21 Songs That Will Help You Unwind and Feel Ready for Bed

If you’re one of those people who collapses into bed each night and falls asleep within seconds—I feel you. (Turns out, this isn’t necessarily a good thing, but we’ll leave that for another day.) Oftentimes, my days feel go-go-go until that very last moment…as if rushing to get to bed on time is actually the last item on my agenda. And while I suppose on some level a militant approach to slumber could be effective, I can’t help but want to ease into rest in a way that feels more chill.

So that’s the idea behind this week’s playlist. This sleepytime list of 21 tracks runs just over one hour long—perfect for a leisurely wind down routine. The songs start out slightly more upbeat, with tunes from Maggie Rogers and The 1975, and then become increasingly quieter, softer, and more low-key. You’ll find dreamy beats from Billie Eilish, Vansire, and Perfume Genius, plus acoustic tunes from HAIM, Hozier, and Wild Child. With other playlists, I often say that  it’s fine to skip around or put them on shuffle, but in this case, I think it’s worth listening to in order. In fact, you could even tell yourself that once a certain track comes on—say Kacey Musgraves’s cover of “Can’t Help Falling in Love”—you’ll climb into bed and enjoy the final two tracks while doing nothing but lying there and getting extra cozy. 

So instead of our usual, “turn up the volume and get going!” motivation, this time around, I’ll say: Settle in, dim the lights, and take your time thoroughly winding down after a busy and productive day.