when the sun goes down at 5pm

when the sun goes down at 5pm

grwm to rot in bed

caitlyn

Oct 20, 2026

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hello.

when the sun goes down at 5pm, i like to stay home and bed rot or cook stew in the kitchen. hibernate until the sun comes back up. you know how envious we are of people who manage to be in bed before 10pm?

this is our time.

yes, the darker days can feel a little grim, but i also find comfort in this period of solitude. a retreat from the world—reset, stay home, write, wallow, and indulge in the pleasures of doing absolutely nothing.

i’ve compiled a little list of things to do to help you ease into the seasonal transition and find some comfort in the darker days ahead.

early evening routine:

-wear cozy pajamas:

do you like matching jammies or a baggy t shirt and sweats? skims makes the coziest

pajama set

.

-light candles:

replace artificial light with tapered candles in candle sticks. create a little sanctuary in your room.

(please don’t forget to blow your candles out before bed).

if you’re forgetful and want to experience candles without a worry in the world, consider this

candle warmer

. i use this every single day. my favorite bedtime candles are

ambre japonais by byredo

—a warm spiced vanilla bourbon and

cloud gazer by the new savant

—a creamy lavender, chamomile, steamed vanilla scent.

-put on a

jazz record

and invite a few close friends over:

put out appetizers (i fw

spinach artichoke dip

and chips. or consider a

bruschetta

. or

baked brie

with cranberries and crackers)

-baking project (cinnamon rolls, pie, miso chocolate chip cookies,

sticky buns

):

put together a list of all the sweet treats you’ve been wanting to make. this also makes for a great gift since the holidays are coming up.

-cook a stew:

it’s soup season! here are some recipes:

turkey soup

,

tomato

,

chili

,

sweet potato

,

carrot-parsnip

,

red lentil

,

french onion

,

butternut squash with brown butter

,

broccoli and potato

,

chickpea vegetable

,

tortellini

,

cold cure

(for sick days).

-listen to

chopin

and

read dostoevsky

:

or whatever rich literature appeals to you. but i especially recommend taking this time to immerse yourself in a

project book

. something substantial, challenging, and deserving of your undivided attention. get lost in a piece of literature that might genuinely change the way you see the world.

-journal!!

there has never been a more perfect time to journal. set the mood, find your favorite journal and pen, and write, write, write. am i the only one who keeps several journals for different purposes? i have one for

messy word vomit

, another for

documenting memories

alongside little mementos and keepsakes, and one dedicated to

writing lists

, favorite things, passing observations, and creative ideas…

-facetime with your best friend:

sometimes you simply don’t feel like going out. consider having a virtual date with a friend instead. catch up, gossip, watch something together, or just enjoy each other’s company without having to leave the house.

-read from

your tbr stack

:

if you’re a mood reader like me, i already know your tbr stack is a mile high. spend some time browsing your own collection and choose something that speaks to your current mood. the best book to read is the one you feel most compelled to pick up.

-take on a home project:

reorganize your bookshelf (a current project of mine), clean out your pantry, sort through your wardrobe and donate clothes you no longer wear, etc. finally get around to those little domestic projects you’ve been putting off.

-make a new pinterest board:

set aside some time for your nightly

pinterest

board and spotify playlist enrichment. a little visual inspiration and musical discovery never hurt anyone.

-make a list in your notes app of all the tv shows and films you want to watch:

curate a little watchlist for every conceivable mood. sometimes i want trashy reality television, other times something cozy and comforting, and occasionally i just want to fall asleep to bitchy french films. i have lists for all of them.

-study:

are you a student, too? use this time to your advantage. take late-night trips to the library, find yourself a quiet corner, and stay awhile.

-make yourself a cup of

hot sleepytime tea

with honey and lemon:

this is

his

season after all.

-write handwritten love notes to your friends:

handwritten letters, diy christmas cards, handmade gifts—look through pinterest for a little inspiration and start thinking about what you’d like to make this year. you can tuck little keepsakes into your letters, like tea bags, illustrations, pressed flowers, photographs, buttons, miniature zines, or anything else that feels personal and sentimental.

-put together gift guides for the upcoming holiday season:

establish a realistic budget first, then start planning what you’d like to give your friends and family. a batch of homemade baked goods or a thoughtfully written card. simple, but significant.

-gift yourself a subscription:

if you’ve been considering subscriptions to criterion, mubi, the new york review of books, the new yorker, etc., now feels like a particularly good time to indulge in the pleasures of cinema and literature.

-have a cozy bedtime scent:

incorporate lotions or bedtime fragrances that are soft, comforting, and conducive to a little nighttime indulgence. this

vanilla lotion

from cyklar is one of my favorites. i also adore the

in bed lotion

from josie maran. lately, i’ve been infatuated with parisian musc—a creamy, soft, fig-forward fragrance that reminds me of freshly washed sheets, warm skin, and a white t-shirt. i also love

molecule + iris

—a delicate, woody, powdery iris that feels like the softest, warmest embrace.

okay, that’s all i have for today.

nyrb books

philosophy book

s

classic literature

gothic literature

(follow

ig

,

tiktok

,

youtube

,

pinterest

and

spotify

for more)

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