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!
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