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A routine is something everyone creates, whether this is intentional or not. We have a night time routine, day time routine, work routine, etc.
In this post, we are going to discuss how to have an intentional night time routine for a better morning, because this is the key to set your day up for success!
Are you scrambling to get out the door in the morning, or too worn out from the day we had in the evening that we neglect anything and everything that requires movement?
I know I used to be guilty of this all too often! However, since I started living more intentional and on purpose, I decided it was time to change that. Now, I have a routine that is intentional and makes my life run smoother!
Due to the fact that I am not a morning person, no matter how hard I try, I developed my night time routine first. I experimented with several different things, and found something that works for me.
Of course, your night time routine may look completely different than mine, or you may have a routine that already works great for you. If that is you, do not alter what works!
But, if you are struggling to create the perfect routine, this post is the perfect starting point for you! You can take bits and pieces or the whole thing, and implement them into your night time routine.
An Intentional Night Time Routine
As I walk you through my personal night time routine, I want you to write out what you could do the night before to have an easier, more successful morning. Because when you have a successful morning, you typically have a successful day!
Here is my evening routine that allows me to do just this!
Prep Coffee //
The most important thing on my list is coffee! When I hear coffee being made in the morning, I get a little more excited to wake up and get out of bed.
Each time I think of waking up to the sound of my coffee pot and smell of the warm caffeinated beverage, I think of the Folgers coffee commercials!
I have completely fallen for Folgers marketing plan, and I am not ashamed to admit it!
Make a lunch //
Typically, I cook dinner, and my husband preps our lunches for the next day. This allows us to not only save money from having it go through a drive through somewhere, but it also allows us to remove any thoughts of what we are going to eat for lunch.
I am not sure if you have seen the memes that joke about couples being indecisive about what to eat, but the struggle is real! If you can prep your lunch the night before you are one step closer to a smoother morning!
Load and schedule the dishwasher //
After lunches have been made, the kitchen is usually a mess from cooking! So my husband and I both tackle getting it clean. We load the dishwasher and schedule it to start in 4 hours.
There are 2 reasons we do it this way:
- We do not have to listen to it run as we try to go to sleep
- 2. It is actually cheaper to run your appliances in the middle of the night!
The electrical companies do not charge as much in the middle of the night, as compared to the evening. To us, a penny saved is a penny earned!
Related Post: 30 Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Utilities + Some Bonus Tips
Pick clothes //
How many times have we tried on an outfit, only to change into another outfit, and before we know it we have wasted 20 minutes trying to decide what we are going to wear for the day? The answer is probably too many!
By picking out your outfit the night before, you are not having to rush into a decision. This also gives you time to see if what you want to wear needs to be wasted or ironed.
It also removes disappointment if you wait until morning to decide what to wear only to discover it needs to be washed.
Wash the face //
Washing your face not only removes dirt and makeup from your skin, it tells your mind that you are winding down for the night. Your mind will start to slow down a bit, and prepare for a restful night of sleep.
Sleep is by far the most important piece of having a successful morning, and washing your face aids in making that happen.
If a more restful night of sleep does not convince you, here is another tip: Going to bed with makeup on ages your skin 1 week! Yikes, right?!
So make sure you wash your face every night! [Talking to myself, too!]
Related Post: Minimalist Beauty Routine
Read a bit //
With everything else you have done this evening, it is time to crawl into bed and read a chapter of a book.
Do NOT pick up your phone and browse social media! This will only stimulate your mind.
By reading a little, your mind is still able to relax and accept that it is time for a restful night of sleep.
Having an intentional night time routine not only helps you succeed with a better morning, but it is also a form of self-care. You’re giving your mind and body what it needs to have a better day, and that goes a long way to living an intentional life.
Do you have a nighttime routine already? If so, will you make adjustments to ensure it is as intentional as possible?
If you don’t have a nighttime routine, I hope this encourages you to set it up so that you can enjoy the benefits of it!
Something else that I always try to do is put anything in the car that needs to go out the next day. School materials (my husband is a teacher), library books, things to return to the store, notes for meetings I need to attend. That way I am much less likely to forget things I need, and I do not need to scramble to collect everything when I am running late.
I do need to wash my face every night, and I don’t do that as much as I should. I love the idea of making lunches the night ahead, but my kids both like taking hot lunches in thermoses, and that won’t work if I pack it the night before.
I love that, Roberta! I think it is smart to put everything in the car you will need the next day! That is something I am going to start incorporating into my evening! Thank you for sharing it!
I sometimes lack in the self care department as well, but if we can remember to do it, we will love ourselves the next morning when getting ready. My skin always looks amazing when I wash it the night before compared to not washing it. I get the hot lunches with children. I wish they had microwaves for children to use that way you could prepare the night before hand. My husband and I are lucky to work in places that have microwaves for the employees.
Great post! I like to pick my work outfits for the entire week on Sunday night and that really helps cut down decision making. I wear the same pair of comfortable shoes to work every day but I keep a few pairs of heels in the office 🙂
I wish I could plan for the entire week, Ally. However, I never know what I am doing from one day to the next with my job. One day I could be in the office, and the next I am working on my boss’ farm. It is exciting, but it stops me from planning so far in advance.