Productive Evening Routine
If you struggle to be productive in the evening hours and regret spending too much time watching Netflix or endlessly scrolling, consider trying out new habits that use your time wisely so you can be more intentional and get more done at night.
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Productive Habits After Five PM
There are plenty of ways to create a productive evening routine that sets you up for success the next morning. Keep reading below for ideas from decluttering, mindfulness, goal setting and more.
Tidy Up
Finish chores and organize your space
An easy way to gain momentum is to quickly clean up your space or finish chores such as washing dishes. Remove any immediate clutter such as trash or opened boxes and then move onto decluttering visible surfaces.
A clean space can be the catalyst that motivates you to keep up with productive habits instead of falling back into bad ones.
Get Moving
Exercise
Starting a regular workout routine has endless benefits. Not only will you feel productive by prioritizing your health, but exercising helps to reduce stress and anxiety, allowing you to think more clearly.
Try adding outdoor activities too for vitamin D and fresh air, which are both beneficial for mental health.
Self-Care Routine
Evening self-care
There are so many ways to incorporate self-care into your weekly routine. From grooming and everything showers to listening to your favorite songs or writing in a creative journal. Don’t miss this step!
Self-care activities are important because they help ground you and prevent burn-out.
Start a Project
Always keep learning
Learning a new skill is a way to “exercise” your brain. If you have free-time in the evenings, devoting time to learning or creating is a way to keep your brain engaged and break free from the dopamine seeking addiction that constantly scrolling nurtures.
If that sounds intimidating, don’t worry, even starting a new hobby will work. Think of something that last piqued your interest and research the easiest way to get started (the best way to start with minimal supplies and skill level).
Don’t get stuck in the research phase! Be sure to take action after picking a new project or hobby.
Ideas:
- Start a new hobby or craft project
- Learn a new language
- Listen to an informative podcast
- Start a new side hustle
Plan & Reflect
Plan out the next day
Taking time to write out your top priorities and commitments for the next day will help you to stay organized and get started early the next morning.
This can help you eliminate the decision-making process and get started working right away after your morning routine.
Reflections
Add time to reflect in your planning process to be mindful of your goals and stay on track. This can be as simple as writing a few bullet points about what you achieved or what happened that day, especially anything that contributed towards your goals.
If you have more time, it can be a more detailed review and reflection in the form of a full journal entry including areas of your life that you want to see improvements in such as personal development or finances.
Future Logging
Never miss important events or deadlines again. Use future-logging to keep track of long-term goals and projects as well as life commitments.
Prepare for tomorrow
Meal Prep
Meal prepping and planning can be very beneficial if you’re looking to save time, make better dietary choices, and stop ordering out as much.
Make sure to write down your meal plan for the week starting on Sunday or Monday evening and then fill in the gaps as you run out of ingredients or leftovers.
To meal prep, you can focus on preparing ingredients, snacks, or full meals. Whatever you have time for that fits your lifestyle is best.
Some ideas to get you started are to prepare overnight breakfasts like overnight oats, freezer pancakes, or boiled eggs. Or do ingredient prep for lunch and dinner like chopped vegetables or cooked grains.
Set out your clothes
Laying out your clothes the night before is not just for children. Sometimes this is step that can take up the most time in our morning routine.
If you notice that you struggle regularly to find an outfit that works for that day every morning then taking some time at night to set out your outfit and accessories for the next day might be a better option.
Don’t forget to check for the weather forecast the next day to prepare accordingly.
Pack your bag
Similarly, packing your work bag or backpack ahead of time can ensure you don’t miss any important or essential items during the morning rush to head out the door.
Plan Ahead for Tasks
If you have anything time sensitive you need to get done tomorrow, prepare reminders (set up on your phone or use sticky notes) or set out anything you need to complete the task.
Manage your devices
Charge everything
Have all the devices you use on a daily basis fully charged and ready to go by making sure to plug them in at night and unplug them before you go to sleep.
Read notifications
Make it a habit to check all urgent notifications such as from your home security or smart devices.
Wind down routine
Keep a schedule
In order for habits to stick, consistency is key. Create a bedtime routine that signals to your body and mind that it’s time to sleep. A good night’s rest is the start to an early, productive morning the following day.
Wind down habits:
- Limit screen time: Shut off your electronic devices and opt for 30 mins of reading time before bed.
- Deep breathing: Use guided deep breathing or meditation techniques to put you in a clam headspace.
- Dim the lights: Dim the lights at the same time every night about an hour or 30 mins before you want to fall asleep.
- Write down your thoughts: If you typically have a lot on your mind at night that prevents you from falling asleep, try keeping a notepad or journal and pen on your nightstand. This ensures easy access for processing them instead of ruminating.
Productive Things To Do at Night
If you want to start spending your time more intentionally in the evenings, try adding some of these productive habits into your weekly routine.
Even if you think you don’t have enough time now, you can practice new habits once or twice a week and slowly build up a consistent routine.
⭐ KEY Takeaways:
These are some of the basics for creating a productive evening routine. Use these simple habits to slowly build build up a consistent routine.
