• Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Kalyn Brooke

Simple Solutions to Manage Everyday Life

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Shop
  • Contact

How to Create Your Ideal Evening Routine

February 21 // 9 Comments // 4 Minute Read

Jump To Recipe · Print Recipe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
A solid structure the night before is crucial to a productive day ahead. Learn how to create an ideal evening routine that fits with your schedule, relieves bedtime stress, and restores your sanity!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

This post is sponsored by Mirum Shopper. All opinions and extremely dry skin are 100% my own.

A solid structure the night before is crucial to a productive day ahead. Learn how to create an ideal evening routine that fits with your schedule, relieves bedtime stress, and restores your sanity! #eveningroutine #productivity #dailyhabits #routine #selfcare

A few weeks ago, we talked about How to Make Your Mornings Insanely Productive, and one of the key success factors was preparing the night before. Sounds super simple, but it’s unbelievable how much a difference this makes!

Today, I want to talk about how to create your ideal evening routine. One that doesn’t feel like another set of tasks on your to-do list, but instead, helps you settle down at night and recharge for the next day.

Here’s the thing—a late-night show on Netflix or scrolling through your social media feed might feel relaxing at the time, but does it really help you wind down and fall asleep? For most of us, I’m guessing it doesn’t quite hit the mark.

In fact, I personally wake up feeling just as exhausted as when I went to bed in the first place! Mostly because these activities push back my bedtime, and I stay up way too late as a result.

I say let’s get rid of all these distractions and plan an evening routine that relieves stress and restores your sanity. Deal? I promise you’ll be SO productive come morning, you don’t know what to do with your new self!

1.  Create Your Next Day’s To-Do List

If you have a hard time shutting your brain down at night, I would encourage you NOT to wait until morning to write down everything you need to do. Otherwise, it will cycle over and over and keep you from getting a good night’s sleep—just ask me how I know!

Instead, write out a list of 3-5 things you want to accomplish the next day and don’t even think about it until morning. If you have lots of ideas and tasks swirling around in your mind, do a brain dump, then organize those thoughts according to your top priorities.

I also like to have a small notebook and pen on my nightstand for things I think of later. And hey, I’ve gotten pretty good at writing in the dark. 😉

daily-planning

2. Tackle a Frustration Area

Are you frustrated when you wake up and see dishes in the sink? Tired of preparing breakfast and school lunches?

For me, I can’t stand opening my bedroom door and seeing a cluttered mess on the dining room table and kitchen island (which used to happen to me all the time before I learned how to do dishes—and fewer of them!). It totally screws with my productivity and I’d rather climb straight back in bed!

Whatever it is you dread in the morning, do something about it the night before. You could spend 10-15 minutes doing a quick pickup, or get bowls and oatmeal packets out for breakfast. I personally love how Crystal tackles school lunches and has separate baskets of food ready for her kids to assemble.

It might not sound very relaxing to do housework before bed, but come morning, you’ll be a much happier person when you wake up!

3. Pamper Yourself

A beauty routine can be incredibly relaxing and is helpful to “wash away” the stress of the current day. Take a shower, wash your face, and use yummy smelling soaps and scrubs to transition from hectic to unhurried.

Here’s my current system:

  • Use my Homemade Makeup Remover to get rid of any residual makeup.
  • Wash face with either St. Ives® Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub or POND’S® Cold Cream Cleanser. I like to alternate between the two so my face doesn’t take a beating every night with a scrub.
  • Moisturize with a good cream.

Sometimes, I will also take a shower during this time so my thick hair has time to dry a little bit before morning. Then I end my pamper sessions with Vaseline® Intensive Care™ Advanced Repair Lotion because my skin is always SO DRY from Florida air conditioning!

beauty-products

4. Wind Down with a Relaxing Activity

This year I fell in love with reading again. I was always using excuses that I was too busy, but I was really just wasting away time on my phone before bed. Now I take 20-30 minutes to relax and read, and I honestly can’t believe how many books I’ve read this year using this method!

For my fellow bookworms, my top tip is to not read anything too mind-bending before bed. A light fictional story or personal development book are both great options to help your brain and body relax.

If you’re not a bookworm, find an activity that has the same effect. Listen to a podcast or calming music. Do some yoga or simple stretches. Pray, read the Bible, or journal a few things you are thankful for. This helps close out the day and ready your body for sleep.

5. Turn Off the Lights at a Decent Time

If you’re the type of person who can live on five hours of sleep, then by all means, skip this step. But for me, I need to turn out the lights no later than 10:30-11:00pm so I can make sure I’m getting enough rest. Otherwise, I turn into that cranky mess I mentioned earlier!

Believe me, I know how tempting it is to finish a good book, or find excuses to scroll through endless Instagram photos, but your body will regret it come morning. Make rest a priority, and your next day’s tasks will fall right into place. 

However, if you often turn out the lights later than usual, this is a sign that you may just need to start your evening routine earlier than you normally would. OR, just make sure you’re not getting distracted on your phone.

lamp

Remember, a little bit of effort each evening will reenergize you for the day ahead. Be purposefully productive, treat your body well, and of course, get a good night’s sleep!

Do you bullet journal? Make improving your sleep habits fun with this sleep tracker, available now from the Brainbook Library!

Sweet dreams!

What is an essential part of your evening routine?

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
« Previous PostThe Spender vs. The Saver: How to Coexist When You’re Complete Opposites
Next Post »Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip


Comments

  1. Lindsey says

    September 15 at 9:34 am

    As of this morning, lol, I have made an effort to work in a short workout into my day. This means that every morning I am up at 6am and ready to go on a morning run. So naturally, if I want my morning to go smoothly, I need to prep for my day the night before.

    An essential part of my routine is laying out my workout clothes, so when I’m still half-asleep, I don’t have to try to dress myself in the dark.

    Reply
  2. Mary says

    September 15 at 1:33 pm

    I love listening to Tim Keller (he has a podcast) at night. His teaching engages me intellectually and often touches me deeply. His voice is calm and often puts me to sleep in a good way. I don’t seem to have weird dreams much any more since I started this either. I’ve listened to many of us talks over and over; they are full of treasure.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      September 20 at 8:50 pm

      Do you use a speaker or headphones? My husband likes going to bed with some sort of noise in the background but I’m more of a quiet girl. Sometimes he uses headphones but they aren’t as comfortable for him if his ear is on the pillow.

      Reply
      • Janet says

        July 15 at 6:36 pm

        I use a pillow speaker, which is small and flat and lays on top of the pillow or inside the pillow case (for comfort). When the person’s ear is on it, no one can hear except the person who wants to listen. I fall asleep to podcasts or audiobooks each night. I set the sleep timer on my phone and leave the phone on the floor, so it’s not in the bed with me. I’ve experimented with various speakers that I’ve found on Amazon. I’ve just found your website, and although it’s not a productive afternoon, I’m hoping some of your ideas will inspire for future productive afternoons. Thank you.

        Reply
  3. Sarah @ The Teacher's Wife says

    September 16 at 12:53 pm

    #2 is so key for me. I hate waking up to a sink full of dishes, so I make sure I don’t go to bed until the sink is empty and the dishwasher has been started. I need to work on pampering myself some more!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      September 20 at 8:47 pm

      Isn’t it amazing how much less stress there is when your sink is clean when you wake up?

      Reply
  4. Arte Creo says

    September 23 at 6:45 pm

    Great tips. I needed those. Always struggling with time managment ;/ . Will give it a try.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      September 24 at 2:19 pm

      An evening routine could be the key! Just remember to stick to it for at least a week. It always takes a little bit to establish the routine to keep from falling back into bad habits.

      Reply
  5. LIFESTYLERKA - Żyj zdrowo & Aktywnie says

    May 7 at 4:26 am

    Next day’s to-do list it’s a great idea! Usually I do it in the morning, but I think it’s to late. Better be prepared earlier ;). I love to drink camomile in the evening, it maks me calm and relaxed :).

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

New? Start Here!

  • Take a Tour
  • Become a BFF
  • Favorite Recipes
  • The Printable Library
  • Just for Bloggers
  • Visit the Shop

kalynbrookeco

👩‍💻 | I help value-driven women lead manageable + meaningful lives.
💬 | INFJ / Enneagram 1
🚙 | RV Life @openroading
👇 | Resources + Links

Kalyn Brooke
I used to feel guilty for reading fiction novels. I used to feel guilty for reading fiction novels. 😔⁣
⁣
Once in high school, someone told me that I needed to expand my world through real stories and information instead of reading all that fluff. 🥴⁣
⁣
I understand the point they were trying to make. If you want to learn how to do something or get to know historical figures or grow personally in a positive way, non-fiction will help you get there. ⁣
⁣
But fiction matters too... for so many reasons! Here are my three: 📚⁣
⁣
1. Fiction helps me practice empathy. I see the world with new eyes because of the way the author invites me to step into the shoes of a beloved character. 🥰⁣
⁣
2. With fiction, you can live thousands of lives. George R.R. Martin said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” Fiction allows me to enter a world I don’t get to experience in real life. 💗⁣
⁣
3. Fiction helps me write better non-fiction. When we hear a well-told story, our brain reacts as if we are experiencing the story ourselves. So when I read a particularly captivating passage, it gives me ideas on how to weave storytelling into my writing too. 💪⁣
⁣
I’d love to hear why you think fiction matters. Comment below and tell me one of your favorite things about reading fiction!⁣
⁣
And if you love books just as much as I do, I invite you to follow my new bookstagram account @theunclutteredbookshelf where we can talk about books ALL the time. 🤩
STORAGE IDEA… for paint swatches! ☝ Keep and l STORAGE IDEA… for paint swatches! ☝ Keep and label the colors you use, then tuck them away in a small envelope for reference. ⁣
⁣
Whenever I go searching for a new rug or pillows, I grab this envelope so I  have ALL my paint colors on hand.  I can match the colors seamlessly without trying to guess if the blue on my walls trends more blue than green. 🤔⁣
⁣
Another perk? You won’t spend an excessive amount of time in HomeGoods waffling between decorating decisions. Not that I’ve ever done that... 😆⁣
⁣
#tipoftheday #tipsforlife #tipsfordays #lifehack #lifehacks #lifehacker #lifehacking #helpfultips #helpfultip #helpfulhint #helpfuladvice #helpfulinfo #whydidntithinkofthat #whydidntithinkofthis #whydidntithinkofthissooner #whydidntithinkofthisbefore #darlingmovement #darlingweekend #pursuepretty #petitejoys #livethelittlethings #morningslikethese #livecolorfully #abmlifeissweet #abmhappylife #dshappy #myunicornlife #livebeautifully #nothingisordinary_ #theeverygirl
‘Tis the season for spring-cleaning your home … and your finances! 💸⁣
⁣
While most of us use the spring season to deep clean spaces we might otherwise forget (or ignore—fan blades, I’m talking to you), let’s not forget how necessary it is to do a financial check-in too. 💰⁣
⁣
If it’s been a while since you last overhauled your budget, updated your savings goals, etc., not to worry. I have just the thing to give your finances a fresh start! 🥳⁣
⁣
On the blog this week, I’ve listed 7 essential steps to help you clear out the cobwebs. Don’t be intimidated—I promise it will be fun! And once you have these systems in place, you’ll enjoy less stress during the rest of the year. ⁣
⁣
Drop any cleaning emoji in the comments below and I’ll send you the link to get started. 🧹🧽 🧼
⚡NEWSFLASH:⚡ While there’s so much you could ⚡NEWSFLASH:⚡ While there’s so much you could be doing, there’s only a handful of things you can do at one time. 💪⁣
⁣
The authors of the book The One Thing get this. ⁣
⁣
If you’ve not yet read this book, here’s the main premise: 📣⁣
⁣
Not everything can matter equally. If everything is important, then nothing is. And extraordinary results are directly determined by how you narrow your focus. ⁣
⁣
In other words? Balance is nothing more than an illusion. 🔮⁣
⁣
On the surface, balance sounds like an ideal destination, where every part of our life will magically fall into place and we’ll finally experience the peace and contentment we long for.⁣
⁣
But balance prevents you from “going all in” on anything. Balance chains you to the middle so you can avoid the extremes of the right and left, never committing a significant amount of time to any one area of your life. If you approach anything with balance, each task will tug at you, claiming just as much importance as the next. ⚠⁣
⁣
And equal approaches almost never result in equal outcomes. 🙅⁣
⁣
So embrace being out of balance. Go “all in” on the things that are important to you and let the rest go. 👋⁣
⁣
One of my favorite quotes from The One Thing is, “The key to success isn’t in all the things we do, but in the handful of things we do well.” 🥳⁣
⁣
Think about what you want to do well and then leave what you can behind. And of course, grab the book if you’re able and add it to your reading stack. I have a feeling you’ll love it like I did! 💞⁣
⁣
Have you read this book yet?
The discbound notebook is the BEST thing to happen The discbound notebook is the BEST thing to happen to bullet journaling. It’s true! 🤯⁣
⁣
If you’ve never heard of this type of notebook before, it contains two covers (front and back) with your pages sandwiched in the middle. But the differentiating factor are the “discs” that hold everything together. 🥰⁣
⁣
With a three-ring binder, you can’t fold the notebook back on itself. But with a discbound notebook, you CAN, which allows for easier writing. And you don’t have those annoying snaps of a three-ring binder either! Just pull the page off and then press it back down when you’re done. 😉⁣
⁣
With a discbound notebook, you have the freedom to…⁣
⁣
1️⃣ Rearrange pages however you wish and whenever you wish 💪⁣
2️⃣ Organize your planner into sections 🎉⁣
3️⃣ Use bullet journal printables to save time drawing layouts (this is the solution to the loudest objection I hear about bullet journaling) ⏰⁣
4️⃣ Throw away pages when you mess up (as opposed to ripping a page out of a bound notebook and risk the whole notebook falling apart) 😳⁣
⁣
If you’re not satisfied with the 2021 planner you picked, try a discbound notebook ... bullet journal style. This week’s blog post dishes all the details on what you need to set one up along with a video on how I use mine! 📣⁣
⁣
Drop a notebook emoji in the comments below if you want the link. 📒
Last week the world watched Harry and Meghan’s t Last week the world watched Harry and Meghan’s tell-all interview. 📺⁣
⁣
I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed with the royal family (even though I did hang a photo of Prince William in my high school locker!). But I bought a pint of non-dairy Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and settled in for the two-hour tell-all interview. 🍦⁣
⁣
And here’s my main takeaway:⁣
⁣
Suicidal thoughts. 💭⁣
⁣
Yep, we’re going there today. ⁣
⁣
When someone says they “didn’t want to be alive,” don’t ignore their pleas or pass them off as attention-seekers or say they can’t get help because it would look bad on the royal family (all things that were told to Meghan). 🤯⁣
⁣
Nope. When someone says that, believe them. ⁣
⁣
Even though my life looks completely different than Meghan’s, depression whispered the same lies into my ear. And when I tried to get help, I was given Christian books and resources that criticized medication and labeled depression as a spiritual issue. ⁣
⁣
We must remember that words hold power. When we throw out flippant remarks about mental health, it negatively affects the way people view themselves. 👀⁣
⁣
Their brain is already at war. We don’t need to ruin their chances of winning. 🏆⁣
⁣
So regardless of your opinion about Meghan or the royal family, I hope you hear my heart in this. 💞⁣
⁣
We need to stop believing people only when it’s too late. We need to believe them now… and make sure they know they have our full support. Someone close to you right now could be struggling with their own thoughts and you don’t even know it. 🤔⁣
⁣
So be careful what you say. ⁣
⁣
Meghan probably won’t hear or read your opinion, but your friend will.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Copyright © 2021 · Privacy Policy