Question for you: Have you gotten on the morning routine bandwagon yet?
Second question: Ever tried an evening routine?
I think of evening routines as the less glamorous, just-as-necessary cousins to morning routines.
They set you up for success the next day, sweep up any undone tasks for the day, and get you all prepped for the next morning (especially helpful if you’re not bright and shiny first thing).
So…. Rather than get all “you should start an evening routine! Rah rah!” on you, how about a peek inside mine?
It might give you a few ideas, or even a nudge to restart your previous evening routine (if it’s fallen by the wayside).
Without further ado: the 3 components of my evening routine.
#1: Dishes
Have to do ‘em. I’m a clean-sink girl, so I hate seeing dishes in the sink come morning. I want ‘em all done and drying the night before.
Whether that’s in the dishwasher, on the draining rack, or both, I get those dirties done and out of my way.
#2: Floors
I really like walking barefoot. Know what kills your barefoot joy faster than anything? Stepping on unidentified gunk and/or sharp pointy objects in the dark, in your bare feet. Not cool.
In order to support my “feel the bare floors” habit, I naturally have to have… clean floors! Unless I want to put my shoes on first thing, at any rate. (Which I don’t.)
Which is a fairly effective reminder to glance at the floor before I turn off the light and close up the kitchen for the night – is there anything on the floor that would make my bare feet unhappy tomorrow morning?
Evening routine: planning ahead so you can grab and go in the morning.
#3: The prep kit
Finally, my favorite tactic of them all: set out whatever you’re going to need the next morning, the night before.
What’s on your schedule: groceries, errands, a doctor’s appointment, coffee meetup, an outdoor run, a class?
And what do you need for that activity? (That’s not normally in your purse/vehicle/diaper bag.)
Think….
- library books
- snacks
- insurance for the doctor
- reusable mug
- rewards card
- workout gear + running shoes
- laptop + textbooks
- notepad + pen
- activity bag for the little ones
- bag for all the presents you’re taking to the party
Get really granular with this.
Then set it all out. In your vehicle, on your nightstand, on the counter.
Wherever you’re going to see it and remember to take it before you head out.
You just saved yourself a lot of headaches down the road. High five!
No more worrying about whether or not you remembered to pack that store return, library book that’s due, recipe your friend asked for, or extra snack for the toddler.
It’s all there – because you already thought of it the night before.
Now? You can grab and go.
So easy.
Need some help brainstorming around this? I’ve got your back with daily access to me for each of your Q&As when you’re one of my coaching clients in #Momlife Made Easy!
I can’t wait to watch the lightbulbs flip on for you about your work-at-home day.
Now it’s your turn.
In your life, what would really benefit from some night-before planning, so that you could just grab and go?
Jot down three outings in your life that could really use some prepping, and make a planner note to try it out.
A way easier morning outing is just around the corner for you!
