Developing a Night Time Routine That Will Kickstart Your Morning!

Are you a morning person? I am most definitely not. While I certainly can drag my sorry bum out of bed at the crack of dawn if needed, I would prefer to stay tucked in until the absolute, last possible second. No need to rush off into the morning dew - I’m a take it slow kind of girl.

But just because I don’t like to wake up early, doesn’t mean that I don’t like to have a productive morning. Developing (and sticking to) a night time routine has helped me have more successful mornings and less stressful days.

My Filofax*

When developing your routine, I recommend to think about your morning and how can you set yourself up for all of the things you need to do in the morning. For me that is, essentially, working out, working on the blog, and getting to work.

Because I have a bit of an odd work schedule, and don’t get home until 11:45PM, I am all about making sure that I get into bed as quickly as possible. So, my routine is all about efficiency. After a 35 minute flurry of activity, I can be prepped and ready for the next day.

Without further ado, here is what my night time routine looks like.

Task 1: Tending to my dog’s, Paige, needs. My sweet little girl will always come first. Once she’s gone out for a bathroom break, is fed, and cared for, I can get on with the business of taking care of myself. (5 minutes)

Task 2: Unpacking and repacking my lunch box for the next work day. I’m a meal-prepper. So, I usually have everything I need ready to go in the fridge. It takes no time at all to throw a meal and few snacks into my bag. I love being able to just grab it on my way out the door and know I have everything I need for the long shift ahead. (3 minutes)

Task 3: Quick inventory of my work bag. I keep a small pharmacy in there. I make a note of things I need to refill as needed. I also make sure to remove unnecessary paper, receipts, and empty gum wrappers nightly to prevent build up. A little nightly maintenance prevents my bag from ever becoming a black hole and ensures I always have what I need on hand. (3 minutes)

Task 4: Dishes. My least favorite chore of all time. Keeping on top of them nightly works best for me. I rinse out all my Tupperware from my lunch box and any dishes left from the morning and pop them in the dishwasher. (5 minutes)

Task 5: Setting out my clothing for the next day. To prevent a fashion emergency, I put out everything from socks and undies to pants and shoes. If I need to pop something in the washer, I’d rather know at midnight than at noon when I’m supposed to be heading out the door. I also put out an outfit for the gym and prep a gym bag if needed. (5 minutes)

Task 6: A ten minute tidy up. I set a timer and just go. Sometimes, I empty the dishwasher, sometimes I do a little dusting. Sometimes I put folded laundry away. Whatever needs to be done, I work at for 10 minutes. When the timer goes off, I’m done - even if the task isn’t done. As long as I made progress, I’m satisfied. (10 minutes)

Task 7: Getting dressed and ready for bed. Makeup removed. Teeth brushed. Skin care applied. PJs on. Dirty clothes in the laundry. (5 minutes)

Task 8: Set an alarm. I aim to get 8 hours of sleep which is why it is so important that I get to bed as soon as possible. The earlier I go to bed, the earlier I can wake up. (1 minute)

Task 9: One last sweep of the house. Making sure that lights are off and doors are locked. (2 minutes)

Task 10: In bed by 12:45AM.

My night time routine takes me roughly 35 minutes but saves me so much time in the morning and significantly reduces stress. Spending those 30ish minutes at night, means less stress, fewer morning mishaps, and more quality sleep.

Develop a good night time routine and rest easy knowing you’re already on your way to success the next day.

What do you do at night to kickstart your morning? Tell me all about in the comments below!

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