Getting up early starts with going to bed early. Obvious? Yes. Easy to forget in the evening? Also, yes!
I have always been a night owl and didn’t see any reason to fight that…until I had children. I have to be intentional in my evening, if I want to get to bed early. A great morning starts the evening before.
Here are 7 things to do every evening to have the best morning tomorrow:
Get off the computer and phone at least an hour before going to bed. The blue light emitted from your smartphone disrupts the release of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin. I can attest to this. When I am up late on my computer or phone, I have so much trouble falling asleep. This is the case even when tired. It’s a combination of the blue light and the level of mental engagement.
Prepare for tomorrow. Spend a few minutes going over tomorrow’s schedule. If you are not one to schedule out your entire day, that is fine. Focus on the first hour or two at a minimum. Spending a few minutes NOW to ensure a productive first hour tomorrow, will help you in the morning. Here is the one simple task that will help plan for tomorrow.
Prepare for your morning dash out of the house. Are you leaving the house tomorrow? Why is that ALWAYS so hectic? Doing a few minutes of prep at night helps keep morning stress down. Set out your clothes. Program your coffee maker. (Wake up to your Bulletproof Coffee!) Make your lunch. Make sure your children are also prepared. (Dependent on age, of course. If they are older take the time NOW to teach them to prepare themselves! You will be thankful later.) Your mind will be more at ease when going to bed, knowing that you just took care of a bit of your morning stress.
Create a calming ritual. Spend a portion of the last 30-60 minutes doing something relaxing. This is a wonderful time to sit down with a book or magazine. Read your evening devotion. A warm bath, stretching, or yoga are also good options.
Sleep in a cool, dark room. Set yourself up for a great night’s sleep.
Create a sleeping haven in your room. If you want to dabble in minimalism…start in your bedroom. When surrounded by complete chaos, it’s harder to relax at night. Don’t make yourself stare at a desk piled with all your work when trying to attempt falling asleep.
Record bedtimes. This may seem like an odd one, but this has been key. Midnight used to be my bedtime deadline. As long as I was in bed by midnight, I was satisfied. I would even feel a smidgen of pride when seeing 11:4-something. (Wow! I’m going to bed early!) If you set a bedtime goal, recording your actual bedtime will help to hold you accountable. When having a bedtime goal of 11, I would cringe to have to write down anything after midnight. It’s motivating…trust me. It’s amazing how helpful the simple step of writing it down is. You will find a FREE Sleep Tracker Printable here.
Which tip is your favorite for 7 Things to do Every Evening for the Best Morning?
Do you have any evening routines?
This post is from day 2 of my journey to make the most of my mornings by creating an early morning wake-up habit. Read all about it here: How to Enjoy an Early, Joyful, and Productive Morning.
Do you need help creating a morning routine? Read this post and get the free workbook to walk you through creating a morning routine!
You will receive free updates, morning motivation, printables, blog post highlights, and occasional deals sent your way. Frequency?? Just a few times per month.
A Mama's Story says
Great ideas! I’m an early bird turned night owl turning early bird again. Thanks for linking up at Mama Moments Mondays. :)
admin says
I think it may be common to switch between the 2…depending on the time of life!
Mariet - Practicingnormal says
I’m struggling to get to bed earlier. It’s good to see these reminders in a list. Thank you.
#MondayMadness
admin says
Yes, it can be so hard…I go to bed early a few nights in a row, get proud of myself & then get right back into my old habits. ;)