A lot of hype is made about the “morning routine.” Earlier this month, I shared my personal morning routine and why having one is important. I even recently read an article in StyleBlueprint about eight of Nashville’s most successful women and their morning routines. There’s no doubt the morning routine sets the tone for your day, but what happens at the end of the day?
What is an evening routine?
The evening routine can be considered the prequel to the morning routine. It’s often said what you do the night before contributes to how the next day begins. These routines also come in a variety of forms, but the one thing they all have in common is creating a sense of calm, peace, and organization. They lay the foundation for a restful night of sleep so you can wake up energized and ready to conquer the day.
What makes up an evening routine?
Just like a morning routine, there’s no specific formula to the nighttime version, but here are a few common things people often include:
15-minutes of tidying. From picking up any clutter (and if you have kids, they can help with this) to wiping down counters, a quick straightening-up session helps to create a peaceful place to wake up to the next day.
Laying out clothes for the next day. This could be simply the outfit you’ll wear or also your workout clothes. Selecting your next day’s outfit the night before prevents agonizing time in the closet the next day searching for something to wear. Having your exercise clothes, including your shoes, all ready to go helps to hold you accountable for your next workout.
Evening skincare. This could be as simple as cleansing and moisturizing your face, or it could be a bit more of a self-care treat like Jamie Golden’s 10-step regime.
Read. I always encourage reading, so read whatever you like. However, you might want to avoid those psychological thrillers before bedtime.😱
Journal. Whether it’s a physical notebook or an app, taking a few minutes to jot down highlights from the day, a quick list of things to do tomorrow, or five things you’re grateful for, journaling is a good way to free up space in your mind to encourage resting easy.
Put away your devices. Some people go as far as to turn their phone off and put it in another room. It’s my only lifeline in case of an emergency, so turning it off doesn’t work for me. But I do but it in Do Not Disturb mode. I’m not a purist with putting away all devices so I allow myself my iPad or Kindle for reading.
Yoga or stretching. You can do short (or long) specific stretches to relax your mind and body, making falling asleep and resting well easier.
My Personal Evening Routine
Just like my morning routine, how I wind down at night changes with different seasons of my life. And if I’m being honest, I’m not always great at getting the full routine in, although I do have really good intentions. Here are the things I typically do to prep myself for going to bed:
– Phone in Do Not Disturb 45 minutes before bed (I do use the emergency bypass feature)
– Evening skincare
– Lay out my workout clothes
– Read
– Stretch 5-7 minutes
It’s your turn! What do you do at night to get your body ready to rest and be ready to go the next day?