Successful Mornings – Start by Preparing the Night Before
What is Your Evening Routine?
Have you noticed how your evening routine affects your morning? Did you know a few simple steps in the evening can make a huge impact on your morning and how much you accomplish all day? Your successful mornings start by preparing the night before for the next day.
We are continuing our discussion of Make Over Your Mornings course by Crystal Paine. Today is day 2 – Your Morning Begins the Night Before. Be sure to watch today’s video and read the workbook day 2.
Preparation is key
Lack of preparation will cause you stress. Without preparation and planning, you will forget the small details (the ones that matter). One simple way to reduce your stress and help you be more prepared every day is to follow a routine. Follow a morning routine and evening/before bed routine. You should customize the routine for your family and your situation. I have learned that without a routine, everything is just chaos.
Our Evening Routine
Since our children were infants we have followed an evening routine, and I have learned to improve the evening routine over the years by adding steps that help me be prepared for the next day.
Here’s a sample of our family’s evening routine:
Dinner together as family (everyone has to come to table and share details about their day)
After dinner kitchen clean-up
Prepare lunches for the children on school nights/children get baths
Complete homework assignments
Settle down/quiet time for bed/reading when we have time
Bed time for the children (I confess this is the step that causes problems – if you have older children you know how they will come up with so many excuses not to go to bed or stay in bed. They need a drink, they have to go to the bathroom, they have to tell me one more thing, the list goes on and on).
You can also read Crystal’s before bed routine.
What’s missing from your evening routine?
Are you having stress in your mornings? Today’s lesson encourages us to write down 3 things that cause us stress in the mornings and define 3 steps to we can take the night before reduce or eliminate this stress.
Is your stress point what is breakfast? Or is it finding clothes for everyone to wear to school? Or is your stress point your child telling you they can’t find a missing school book/homework right when you are about to leave for school? By re-evaluating your nightly routine, you will be able to solve most of these problems the night before and greatly reduce your morning stress.
Prioritize Sleep
When you plan your day, remember to prioritize sleep. You cannot have a successful morning (or day) if you are exhausted all the time. Plan your evenings and your day to prioritize sleep – when possible give yourself 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
You can use the worksheet in today’s lesson to help you determine your best bed time and how much sleep you need.
Today’s Challenge
Have you defined your morning stress points and come up with plans to resolve these stress areas? Have you established an evening routine that works for you?
With less morning stress, your day will start better and you will be able to focus on the important tasks in the mornings.
Your turn…
What is your evening routine? Have you noticed recognized any areas you could improve that will make your mornings more successful?
