A realistic night routine is the best way to set yourself up for a successful morning. A good night routine not only prepares you for a good night’s sleep, but also for a stress-free morning.
Consistency is key when creating new habits. If you’ve never had a night routine before, starting one may seem challenging or hard to stick with at first. I know it did for me.
We see influencers and content creators posting about their elaborate night routines all the time. I don’t know about you, but I was over it. How does anyone have the time or energy to complete these 15-step intense routines before bed? It just didn’t seem practical.
I’m more of a lie on the couch until I’m borderline falling asleep and then meandering over to my bed in the darkness kind of girl. Or at least I was until I realized the power of a productive and practical night routine.
I decided I wanted to use my nighttime to prepare for the next day. A night routine does not have to be complicated or Pinterest-worthy. It just has to work for you and your lifestyle.
As with any routine, the successful ones are the ones that you stick with on a consistent basis.
This post is all about how to create an easy night routine that will prepare you for a stress-free morning!
3-Step Quick & Easy Night Time Routine
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1. Prepare
Charge, Clean, Choose…
The main focus of this first step is to get all of those boring tasks done ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about them the next morning. Preparing for the day to come allows us to fall asleep with ease knowing we are set up for success.
There are so many things you can get ready at night to make your morning run smoother. Of course, choosing which tasks to focus on will depend on your own lifestyle and schedule. Use these recommendations as a jumping-off point to create a task list that works for you.
Charge
Charge your phone, computer, watch, AirPods, Kindle, and any other electronic device you will need for the next day at night. This will ensure that you are starting your day with fully charged devices.
I like to use this charging station that can charge my phone, watch, and Airpods all at once. No more scrambling around to find a charger at the last minute.
Clean
Clean your kitchen counters, wash your dishes, and sweep the floor. If there is one thing I can’t stand it’s waking up to a messy kitchen. Nobody wants to wake up and immediately have to start cleaning. Get your kitchen chores done the night before so you can enjoy a stress-free breakfast.
Bonus: Plan your breakfast ahead of time to save even more time. Take out the dishes and ingredients you will need and set them aside for the morning time. You will be so happy in the morning!
Choose
Choose your outfit for the next day. Whether you have work, a party, or a yoga class take the time the night before to pick out your outfit. Be sure to pick out everything you’ll need (shoes, undergarments, jewelry, etc.).
You can even go a step further and take the time to steam or iron your outfit if needed. Trust me, when I started doing this it seriously gave me so much more time in the morning to relax.
In addition to charging, cleaning, and choosing your outfits here are some additional things you can prepare the night before to save you time in the morning:
- Pack your lunch
- Fill your water bottle
- Set up your coffee/tea mug
- Pack your gym/work bag
- Tidy up your bedroom, bathroom, & living spaces
- Gather your wallet, keys, sunglasses
- Check the weather. Do you need an umbrella? Rain jacket? Gloves and hat?
2. Hygiene
Brush, Wash, Change…
This step is all about your standard hygiene. Set aside 10 minutes each night to take care of your body and prepare yourself for a good night’s sleep. If you prefer to take showers at night, be sure to account for some extra time.
Put on a good playlist and use this time to take care of yourself. Start looking at these tasks as a form of self-care instead of as a chore. Reframe your thoughts from “I have to do this” to “I get to do this”. Watch how quickly your mindset shifts.
I know brushing our teeth and washing our faces isn’t the most exciting part of our day, but using products you LOVE can definitely help with that. This sounds so lame, but I recently bought a new toothpaste that I am absolutely obsessed with and it seriously made me excited to brush my teeth.
I believe that finding little ways to make life’s mundane tasks more enjoyable is always worth it.
So you’ve brushed and washed, now it’s time to get comfy. Change into your favorite, cozy pajamas, and jump into bed.
3. Mindset
To-Do Lists, Journal, Read…
At this point, you’ve completed all of the “hard” tasks and you should be feeling ready to wind down and relax. It’s now time to prepare your mind for bed.
If you are like me, your mind is probably running a mile a minute at any given point. Shutting your brain off to be able to sleep is an entire task in itself. You are most likely worried about x, y, and z, thinking about all the things you need to get done tomorrow, and all the things you didn’t get to today.
It’s time for a brain dump.
My advice is to keep a notebook and pen right by your bed. Spend 5 minutes writing anything that comes to your mind down on paper. Your thoughts may be scattered. That is okay. Write them down anyway…without being critical. You can look at your notes after and organize them as needed.
To-Do List
After your brain dump, you can create a to-do list for the next day. What do you need to get done before work tomorrow? Do you have any must-do tasks? Is there anything you need to mail? Any phone calls you need to make? Do you need to buy groceries for dinner?
Use your to-do list to help you stay organized. This will ensure that you remember all of the little errands you need to complete throughout your day.
Journal
Another way to get your mind ready for bed is to journal. Journaling is a great way to reflect on your day, work through your emotions, vent about some of life’s stressors, and show gratitude. You can really journal about anything you want. Be creative and have fun with it.
Here are some topics you can try to get started:
- What went well today?
- What is something that made you proud today?
- What felt challenging today?
- Who are you most grateful for today?
- What do you hope to accomplish tomorrow?
- What are 3 things you love about yourself?
- What is your main goal right now?
- What is something worth celebrating today?
Read
If you are a reader, before bed is the perfect time to pull out your book. Reading always gets me ready to sleep. It is a great way to forget about the to-do lists and stressors of life and truly get lost in another world.
If you don’t like writing, or reading isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Here are some other ways to prepare your mind for sleep:
- Stretch
- Meditate
- Listen to calming music
- Use an essential oil diffuser
Finding a night routine that works for you is essential to a good night’s sleep and stress free-morning. Remember when creating a routine, consistency is the most important part. Stick with your routine, adjust it as needed, and watch your life transform.
This post was all about how to build a successful night routine that will prepare you for the morning ahead.
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