If your routines could use a shake-up (or you don’t have any routines at all but would like some), this blog post is for you! The right morning routine can set the tone for a great day ahead, and the right evening routine can have you saying, “all’s well that ends well”. You’ll see in the tips below that there’s no one universally “correct” morning or evening routine. The effectiveness of yours comes down to your personal goals and what helps you achieve them. So, without further ado, let’s get into crafting your perfect routines!
1- Consider the following categories for additions to your routines.
If you’re struggling to even pick a starting point for your routines, it may help to think of it in terms of these categories. These are just ideas, NOT an exhaustive list. You can bounce off of whatever resonates with you and add anything I missed!
•Personal development / mindset (reflecting, journaling, listening to inspiring podcasts, reading inspiring blogs *cough cough A Wise Owl Told Me*, etc.)
•Mood boosting (listening to songs that pump you up, watching/reading/doing something you enjoy, etc.)
•Movement (going to the gym, working out at home, going for a walk, stretching, yoga, etc.)
•Mental stimulation (reading something educational, playing a game, etc.)
•Nourishment (eating nutritious *and* delicious foods)
•Hydration
•Time in nature / outside
•Creativity
•Prayer / spirituality exercises
•Skincare / beauty / self-care
•Planning / organizing (mentally and/or physically)
•Getting ahead of or catching up on responsibilities
None of these are specific for mornings or evenings, because it all depends on which ones are best for you at which times of day, which we’ll dive deeper into in the next couple of points. Hopefully, though, at least some items on this list already have your wheels turning. You can also refer to Mindset Regimen: Powerful Daily Habits to Nurture Your Mindset for more inspiration and ideas.
2- Consider what you need in the mornings and evenings.
Whether you’re a self-proclaimed early bird or night owl, both times of day call for different things for each person. For instance, some people need slow, relaxed mornings to ease into the day, while others need to get moving as soon as they open their eyes. Some people need the TV on to fall asleep at night, whereas others need complete silence and darkness. Some people see their mornings or evenings as perfect times to get work done without distractions, whereas others need to unplug during those times. These are just a few examples of how we should be in tune with our own needs. The more you know these things about yourself, the more constructive your routines will be for you!
3- Consider what types of energy you have in the mornings and evenings.
There are all different types of energy that you need for various things. Maybe your physical energy is far greater in the mornings than evenings, making movement perfect for your morning routine. Maybe you feel most inspired in the creative sphere at night, making that the perfect time to work on your creative projects. Again, being in tune with yourself here is crucial. Knowing when to tap into each type of energy will set you up for success in all your goals!
4- Experiment with different variations of routines, and track how effective they are.
Upon choosing routines, they definitely don’t need to be set in stone. In fact, it’s probably unrealistic to expect the same exact routines to serve you for the rest of your life! Of course, certain things may consistently stay the same throughout your life if they’re essential to you. However, it’s natural to need to fine-tune your routines over time. It could be as simple as rearranging your tasks in a new order that makes more sense to you. It could also mean doing things at completely different times of day. In the case that a part of your routine isn’t working for you anymore, it could mean discarding that part or replacing it with something better-aligned with you. (My post Decluttering Tips: 6 Things to Declutter in Your Spring Cleaning discusses decluttering routines in point #4!).
Whatever your circumstances may be, be sure to pay attention to the effectiveness of your routines. Depending on the overarching goals of a routine, effectiveness can be measured based on how well you accomplish those goals. For instance, say that the main goals of your evening routine are to wind down and get into a good headspace for the next day. If a routine manages to make these things happen consistently, that makes it a pretty effective routine! Your goals for a routine are also allowed to evolve. Stay in tune with yourself, and the rest will follow!
5- Along with your routines evolving over the course of your life, they can also change from day to day.
For instance, your Monday night routine can naturally look different from your Friday night routine. It’s easy to take the word “routine” to mean that you have to follow the same blueprint everyday. In reality, though, your schedule and to-do lists likely vary from day to day, making it natural for your routines to vary alongside them.
On top of that, routines can be as strict or as flexible as you want or need them to be. Some influencing factors for this include how much time you have for a routine, how much you want to get done, and your overall personality type. You may choose a stricter routine on mornings when you’re tighter on time than those when you have several hours to spend. You may also choose a stricter routine on days when productivity is top priority than those when you’re prioritizing self-care.
Regardless, allow for variation that comes with each day being different!
The bottom line…
Hopefully these tips gave you good food for thought on routines that will help you craft your own! They don’t need to look a certain way, or look the same way all the time, in order to be effective. They just need to meet you where you’re at, wherever that may be!