenating sleep; I am worthy of a good night’s rest.
- I am looking forward to what a new day will bring; I accept I am growing and learning.
- I trust my inner wisdom to guide me through a new day; I am open to new opportunities and experiences.
Affirmations are not about achieving perfection or forcing ourselves to think positively; their purpose is to cultivate encouragement and mental/emotional resilience. Self-talk that improves our mindset involves consistent effort; if we get used to focusing on our strengths and/or optimism we can often guide ourselves through challenges or onto the next steps in personal growth.
It’s time to put aside any awkwardness or scepticism about using positive affirmations and give them a try. Reprogramming our subconscious mind to seek out and place emphasis on nourishing thoughts and beliefs is an essential life skill. Learning how to find and tap into a deeper sense of inner peace is something many of us put off until we need it. Harnessing hopefulness and empathy towards ourselves is not indulgent or selfish; it’s how we fortify the boundaries that support us.
Which night-time affirmations resonated with you? Do you talk to yourself with compassion?
Further Info:
NAMI Helpline – a free, nationwide U.S. resource that offers experienced peer-support guidance and advice, including LGBTQ+
CheckPoint – global (by country) resources for mental health support
Safe In Our World – a list of global (by country) LGBTQ+ mental health resources and support
transatlantic | notes 
I like the positive way you talk through affirmations. I say them to myself when a difficult day arises. Or just before presenting information to a group or people at work.
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I use them in this way too; it’s so helpful and provides such a welcome comfort/boost.
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I used to use affirmations a lot but I don’t anymore really if I’m honest but I can definitely see how they’re so useful, especially at the end of a long day x
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I will admit that I go through cycles of using them/not using them but whenever I pick them up again I am reminded just how encouraging and helpful they are. After a long day they are particularly good.
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I really loved this! I’ve never been one to use affirmations as I was never really sure how to do it/where to begin and this was such a good guide💫
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I am so glad this proved useful; affirmations are a great way to give comfort and compassion to ourselves — well worth it!
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These are great, never thought to end my day with affirmations but it makes perfect sense to end your day on a high note.
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I didn’t think to use them at the end of the day either until about a year ago and they make such a positive difference!
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This is such a wonderful post. Affirmations help so many people in so many different aspects of life. They really are incredibly helpful and meaningful. Thank you for sharing.
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I agree 100%; I used to think it was all a bit silly and wouldn’t work but affirmations really do an amazing job. I encourage everyone to use them!
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Love this post! I’ve challenged myself to journal every morning and night with affirmations and such, so this is really helpful. Definitely going to use some of these, thank you so much for sharing! Ending the day on positivity before bed has been making such a difference to my mindset.
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I agree; using them is so helpful at giving me a boost whenever I need it. I love the idea of doing some journaling in the morning and at night too!
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I always love to use it at the beginning of the day and never used it at the end. These are great affrimations!
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It’s great to know that you use affirmations too; they are so helpful!
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About a year ago or two I started using positive affirmation and it pretty much helps me thru my daily life
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I put off using them for the longest time as I didn’t think they would work (which they do, amazingly well) and I am so glad I get to share some of the ones I use now!
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I use affirmation cards from the Feel Good Bubble, they really do help with setting intentions. Affirmations are so simple and effective, great post, thank you!
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There are so simple but have such a positive impact; I love the idea of using cards from the Feel Good Bubble!
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I don’t know if I’d call it an affirmation, but I often need a reminder at bedtime that I have done enough today. And that little by little, a little becomes a lot. I tend to overestimate what I can get accomplished in a day. But if I look back over a year, or even a month, it turns out I did get quite a lot of things done.
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That seems like a (wonderful) affirmation to me; I love the idea that we can remind ourselves that we’ve done enough and it will all build to something more/bigger. I love this!
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These are wonderful and inspiring affirmations. Thank you for sharing. 🙏
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Thank you so much!
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I love this. I started my journey with affirmations a long time ago and I use them every single day! They helped me significantly to better love myself and be able to take on whatever the world was throwing at me! Thanks for sharing x
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This is so great to hear; I have really benefited from using them too and it’s great to share ideas for some affirmations here!
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Affirmations are so powerful! I especially resonate with “I release all of today’s worries and doubts; I trust in my ability to find the solutions I need.” Most of the time we lose sleep because we’re busy worrying/overthinking. This is a calming and reassuring affirmation to end the day. Thank you for sharing Molly!
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This! I have spent so much time worrying about something that it disrupts my sleep; releasing that a bit through affirmations like this really helps settle my mind.
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This is such a wonderful post. Affirmations help so many people in so many different aspects of life. They really are incredibly helpful and meaningful. Thank you for sharing.
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I agree; they can be used in all sorts of ways and they are so beneficial when used consistently!
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I love affirmations! There is something so empowering about affirming to yourself with intention how you want to think and believe. So helpful thank you for sharing!
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Exactly — affirmations can really shift our thinking and help us become more intentional.
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Saying affirmations daily help us to start our day.
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Agreed; they are very useful!
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Very nice
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Thanks!
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Great post! I’ve never tried using affirmations myself, but it does sound like a useful technique. Thanks for sharing!
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They are a great mental health tool to use; they can help uplift us and/or some reassurance/comfort.
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I love this post! It’s the perfect post to read before I go to bed. One affirmation that really resonated with me is ” I can surround myself with encouraging energy and love; I am deserving of this.” Thanks for sharing this Molly.
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I love that one too, it’s a great thing to be thinking of as we go to sleep!
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It is popular for positive affirmations in the morning. But I like to journal in the evenings and reflect on what went well in that day etc. But doing positive affirmations in the evening is a great idea. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren.
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I hadn’t used them at night until about a year ago and it seems to have really helped end my day well (and also start the next one in an uplifted way). I love the idea of journaling in the evenings!
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Ending your day with positive affirmations is such a lovely idea, I like to wake up and write positive affirmations so I’d like to try doing this at night! x
Lucy
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I hope you give this a go at night; it can really make a positive difference!
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I always try my best to say affirmations daily, I fell off the wagon for a while but I’m not back on track and it feels soo good!!! I’ve never done affirmations at night but thank you for this I will surely be adding this to my night routine
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I fall on and off the affirmation wagon every now and then but whenever I pick it up again it really makes a difference!
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Love these! It’s such a beautiful concept to integrate these at the end of the day to forgive yourself of any mistakes and release negativity before sleeping
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I think it’s so helpful to try and let go or at least ease the stresses of the day before we go to sleep; definitely helps us start a new day a bit clearer.
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These are really great affirmations! We’re going to give some of them a try.
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I am so glad you liked these; thanks for reading!
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My favorite affirmation was: “I did my best today and I am grateful for all the blessings that are yet to come my way.”. I love how you ensure the language is focused on a more positive vibe. I appreciate these and will utilize them. Thank you.
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Thank you; I believe that affirmations can be a way to shift towards a more beneficial mindset/focus. I am so glad you will be using some of these!
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Love this post. Permitting yourself release at the end of the day.
Campo Jac
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Thank you for stopping by to read!
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I haven’t used positive affirmations much, but I should definitely start! I love the positive affirmations you shared, and those are great tips for writing your own affirmations.
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I would definitely say to give using affirmations a go. For the longest time I didn’t think they would do anything but with consistency they really uplift!
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Thanks for sharing this helpful and positive affirmations. A great way to end the day.
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Thanks for reading!
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