A good nighttime routine helps set you up for success the next day. Building one isn’t hard and these tips will help.
It’s hard to have a good morning if you went to sleep already behind. Having a good nighttime routine can greatly improve your mornings and help set the day up for success.
I’m more of a night person than a morning person so the more I can get done the night before the better. Even if you are a morning person it can help the morning go more smoothly.
Everyone’s nighttime routine will look a bit different but there are a few things you want to consider when making your nighttime routine.
- When do you need to go to bed? Ideally, you want to get 7-8+ hours of sleep, so count back from when you want to get up. Remember to account for the time falling asleep, if like me you take a while. And if you aren’t waking up rested add 15 minutes each night until you do feel rested in the morning. Some people need more sleep than others.
- Go to bed with a clean kitchen. This is the thing I’m working on the most. I hate waking up to a dirty kitchen so getting my kitchen organized and easier to keep clean is high on my list. Right now I’m doing the A Bowl Full of Lemons home organization challenge from her book, you can also get free printables on her website.
- Write your to-do list. Be sure to go over your calendar and write your to-do list before bed. This can help get things off of your mind and help you sleep.
- Get your clothes ready for the next day. If you work away from home or have kids that are going to school, set out clothes the night before. You don’t want to be searching for socks when you need to be getting out the door.
- Have your breakfast planned and prepped if possible. I’m not much of a breakfast eater so this isn’t a big one for me but if you are needing to get out the door early this can be extremely helpful.
- Do something that helps you relax. This is a good way to help you sleep better and self-care is always very important.
- Take it slowly. One thing to try is to just add 2-3 things to your routine at a time and let them become habits. You can keep track of this free printable habit tracker. It’s easy to want to do all the things at once but working slowly is more likely to last.
Taking the Make Over Your Evenings course is what helped me create my nighttime routine. There is so much great information in the 14-day course.
If you have a good nighttime routine you can wake up feeling like you are a step ahead for the day, instead of several steps behind. I’m still working on the perfect nighttime routine but this is my current routine.
My Nighttime Routine
- Clean up the kitchen and start the dishwasher.
- Walk through the house and do a quick pickup.
- Let the dog out.
- Get ready for bed.
- Read or play games on my phone in bed.
- Set up a diffuser with a sleep essential oil blend and spray pillow with a lavender linen spray.
- Go to sleep.
Want to include self-care into your nighttime routine? Check out my self-care nighttime routine.
Karen
One of the first things I tell my clients is that in order to become a morning person, they must create a night routine. Working backwards from when you want to get up to the time you go to bed to get 7-8 hours is so important and then work in at least a half hour if not an hour of “getting ready” for bed. Love you ideas. Sounds like you have your night routine down.
Lisa Sharp
It really does help! Glad you liked it.
Susannah
I really need to some up with a bedtime routine! I “forget” that I have a son who wakes me up between six and seven every morning so I never get enough sleep!
Lisa Sharp
It helps so much!
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
Having a routine makes such a difference! I always make sure the kitchen is done and I straighten up the living room, before I go to bed. Who wants to get up to mess, and be behind before you start?
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind comment, Lisa!
Lisa Sharp
Yes, my day starts out so much nicer when the house is clean when I wake up.
Erin
These are some helpful tips! I also feel better when my kitchen is clean before bed. I really like the idea of writing my to-do list before bed – that would be such a great way for me to clear my head. Like you – I really have tried to limit my phone time while in bed – I get sucked right into reading different things. Thanks for the pointers!
Lisa Sharp
It really does help to get your to-do list out of your head before bed. And it’s so easy to get sucked in to the vortex that is the internet. 🙂
Donnica
I don’t have a routine, but really should establish one. Going to bed with a clean kitchen is something I really need to work on as well so this will definitely be added to my list. Great suggestions!
Lisa Sharp
It’s a big one for me. Cleaning the kitchen is my least favorite chore so I hate waking up with it a mess.
Natalie
Oh my gosh, I need this SO badly! My husband and I keep talking about the fact that we’re both not getting enough sleep. I definitely stay up way too late working, then panic about the housework I still have to work, which means I stay up later cleaning! It’s a tough cycle, but I need to make changes! 😀
Lisa Sharp
It’s hard to get enough sleep but it’s something we all need to make a bigger priority for sure. Hope some of these tips will help you. I really recommend the Make Over Your Morning course if you haven’t done. It has helped me a lot.
Angie Scheie
I feel so much better when I am following a night and morning routine. That morning course looks really interesting!
Lisa Sharp
I can’t say enough good things about the course.
Allison Jones
I love the idea of creating a nighttime routine. I think it would help me sleep way better if I got into a groove and had a before bed ritual. Mine would definitely involve chamomile tea.
LiveLifeWell,
Allison
Lisa Sharp
It does help. I love a cup of tea before bed, it’s so calming.
Deanna
I’m really trying to be in bed by 10 p.m. I know I need more sleep. I like the idea of using a diffuser. After my “No Buy January” is over I think I will invest in one.
Lisa Sharp
It is very nice and relaxing!
Roz
One thing I figured out is that reading on my kindle is fine, but reading on my iPad is a problem for me at bedtime. The backlight on my iPad has a stimulant effect, plus it’s too easy to check FB “just one more time” and I’m up another hour!! My kindle is one of the inexpensive ones that isn’t backlit, purposefully bought so I can use it outside, but I bought a fairly expensive case, with a “night light”, so I can use it in a dark room. Plus, it doesn’t have easy access to Facebook!!
Lisa Sharp
I have a non-backlit Kindle as well. I have Irlen Syndrome and use an overlay to read and if they are backlit it doesn’t work. I need to get a reading light to use with it though.
Ashley
Awesome tips!! I struggle with going to sleep and the reading while I drink my tea just might help.
Nicole
Dirty kitchens stress me out too! Not my husband. Since we try to split chores (e.g. I cook, he cleans), I often wake up to dirty dishes in the sink. I hate it. It does really mess up my morning.
Lisa Sharp
Have you thought about switching some chores with him? Maybe there is another chore that would be better for him that you are currently doing.
Julie Federico
What a fantastic idea. I think including kids in a nighttime routine for their own would be helpful. I always try to include their help out, so this might be the ticket to a more rested mom.
Lisa Sharp
A more rested mom is a good thing for everyone! 🙂
Wendy @ Tubal Pregnancy
Cleaning up kitchen before going to bed used to be a chore for me. I then discussed this issue with my family. Now my hubby and kids join in with me. We clean the kitchen and living room laughing and discussing our day. This has helped in our bonding and make us sleep with a smile and a lighter head.