You know what I love about evenings? The vibrancy of life tinged with its comforting calm. Plus, the world silhouetted against the night sky paints images a person can easily miss if they aren’t looking for it. In my humble opinion, the best time of the day is after the sun sets. (I could be biased, but I have lived many moons. 🌙✨)
Whether you have extra energy or use this time to wind down, an evening routine sets you up for future wins. But just like everyone starts their day at a different hour, everyone ends the day on their own time, too. So I’ll be referring to evening routines as “End Routines.”
Around the Corner
The success of each day is powered by the preparation of the night before. If you prepare ahead, you’ll have less to worry about when you wake up with more energy to tap into. A former high school teacher at my alma mater liked to say, “Proper planning prevents poor performance.”
Just like Olympic athletes train ahead for their big event, we must have a similar mindset in the evening to position ourselves for optimal productivity the next day.
But Jamaaaaae. I’m tiiiiired!
I hear you, lovely. But the fact that we’re building a routine means it’ll soon become muscle memory. On top of that, the energy required to make these nightly decisions is minimal. Take a look at the elements:
Alignment: What Needs to Be Done Tomorrow?
Write ’em all down. On a sticky note. In your planner. On a bulletin board. Having this ready means you won’t have to figure it out in the morning. This frees up a lot of mental space especially for those of us who wake up to hazy vision and the craving for caffeine. (You know who you are.)
- What I do: I list the following day’s tasks in my Bullet Journal, my trusty sidekick, for easy reference.
Care: What Would Make Me Feel Better Right Now?
Remove your makeup if you applied any. Wash your face with warm water or take a warm bath to relax your muscles. Consider soothing your skin with a face mask. Then brew a cup of chamomile tea.
Pamper yourself after all you’ve gone through today. And remember to brush your teeth! (Pretty please.)
- What I do: I massage my face while washing away the grime, making smooth circular motions from my temples down to my chin. Afterwards, I apply healthful products onto my face, similar to Michelle Phan’s evening skin care routine here and here, to absorb overnight.
Clothing: What Do I Feel Like Wearing Tomorrow?
Lay out your outfit for the following morning (or a few choices if you need to feel the day before deciding), even if you’re staying home. Depending on what your day looks like, this may take the most of your energy, which is why it deserves its own slot in the End Routine mix.
If you’ll be leaving the house, make sure to try on the clothes to see if they work together or to find if any holes need patching. Actively preventing disasters while conquering one more decision. Two for one, baby.
- What I do: Once I’ve modeled and found the right match, I’ll place the entire set in the top drawer of my dresser. I do this every time so I know exactly where to find it. No hunting, just go-go-going.
Relaxation: What Do I Want to Do Before I Sleep?
Ahhhh, my favorite part. Choose a mellow activity you enjoy. This could be reading a book, practicing bedtime yoga, or watching a couple YouTube videos before shutting off the lights.
Although several health articles warn against using technology right before bed, a few of my friends put the television on sleep timer and knock out to the white noise. If it works for you (YouTube did the trick for me for a while), I say go for it, lovely.
- What I do: My flavor of soothing activity these days is plugging into an audiobook. Brings me back to my childhood years when my parents would read me to sleep. z z Z
Try out different routines. Find the activities that not only signal it’s time for sleep but also bring you true delight. If you had a stressful day, toss in an extra measure of self-care at night. Do it. I triple dare you.
Go on, creative warrior. You have the freedom to enjoy your End Routine. Every. Single. Second of it.
Write Time
What soothing activities lull you to sleep at night? I’d love to hear your practices (especially ones that’re bizarre or out of the ordinary!) in the comments below.
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