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Morning routines are very common and popular. But we often forget about a nighttime routine. However, a nighttime routine for success is just as important as a morning routine and has amazing benefits!

Think about your current evening and night routine.  Do you often come home after a long day at work or school without a plan to wind down for the night?

A strong night routine actually helps sets the tone for the next day and is great for anyone including single individuals, busy individuals, and college students!

In fact Rise Science reports that a nighttime routine is not a luxury but a necessity.

Seriously anyone can benefit from a night routine.

This article defines a night routine and discuss essential actions that can allow you to have a night routine time routine for success filled with productive and self-care activities.

Lets jump in!

What is a night routine?

A nighttime routine for success means that you have incorporated a set of consistent habits and practices in your evenings that will allow you to prepare for the next day and relax before retiring for the night.

How to create a night routine

When thinking about your night routine for success, think about activities that you can complete in the evening and at night that will prepare you for the next day and activities that will allow you to have a clean and organized home.

Next, this is a must: Think about activities that will allow you to relax after a long day at work or school.

Brainstorm and jot down these activities and tasks.

Remember you are thinking about activities that will prep you for the next day, allow you to have a clean home, and self-care activities.

Next separate the tasks that you listed into the two distinctive categories:

• Prepping for the next day/cleaning
• Self-care activities

Congratulations, you have just created the foundation of your nighttime routine!

Now lets discover how to complete your nighttime routine for success.

Completing your night routine

When you complete your nighttime activities you will want to complete the items that you placed in your two distinctive categories together.

For example, you will start with the activities that you grouped and placed in your “Prepping for the next day & Cleaning” together.

Example: In my Prepping for the next day & Cleaning list I have:

• Prep Lunches
• Lay out tomorrow’s clothes
• Clean the Kitchen

I complete these items first and together.

Next, I move into the “Self-Care” category and take a shower and complete my personal hygiene task, followed by spending time with my family and reading.

Be mindful of context switching.  This is where you switch back and forth between unrelated tasks.  Switching back and forth between tasks can allow you to lose focus which can hinder your productivity.

Depending on your day you may need to adjust your nighttime routine.  If your day did not go well, you may want to add additional self-care activities to help you destress from your day.

Lets look at specific activities that you will want to include in your evening routine.

Activities In Your Night Routine That Will Prepare You For The Next Day

Prep Clothes

Before retiring for the night, lay out your clothes for the next day.  By laying out your clothes for

the next day, you are giving yourself additional time in the morning.  It is also one less decision that you will have to make in the morning.

If you have children allow them to also pick out their clothes.

Take in account clothes needed for the gym and extra-curricular activities.  Prep those outfits too!

Review the next day’s activities

In addition to laying out your clothes, review your calendar and planner.

By reviewing your calendar and planner, meetings, appointments, and obligations for the next day will be fresh on your mind and you are less likely to forget about them.

Activities In Your Night Routine That Will Allow You To Create A Clean And Tidy Space

Clean Your Kitchen

Going to sleep with a clean kitchen allows you to wake up to a clean kitchen which will allow your morning to go smoother. Take 15-20 minutes to clean your counters, place your dishes in the dishwasher (or wash them), and sweep the floors.

Cleaning Schedule

Take another 10- 15 minutes to tidy your living spaces if needed. This may include putting away items and throwing away miscellaneous items such as paper.

Self-Care Activities That Will Prepare You For The Next Day

Spend time with family

After a long day at work, talk to your family about their day.  If you have children, playing games inside or outside also allows the stress to roll off.

Personal Hygiene

Take a warm shower or bath before retiring for the night.  A shower or bath relaxes your body and aides in deep sleep.  Don’t forget to brush your teeth and complete any facial routine that you may have.

Read

Read a book or listen to a book on audio.  Fiction books often allow us to escape if the plot and narrative are engaging and Non-Fiction books allow us to become lifelong learners.

Set Bed Time

A nighttime routine for success cannot be successful if you wake up the following morning restless and tired.  Set a bed time that will allow you to get a least seven hours of sleep.  By striving to get a minimum of seven hours of sleep, you are reducing your stress levels which can improve your mood.

Activities To Be Mindful Of

There are some nighttime activities that you will want to be mindful of, limiting the time that you engage with these activities.

If you spend too much time on the activities, your routine will not be successful as you will spend time on tasks that will decrease your productivity.

Be mindful of using technology in excess.

Set a time limit on technology as you wind down for the night.   You will also want to consider ceasing your technology use 30 minutes before you prepare to sleep as the blue lights from technology can prevent you from falling into a deep sleep.

Closing Thoughts

By implementing a nighttime routine for success, you will notice that you will wake up refreshed the following morning.  In addition to being refreshed, you are taking proactive measures to have a positive day.

Although we listed many tasks and habits that you could include in your night routine, start with 1-2 habits and slowly add in additional routines.

This will allow you to not feel overwhelmed which will help the habits stick.

Feel free to detail your night routine in the comments!

More Routine and Organization Articles

The Best Morning Routine For Success

Sunday Reset Routine: How To Set Your Week Up For Success

7 Habits of Organized People

5 Ways to have an Organized and Productive Week

One thing that everyone wishes that they could have more of is time!  More time to spend time with our family and friends, more time to complete tasks, and more time to enjoy life.  By implementing and being consistent with productive habits you can transform into an individual that has a more productive life.  By living a productive life, you are giving yourself the greatest gift of time.

Time to devote to your family, friends, and most importantly time to just enjoy life!

Take a minute to analyze your life.

Brainstorm and jot down areas that you want to improve in.  While reading the tips in this article, think about how these tips can help you in the specific areas that you identified and wrote down.

With that being said, lets jump into the article which will cover simple but powerful habits that individuals can develop for a more productive life!

Develop a morning routine

Your morning routine dictates largely dictates the success of your day. If you regularly wake up each morning rushing to complete basic activities and arriving late for work or school, this is a sign that you need a morning routine.

The first step in developing a morning routine is to identify your waking time.

A strong morning routine can be developed by becoming an early riser. The term early riser may vary according to the time that your work or school day starts.  Your morning commute also will determine how early you should awake.

By becoming an early riser, you are giving yourself time to mentally prepare for the day, complete self-care tasks, and attend to the needs of your loved ones without being rushed if you have children.

Some self-care activities items to include in your morning routine are meditation, praying, reading, exercising, journaling, and yoga.

In your morning routine strive to have a healthy breakfast and hydrate with water before heading out the door.

Also in your morning routine, limit your screen time.  If you are able to start waking early but engage on technology devices, you will find that you will be in a cycle of rushing again.

I currently wake up 2 ½ hours before the start of my workday.  This allows me time to mentally be present and complete a few home tasks before waking my kids to tend to their needs.

This article has more great tips on having a productive morning!

Use planners, lists, and a calendar

Lists, planners, and calendars are tools that allow us to organize and plan our day. By using lists, you also intentionally create a plan that identifies tasks throughout your day that need to be completed whether at work or at home.

These lists serve as guide which in turn helps with focus and accountability.

Planners and calendars allow you to track and remember appointments, meetings, and upcoming obligations.

Planners and calendars also create a visual of your day, week, and month which allows enhances your time management and productivity.

Access to lists, planner, and calendars are limitless. You can access and use paper copies, electronically, or both.

I currently use a mixture of both as technology can sometimes fail.  Writing down events and obligations allows me to put pen to paper which helps with memory.

Limit Multi-tasking and Distractions

When completing work activities and home tasks, limit distractions as they will not allow you to complete your tasks in a reasonable or set timeframe.

Also, do not try to complete more than one task at a time. When you jump from one activity to the next activity, you are not giving either activity your full attention which can lead to mistakes and less proficiency devoted to the task.

Remember our goal is to become productive more in life!

If something comes up that needs your attention while you are completing a task, stop and complete the new task or add it to your list of items to complete.

The Pomodora Technique is a popular technique that I have adapted and love!

Lifehacks describes the Promodora Technique as a time management technique in which you chunk your time into 25 minutes increments where you consistently work, with the goal of having maximum focus and creativity.

During the 25-minute block in which you work, you limit any distractions (cell phone, smart watches, television, notifications, etc.). After working for 25 minutes, you would stop and take a 5-minute break.  Use this opportunity to take a mental break, stretch, use the restroom, etc.

After your break, you would then complete the cycle of working for 25 minutes with limited distractions.  After you have completed 4 cycles you would take a longer break.

If 25 minutes seems too long of a time to focus on one task, adjust the time to fit your needs.

When you are fully present when completing a task, you will be amazed at your talents and how much you can get completed!

have a cleaning system

Create a cleaning system that works for you.  You can choose one day out the week to reset and clean your home and complete mini-cleaning tasks throughout the week. For example, each day you may take 30 minutes to clean and organize a specific room or complete a task.  Below is a sample mini-cleaning schedule:

Sunday-Set up your week for success (Grocery shop, meal prep, laundry, clean bathrooms, clean kitchen, vacuum)

Monday-Rest

Tuesday-Clean and refresh bedrooms, Tidy Bedrooms

Wednesday-Clean living room and wash 1-2 loads of clothes

Thursday-Clean Kitchen

Friday-Complete miscellaneous cleaning tasks (dust, wipe down high traffic areas)

Saturday-Rest

Once you establish weekly and daily cleaning habits, you will discover that each week the energy that it takes to devote to cleaning will diminish.

I choose Sundays to reset my home and complete mini-cleaning tasks throughout the week. Click here to read about the importance of having a Sunday routine and download the FREE Sunday checklist.

arrive early for events

Strive to arrive early for events.  When you arrive early for work or personal events, you are less stressed which allows you to be mentally present for the events.

It also show the organizer of the event that you respect their time.

Tip: Before leaving home prepare for unexpected events such as weather and traffic, adding on extra time to your commute time.

Develop an evening routine

Productive people have a morning routine which was our first tip for living a more productive life!

However, an evening routine is just as important and vital as a morning routine.  Throughout the day we complete many tasks and make thousands of decisions throughout the day which are cognitively taxing on our brains.

Do you ever notice how you are more mentally “Aware” in the mornings?

Experience Life assert ideally cortisol levels are highest in the morning, helping us stay focused during the day and gradually wears off through the afternoon and evening.

Having an evening routine allows you to include distressing routines that will prepare your body to transition into a deep sleep as well as prepare you to start the following day.

Some self-care activities items to include in your night routine are similar to the morning routine.

Spending time with the family, meditation, praying, reading, taking a warm shower or bath, journaling, and prepping your clothes, could all fall in the list of things to complete before winding down for the night.

Tip: Limit your screen time before going to bed.  This will help you transition into a deep sleep.

Closing Thoughts:

These habits have allowed me to be more productive in life, with noted success in my work and home environment. These habits have taken years to develop but the journey has been worth it!

I encourage you to adopt just one habit, with a guarantee that you will see a difference.

7 Habits Of Organized People also lists additional tips for productivity goals.

Looking to have more time during the week? Incorporating a Sunday reset routine will help you achieve this goal!

For most individuals, work and school obligations begin on Monday morning. These obligations often include 8-hour work and school days in addition to other obligations such as extracurricular activities, appointments, and social obligations.

With so many activities, Sunday is the perfect day to complete tasks that will give you more time during the week to enjoy these activities.

Once you have established a Sunday reset routine, you will notice that you will still have time within the day to complete self-care activities and leisure activities.

Having home tasks and self-care activities completed on a Sunday is a win for everyone!

If your schedule is different than the traditional 9-5 you can still choose a day in which you are off to reset your week.

Saturday is also a perfect day to reset your home!

What is a Sunday Reset Routine

A Sunday Reset Routine simply means that on Sunday you complete home tasks that will allow you to set your week up for success.

Ideally the majority of the tasks on your Sunday reset checklist will include home chores but your Sunday reset should be catered to your needs and the needs of your family.

A Sunday reset is different from a self-care routine which is a set of routines that allow you to cater to your physical and mental needs, with the goal of improving your overall well-being.

However, by completing a Sunday reset you will notice that there are amazing mental benefits.

By completing chores and creating a home space that is clean and organized you will notice that you are able to focus more, you will have increased endorphins, and you will feel more at peace.

Why Have A Sunday Reset Routine        

Monday for many individuals can be stressful, as the work week can bring uncertainties. We have heard terms such as Monday Dread and Monday Morning Anxiety that describe how people feel about the new week.

Healthier For Life reports that “weekend tips can set you up for Monday success.”  These tips often reduce the level of stress that you have and include completing certain tasks.

By accomplishing tasks and chores that create a space that brings you peace, you will notice that some of your stress will begin to diminish.

How To Create A Sunday Reset Routine

When creating a Sunday reset routine jot down a list of home tasks and tasks in generally that you need to complete in your home.

Highlight tasks that will be hard to complete during the week due to your schedule, tasks that must be completed before Monday (ex: purchase food for the kids’ lunches), and tasks that have been on your to do list for a while.

Add these items to your Sunday reset list.  Some of the items require that you leave your home (grocery shopping).  For the items that don’t require you to leave your home, set a timer and begin completing the tasks.

Depending on the needs of your home you may be able to set a timer for an hour and complete a lot of these tasks.

If you have children you may have to chunk your activities, setting your timer for 20-25 minutes.  Strive to complete 1-2 tasks during this time frame.

Tasks To Include In Your Sunday Reset Routine

When planning for your Sunday rest, these Sunday reset ideas are meant to give you ideas on home tasks that you can complete.  This Sunday reset routine checklist is not meant to be completed in one Sunday or day.

For example, I wash and clean my car on Sundays, but only one Sunday out of the month, not every Sunday.

Remember as you create and establish a reset day, it will be important for you to create a routine that works for you or it will not stick and become a habit.

If you have family members in your home assign them tasks.  These will allow your reset tasks to go much quicker!

• Create a weekly menu and go grocery shopping or have your groceries delivered
• Meal prep
• Clean out your pantry and refrigerator
• Laundry (Don’t forget about your bed sheets)
• Prep outfits for the Week
• Complete home management responsibilities (pay bills, review your budget, review any upcoming appointments)
• Clean your kitchen
• Clean your bathrooms
• Vacuum and dust
• Choose a specific space in your home to declutter
• Wash and clean your car
• Shred old mail and papers
• Take out the trash
• Sweep and mop floors
• Clean out your work bag and children’s bookbags
• Wash linen
• Delete old photos and emails

Click HERE for a Sunday reset routine checklist.  One is totally customizable to you needs and the other gives you a list of suggestions!

Tip:  As you complete your tidying tasks, group the tasks. For example, if you are dusting, dust all the rooms in your house at one time.  If you are cleaning the bathrooms, clean all of the bathrooms at one time.  Remember to enlist your family members to help.

After The Sunday Reset

After you complete Sunday activities, wind down with activities that you enjoy. This may include:

• Spending time outside
• Watching TV
• Spending time with your family and friends
• Calling family and friends
• Reading a book
• Playing games with the family
• Baking
• Creating art
• Listening to a podcast or informational YouTube video
• Planning a vacation
• Gardening
• Learning a new skill
• Exploring your city
• Treating yourself to a manicure or pedicure
• Completing a puzzle
• Journaling

By completing a Sunday reset, you will also notice that you will have more time during the week to enjoy self-care and leisure activities.

Using Sunday to reset my week has been a game-changer for me! How do you set your week up for success?

Feel free to list weekly reset routines in the comments and check out 7 Habits Of Organized People for additional tips!