Things to Do at Night to Make Your Mornings Easier
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Before I had a kid, I used to love waking up early in the mornings and spending time lounging around, drinking coffee in bed while catching up on the news, before starting my day. This was a pre-kid luxury I had no idea I had until it was gone. Mornings with kids are a bit more, well, hectic. Which is why evenings have become super important for “resetting” as I like to call it. Basically, wrapping up things from the day, and preparing as best I can for the next day.
I recommend starting this in the evenings and leisurely working through things so that it doesn’t feel like a chore. Don’t wait until just before bed because you’ll be tired and more tempted to just want to procrastinate until the morning. I start right after putting my toddler to sleep, which is right after dinner as I find I’m energized (kid free - woo hoo!) and have the time to dedicate to things.
1. Pick Up
I try to pick up things around the house throughout the day (as much as possible) so that the house isn’t complete chaos but the time day is done, but no matter how hard I try, the place still looks like a pigsty by the time I’ve put the kid to bed. It’s extremely tempting sometimes to look the other direction and pray that I don’t step on a lego gone astray, but it’s actually much easier to just spend a few minutes picking things up. It takes less time than you think it will. I also make sure that the last of the dishes are done and that countertops and tabletops are clear. This way we can wake up to some semblance of order, instead of messy chaos (which will, inevitably, come later but it feels good to start off right). BONUS: If I have time and can muster up the motivation, I also like to pick one item to clean (ie the sink, toilet, stove, etc.). It usually only takes me about 5/10 minutes and when I do it almost nightly, it saves me from doing a deep cleaning overhaul on the weekends.
2. Pack Up and Put Things Out
Lay out outfits for tomorrow, pack lunches, work bags, backpacks, gym clothes, etc. I know it’s tempting to think that it will “only take a few minutes” to get things together in the morning, but somehow that task that would have taken 5 minutes the night before becomes a panicked 20-minute frenzy the next morning as the kids are screaming and running amok, and that one vital work document that you swore was right there is now suddenly missing. Just skip the drama and get things packed up the night before so that nothing gets forgotten and you’re not starting your day in a panic. My husband and I currently work from home with our toddler at home with us, so for me, this looks like getting my work area arranged for tomorrow, with important papers and things I need to deal with right next to my computer. I also spend this time about once a week to do a toy rotation for my toddler as it keeps her toys fresh and she’s better able to entertain herself while I get work done.
3. Prep Coffee and Breakfast
I can’t emphasize enough how much the act of preparing the coffee the night before has made a difference in my world. When it’s early and I’m dragging my feet, it’s feels so daunting to think of the task of making coffee. But if I’ve prepared it the night before and just have to shuffle out to the kitchen to hit the button to get my caffeine fix, the act of waking up somehow seems much more manageable. I have a lot of friends who soak overnight oats for the morning, which is fantastic for having breakfast ready for the morning. If you have young kids, prepare any bottles or sippy cups that you’ll need throughout the night and in the morning.
4. Mentally Prepare for Tomorrow
Spend a few minutes mentally preparing for the next day. I review my to do list and make changes, “front loading” my to do list by moving the most important things up to the top so that I can tackle them first thing when I have the most energy and can be most efficient with my time. I also like to think about meals for the next day so that I can mentally prepare, and I double check my calendar and schedule to make sure that there are no “surprise” alerts I may have forgotten about that inconveniently pop up the next day.
5. Do Any Online Shopping
I keep a running note on my phone throughout the day of standard things that we’re running low on that I usually order online (diapers, wipes, laundry detergent, etc.) and I go through and order them online at night. This is also a great time to order groceries for delivery or to get your grocery shopping list in order
6. Take Time for Self Care
This looks different for everyone. It may be taking a shower or hot bath, meditating for 10 minutes, or putting on a face mask while drinking a cup of hot tea. For me this means drinking a beer while I watch mindless TV and scroll through social media. Hey, you do you. I also like to make sure that I drink at least one extra glass of water, which may sound obvious, but I’ve found that staying hydrated is super key to how well I sleep and how I feel the next morning (if you’re drinking alcohol, then drink one glass of water for each alcoholic drink, and then drink at least one glass extra of water).
7. Think of One Achievement or Positive Thing From the Day
This has become my little routine while I’m brushing my teeth, and I really enjoy it. Reflecting on positive events and celebrating the successes you had for the day (no matter how small) makes you realize that even on days that we feel are mundane, there is good that we have done. Plus, it’s a huge booster for being able to face tomorrow.
8. Spend 15 Minutes Journaling or Reading
I like to do this right before I go to sleep as it forces me to put down my screen and it helps to clear my head. Plus, I find that a few pages into my book I’ll generally start to drift off (as opposed to staring at my screen which can keep me mindlessly engrossed for hours).
What do you do to “reset” at night? Let me know in the comments!
