*NEW* Moving to a New Platform for Courses & Programs
We’re moving all our programs over to a new platform - see this blog post for full details.
As an existing customer you qualify for a free upgrade.
To access your free upgrade please visit this page to get your upgrade link.
Welcome to Day 7.
One of the easiest ways to simplify your life is to organize the things you do before you go to bed each night.
So today let’s create a life-simplifying evening routine.
If you’ve purchased this program or are a Premium Subscriber please log in to see more information below.
Click here to learn more about this program. // Click here to learn more about the Premium Subscription.
I have been trying to think about why I don’t do this regularly each night. I think it is down to having a “bedtime” routine that is too ambitious for last thing before bed. Inevitably what happens is that I think “OK..bed” and by then I am too tired to face the bedtime routine I had devised previously. So I have had a rethink.
Now I have a bedtime routine that is truly about the last minute things around the house and preparing myself for bed. Then I have a separate early evening routine that I do as soon as I am in from work (before I even think of sofa surfing).
The early evening routine is about mail, preparing clothes, tomorrows agenda etc. and getting the daily upstairs chores done. Then making sure the laundry and downstairs chores are done before dinner. That way after dinner I can just get the dishes done before I can sofa surf/hobbies/relax. Then before going up to bed I only have to do the absolutely necessary last minute tidy away and bedtime routine. I am hoping that means that I get more done and prepared in the evenings. Let’s give that a try and see…
After reading through this challenge and the below comments I think I will focus on 1:) Gathering up work stuff for the next day, 2:) Putting a notebook on my night stand to write down midnight thoughts, 3:) Charging all portable electronic devices I will be using the next day, 4:) Putting watch, wallet, sunglasses keys, etc in one location that way I don’t have to hunt for them 5:) Would also like to find some time to read a fiction book, we will see on this one though.
I can get lazy when trying to complete routines or fall asleep in the chair and then I don’t feel like completing a nightly routine, so I go to bed. The next day, I wish I had completed that short task list and could be ready to walk out the door with the tools I need to complete the morning task. Instead I tend to rush around collecting things I thought were close at hand, only to find I have misplaced something and have to spend some time to look for the item. So I just I pulled my things together for my morning so that I don’t have to rush. Hope I can get into a better routine
I think I had this one under control from last years efforts when I ran with the programme, again I have to accept that some nights it might not happen but as long as it does for most then I must have got the detail/balance right.
I’m going to try and have a 10 minute tidy each night in my room before I go to sleep. I’m also going to keep paper and pen on my bedside table for jotting down things I want to accomplish next day. I get up very early and do manage to get a lot done in the 2.5 hours before I leave the house for work but am looking forward to new ideas from the next day’s task…
I haven’t been able to make the changes to my evening routine (that I wrote about previously) a habit yet. So I decided to cut my list in half to just a handful of actions that will make my mornings go smoother I also came up with a keyword for each one which should make it easy for me to remember each step in my routine. Once those become habit, I will look at adding in more.
This one is great – I have an evening routine taped to my bathroom mirror, and now I have added my list from Day #2.
All done, again I’ll need to sense check it over the next few days to check that I haven’t over thought this!
List made. I made it more simple than I usually would have in the hopes that I will keep up with it.
That’s a good strategy Brianna – better to under-commit and succeed. It’s good for your motivation and momentum.
Little behind BUT finally catching up, Evening Routine DONE!
I used to make my breakfast/lunch before bed, but I’ve gotten out of the habit. I’m going to add it to my routine, along with picking an outfit. As a bonus, getting the next day’s lunch ready before I’ve cleaned up from dinner means that there won’t be any errant dishes I need to deal with before I can make dinner the next day.
I like those added benefits. 🙂
I like those added benefits. 🙂
I added to clear my desk – I so I won’t have to start the day looking at clutter, and to read over my priorities from Day 2. I’m hoping it will help me stay on track. And will add it to the morning routine also. But the main difference is my evening routine has always just been in my head. Now that I have it written down I decided to put things into a certain order which makes more sense. For instance, during the week I make my breakfast smoothie just before going to bed since I’m slow in the a.m. But I’m often so tired before bedtime it can be a struggle and sometimes I end up skipping it, which I always regret the next day. Now I moved it to do earlier in the evening. I also recently started making 2 smoothies at a time, so I only have to make them every other day.
Good insight Ellen. I’m terrible pre-coffee so I really benefit from making things as smooth as possible the night before. 🙂
One thing I try to do the night before (to ensure I have a calmer morning) is to review the mail. I pay any bills that need to be paid, make sure I have anything that needs to be mailed readily available to drop off the next morning at the post office on my way to work.
I have a notebook that I fill out every night listing my next day’s priorities. What stresses me is when someone wants to stop me in the middle of a planned priority to handle something “urgent” at work. I’m trying to handle it better by managing the person who wants to impose their priority on me. I tell them when I can schedule it in, and usually, they are okay with it. If it’s truly “urgent,” I work it in. Only I can control the way I handle this stress.
That’s an excellent insight Sharon.
Another thing to try is to build in a chunk of time each day for such ‘urgent’ things that crop up. And if they don’t, bonus time for you!
I really like that idea! Who wouldn’t want some bonus time?
I have been setting up new routines for both of us and it will be great to get my grandson started on some evening routines that are something basides Video games after dinner, Kind of a head start for when school starts in fall.Add a couple now and some more as summer goes on, he’ll never know we are learning new habits to help us next fall.
Nice strategy, Linda!
I use an app called Home Routines, and I have an evening routine. This exercise made me realize that the reason I never do my evening routine is that most of it did not really address what stresses me the most. I have revised it, and I think I will have better results. Thanks, Michele!
Cool Donna! You’ll be more motivated to do things that de-stress and simplify. 🙂
I already have an evening routine. I’ve recorded it in the Cozi app, and an alarm goes off each evening to remind me. It includes things like check tomorrow’s menu and remove frozen items from freezer, set out tomorrow’s clothing, check dog’s dishes to be sure they have food, change dishtowels and dishcloths, check tomorrow’s calendar and so on.
My evening routine already includes tidying the family room, turning off my computer screen, etc. – I’ll add in writing up my to do list for the next day, but otherwise, I think I have this one covered.
I hate laying out my outfit the day before. Often I’ll wake up and decide I don’t want to wear it any more! Are you going to have a task on indecision? I think you should. Or maybe you shouldn’t… I dunno.
I don’t either, Mare – I like to dress according to my mood. It’s a good idea for people who don’t dress according to mood and who don’t want to have to think about their outfit in the morning,
I lay out my outfit where the KITTIES CANNOT SLEEP ON IT! Learned the hard way. ;-}
I try to put together things I need to take to events planned for the next day (question lists for the dr, Bible/books for women’s Bible study, a swatch of fabric I need to match). The older I get, the more visual cues I need. This esp helps when I have those interruptions (phone calls, “oh, by the way’s”) that are easier to handle at the moment they come in.