The Busy Woman's Stress-Free Guide To Getting It All Done - Step Seven - The Routine That Sets Up Everything 

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Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash

Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash

Last post we talked about designing your morning for a successful day. But, did you know, a great morning starts the night before? So, we want to create a routine that sets us up for success the next day.

What should our evening routine look like?

Like our morning routine, it will be different for each of us depending on what our priorities and goals are.

Here’s some ideas to get you started crafting your evening routines so you’re ending your day on a good note and setting your next day up for success.

Samples Evening Routine:

  1. Make lunch/pack snacks - This sets your health goals up for success. When you’re rushing in the morning trying to get three kids out the door that is not the best time to make healthy food decisions.
  2. Pick what you’re going to wear tomorrow and set them up in the bathroom ready for the next day.
  3. Set out your workout clothes -  This way you’ll avoid having to retrieve them from the dryer the next day (or worse, move them from the washer to the dryer.).
  4. Read a good book
  5. Journal - Here’s some questions you might ask yourself:
    1. What worked well for me today?
    2. What’s great about my family life? Yes there is always something great if you look
    3.  Who could I encourage or appreciate tomorrow?
    4. What choices tomorrow will increase my energy?
  6.  Stretch or do some light yoga - This physically and mentally releases tension from the day.
  7. Turn off electronics one hour before bed - Or, at least make sure the blue light setting is turned off. Blue light has been scientifically proven to hinder your deep REM sleep (i.e. you'll wake up less rested). iPhones have a night shift setting you can turn on at a specific time automatically and android calls is night mode.
  8. Write three to five things your thankful for
  9. Share with your spouse three things your thankful for or three things that went great with your day
  10. Share a special moment with your spouse 😉 (I call it “the glue that seals in the crack of any good marriage.”)

You don’t have to do all these items listed. Pick what’s going to be best for you.

Again, it goes back to what are your priorities in life and what goals are you trying to achieve so you can accomplish these priorities. 

Ask yourself, “how is my evening routine supporting my goals?”

Photo by Jessica Castro on Unsplash

Photo by Jessica Castro on Unsplash

One final note: Did you know the last 15 minutes of the day is vital to your ability to live a life a joy?

It can be easy to waste those last 15 minutes filled with Facebook, movies, social media or games on your phone. Or, worse, have you ever had a fight right before you went to bed? How’d you sleep that night?

Whatever you’re doing or thinking about in those last precious minutes before bed are implanted in your brain. It sets the mood for sleep as well as your attitude the next day.

Our subconscious has it’s guard down and is the most receptive to suggestive influences. Hence, why those zombies can make it into your dreams right after that late night binge. 

Inputs are more easily impressed on our sub-conscious before bed than inputs that are scattered through out the day.

So, choose to maximize those last 15 minutes of your evening so you can end the day with joy and start your morning in the right frame of mind.

I hope you’ve enjoyed The Busy Woman's Stress-Free Guide To Getting It All Done series. I pray it will help you start (or continue) to set your life priorities and fulfill the goals God’s put in your heart to do. If you missed of the posts, you can click here to catch up on any missed episodes. I’ve also created a special cheat sheet for you as a future reference. You can sign up for your free copy of The Busy Woman's Stress-Free Guide To Getting It All Done here. Just sign enter your first name and email address and click, “Get The Guide” and it will be on it’s way to your inbox shortly.


Discussion

How are you going to craft your evening routine to support your goals and set you up for a successful day? Or, if you have already established your evening routine, what’s one routine you would like to share with others so they can set their day up for success?

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