How to create an Alexa command to ready your room for sleep

So you've finally nailed your sleep routine. Congratulations! Lights dimmed, white noise on, alarm set for the wake-up time that gives you five perfect REM cycles — you're about to be well-rested to the max. 

But there's a way to streamline your sleep setup even more: by creating a routine using your Alexa device. This will ready your room for bedtime with a single voice command. Here's how to do it, in just four easy steps.

Step 1: Make sure your devices are connected to Alexa

First, you'll want to make sure all the devices involved in your bedtime routine are connected to your Alexa app, so they'll be available options when you're constructing your routine. Just head to "Devices" in the Alexa app, select the plus sign, and click "Add device." 

From there, you can choose the type and brand of the device you want to connect and add it to your Alexa-compatible lineup.

Step 2: Create a routine in the Alexa app

Next, you'll create your routine. Open the Alexa app and select "More," then select "Routines." From there, press the plus sign. You'll be directed to start a new routine.

Step 3: Set your voice command "event"

This part's fun: Click on "When this happens" and you'll be directed to select the voice command to trigger your bedtime routine. This could be as simple as "Start my night routine," or you can get a little creative. 

For example, if you're creating a bedtime routine for a child, consider picking something they'll have fun saying themselves. Getting to shout "night night!" every evening could make bedtime a little more enjoyable, right?

Choosing a quirky or unusual command is also helpful because you're less likely to accidentally say it at other points during the day. (Simply using the word "sleep," for example, might be too much of a hazard.) You don't want to set off your bedtime routine when it is not, in fact, bedtime.

Step 4: Design your routine

Finally, you'll select "Add action" and choose the components of your routine. This could be:

• Turning the temperature on your Nest thermostat to 65 degrees Fahrenheit (an optimal sleep temperature)

• Playing a white noise playlist or a relaxing bedtime song

• Dimming or switching off the lights (you'll need smart bulbs for this one) or fading lamps to 0 percent brightness over time as you doze off

• Starting up a relaxing scent diffuser, like the Pura Mini

• Setting your alarm for the next morning

• Firing up an Alexa-compatible sleep tracker, like Amazon's Halo Rise or one of our picks for the best sleep trackers.

Good night! We hope you're ready for the sweetest dreams ever.