Do you have an evening routine?
This may sound like a strange question to some, but evening routines are more helpful than you may realise.
Just as it’s essential to start the day the right way, you should also end it in an organised manner. This doesn’t mean being productive or working into the night, though! Instead, a well thought out evening routine will set you up for a productive night of rest, leaving you feeling better the next day.
Want to find out more? Keep reading to know why evening routines are essential and what you can do to implement one into your day.
Scroll for more.
Why An Evening Routine?
It’s important to chill in the evenings. After a long day of work, your brain needs to rest for mental and physical health. Though the word “routine” may seem structured and stressful, an evening routine guides you to a more relaxing end to your day.
For example, you can finish work and spend your evening chilling without a routine, but this can leave you staying up longer as you’ve forgotten to prepare for the next day. Whereas, if you use an evening stricture you’ll get any necessary tasks out of the way, leaving you more free time to switch off.
Modern life is stressful, so make sure you’re making the most of your free time with an optimised evening routine.
The Importance Of Sleep
Another critical aspect of an evening routine is that it sets you up for a better night of sleep. You’ll sleep easier when you’ve completed your work tasks, home chores, and any food prep.
We’ve all had nights where we’ve laid awake worrying about a task we’ve left for the morning. Leaving work chores until the next day is a lose-lose situation, as you’ll spend more time working the next day, plus you’ll be doing it on fewer hours of sleep.
As we all know, sleep is precious. Without the miracle of sleep, we’d all be walking zombies! An evening routine will boost your rest, but it’ll increase your productivity during the day. Working with a full 8+ hours of sleep leaves you more energy and enthusiasm to get the job done.
Want to know how to achieve these benefits? Keep reading to see the activities you should add to your evenings.
Top Evening Routine Activities
Add these activities to your evenings and watch your sleep and productivity improve.
Make A List And Check It Twice
Lists aren’t for everyone, but they should be. A daily list will help you prioritise your goals from most to least urgent, allowing you peace of mind that you’d been productive in the day. Every evening you should check your list to make sure you’ve completed all tasks for the day.
You can also consider making a new list to prepare yourself for tomorrow. This will help you start the day, as you have already singled out the most important tasks. Once these are completed, you’ll feel much more relaxed - trust us!
Get Your Clothes Ready
Another helpful tip that often gets overlooked is preparing your outfit in the evening. Morning can be stressful and rushed, especially if you commute to the office. When you take the time to prepare your outfit in the evening, you won’t worry about deciding what to wear the next day. This frees up more time for a peaceful morning and a smooth day.
Do A Quick Tidy
Tidying might not be your idea of chilling out, but it will improve your sleep. Try to spend a minimum of 20 minutes tidying a night. This will keep your home at a manageable level of tidiness, leaving you without the stress of cleaning tomorrow.
A popular cleaning method is the “15 Things” tip. This is where you have to clean/put away 15 things before sleeping. This task isn’t as intensive as a full clean, but it will leave you with a more organised home.
Cut Back On Snacks And Alcohol
Though you may want to treat yourself after work, avoid daily indulgences. Try to refrain from any alcohol or heavy meals during the week. These options take longer to digest, making it harder to sleep after a large meal. Consider a lighter option next time you need an early night!
Read Before Bed
Finally, this tip is an old one, but it’s one of the best. Swap your TV time with some reading. Whether you read ten pages or a few chapters, spending time with a book is better for your mind and sleep quality. It helps you unwind, and a book can transport you to a whole new world.
The Bottom Line
Ending the day with as little stress as possible is vital. Modern life can be exhausting, so stay on top of daily life with an optimised evening routine. This will improve your sleep, work life, and social life - a win-win!
Want to know more about work-life topics? Explore the Flexispot blog here.
