Did you have a bedtime routine when you were a kid? Do you think you’re too old for one now? The truth is, adults, can benefit significantly from an organized plan for the evening. Let us show you how to create an ideal nighttime routine for a successful next day!
Our Summer Home Organization Challenge continues, and today we will focus on organizing our life by developing a nighttime routine!
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It’s back to school time, so all of you with children are probably figuring out a new bedtime for your kids!
When our kids were young, we had a morning routine to start the day off right and get to school on time. Here are some tips on how to develop a morning routine!
An afternoon routine that helped us get homework done without arguments.
And a nighttime routine reminded us to prepare for the next day and to get to bed on time.
Our kids are grown, and I have not written down an official nighttime routine for many years.
However, that’s about to change because there are some things I would like to incorporate into my life that I have been procrastinating on.
They mainly focus on self-care.
After all, self-care is essential to our overall well-being and success.
So I need a new nighttime routine to help me sleep well and prepare for the day ahead!
What is a nighttime routine?
Many people think a nighttime routine consists of things to do, before bed, for a better night’s sleep.
But that’s a small portion.
I’m developing a nighttime routine to organize my entire evening.
It will start at dinnertime and end at bedtime!
You can make your evening routine as long or short as you like!
Why is a nighttime routine important?
A routine in the evening will allow you to accomplish tasks that need to get done for the next day to be productive.
If you’re like us and work from home, a routine will ensure you do not carry on working longer than you would like to!
Taking the time to develop healthier habits and calming activities to help you slow down in the evening will help you relax your mind and body for better sleep.
How to develop a nighttime routine
The ideal nighttime routine will be different for everyone!
Here are four steps to help you figure out the best routine for you and your family!
1) MAKE A TASK LIST
Write down tasks that you need to do each evening.
Next, add tasks you are not currently doing but want to accomplish.
2) DETERMINE HOW MUCH TIME EACH TASK TAKES
Time yourself doing each task, and write down how long it takes.
3) PRIORITIZE THE TASKS
List the tasks in order of priority.
4) DESIGNATE A START TIME FOR EACH TASK
Do you have enough time to do every task on your list?
Write down the start time for each task and see how long your new routine will take!
Now you have a clear idea of what needs to get done each evening!
Nighttime Routine Ideas
These are ideas we will incorporate into our nighttime routine.
They may not be ideal for you and your family, but they might help you brainstorm what will work for you!
One of the main things I need to incorporate is a skincare routine!
Prepare a healthy Dinner
Do your best to prepare a healthy meal, and avoid eating too close to bedtime.
Give your body time to digest your meal before you settle in for the night.
Focus on whole foods and avoid processed, fried, or spicy foods that can cause heartburn or indigestion.
Clean dishes and wipe down kitchen Counters
No one wants to wake up and deal with a kitchen full of dirty dishes.
Load and start the dishwasher.
Wipe down the counters and sink.
It feels so good to start each day with a clean kitchen!
Prepare for the Next Day
While in the kitchen, do any prep needed for the next day.
Make lunches, defrost meat for tomorrow’s dinner, or prepare your coffee pot.
Check your calendar to see what’s on the next day’s agenda.
Think of things you can do in the evening to make your mornings smoother, like picking out what clothes you will wear the next day.
Prepare a to-do list and prioritize the tasks.
Incorporate a 10-minute tidy-up
I don’t know about you, but clutter equals chaos to me.
To keep clutter under control, do a quick 10-minute tidy!
Set the timer on your oven for 10 minutes, and walk around the house picking up any clutter and putting it where it belongs.
When the timer goes off, stop. You can pick up where you left off the next day.
Now that all the chores are done for the day, it’s time to relax!
Do something you enjoy
After working all day, it’s essential to take time to unwind.
Whether it’s 30 minutes or two hours, take time to decompress.
Do something relaxing, like watching your favorite tv show, reading a book, writing in your journal, or spending quality time with your family.
Complete nightly hygiene needs
Relax by taking a warm bath or shower.
Moisturize your skin.
Brush and floss your teeth.
Incorporate a skincare routine.
Prepare for proper sleep
Decide on a bedtime.
Set an alarm to wake up at the same time every day.
Put away electronics. The blue light emitted from electronic devices can be detrimental to your sleep.
Wear comfy pajamas.
Maintain a comfortable room temperature.
Use room darkening curtains.
How to stick with a new routine?
MAKE A VISUAL CHECKLIST
Write or type your routine on a piece of paper!
Place it where you will see it each evening!
If your nighttime routine starts in the kitchen, hang it on the refrigerator.
Check the list each night until you have established a habit!
set alarms on your phone
It’s helpful to set an alarm to alert you when it’s time to do a new task.
If you have difficulty switching gears, you might need to time yourself until you get used to your new routine!
RE-EVALUATE YOUR ROUTINE OFTEN
Seasons change! And so will your schedule!
Re-evaluate your routine as needed.
Here’s an important tip, if your routine is not working, brainstorm why and then make adjustments!
If you have kids, your routine will probably change during the holidays and summer!
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Blessings, Donna and Rich
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More Organization Inspiration
- How to Start a Morning Routine
- The Best Way to Organize Medicine in Your Home
- How to Organize Your Life to Be Healthy and Happy
- Storage Solutions for Your Kitchen
- A Fabulous Way to Organize Board Games
**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
Great tips Donna! I’m not a fan of waking up to a messy kitchen. It throws my my entire day.
I completely agree Cindy! Plus my house always feels more clean when the kitchen is tidy since it’s open to the great room! Thanks and have a great day!
Such great ideas, Donna!
I do follow many of the things you suggest and it truly does make a difference. We recently purchased room darkening curtains from Ikea and it has been a game changer for sleeping. I don’t know why we didn’t do that years ago!!
Wishing you a great week ahead!
Yes Rachel, room darkening curtains are the best and do make a huge difference! Thank you!
Great ideas Donna! I’m going to give some thought to a new nighttime routine – my current one has gotten a little ragged! 🙂 Thanks for reminding me that it’s time to re-plan. Hope you have a lovely and well-rested week!
Hi Barbara! I hope you found the post helpful! Good luck tweaking your nighttime routine and have a wonderful week! Blessings, Donna
Great tips Donna! I do most of the things you have shared here, but I cannot seem to set the Kindle down, and it keeps me up most of the night. Yuck! I had a bedtime growing up, and I haven’t deviated from it much as an adult, minus my reading time, lol!
Hi Cara! I can relate, it’s hard for me to put the electronics away at night as well! Hoping I’ll do better after implementing my new routine! Take care, Donna
You will have to let us know how your routine goes after a while. My husband has said to leave the iPad out of the bedroom, but when I wake up in the middle of the night, I feel the need to do something, and since I cannot clean and run the sweeper, etc., I read. LOL. Hope your routine works for you, and you get a well rested night.
Thank you my friend! Right now a well rested not is impossible with our dog. I’m like you and sometimes I can’t go back to sleep after she wakes me up and the only thing that helps is reading!!
Hi Donna. This is a post I needed to read. I have been struggling with insomnia for the past 5 years. One thing I have learned is the importance of a nighttime routine. I love your idea of assigning a time to when certain activities need to be completed. It’s so easy to put things off until its too late and we are too tired to accomplish X. Thanks for linking up with Home Imagined.
I’m sorry to hear you have insomnia Anna, I know that is a huge struggle! Our dog is elderly and wakes us in the middle of the night and many times I struggle to get back to sleep. It wears on your body after a while!! Glad you enjoyed the post! Thanks, Donna
Yeah for doing a clutter catcher and straightening up the house before you go to sleep, it makes a HUGE difference. As you know, we follow a nightly routine as well and I’m telling you it’s the not-so-secret secret to a successful day. Hugs, CoCo
You are so right! Cleaning up for 10 minutes a night is so easy and it makes such a big difference! I wish I would have done it sooner!! Hugs to you!