An evening routine to set you up for a great day!
A productive day actually starts the night before! In order to increase your productivity, start with your evening routine. In this post, I’m covering what to say no to, and what to say yes to, to set yourself up for success.
Learn how to get more done, and be your most productive self by establishing an evening routine that includes good sleep hygiene and preparation for the next day!
Every yes is also a no
Every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to anything else you could do with that time, energy, or other resource.
So in order to set yourself up for not only a good night, but also a great next day, your evening routine should focus not only on what you say no to, but also what you say yes to!
We’re each unique individuals, and your evening routine should be as unique as you are! But I’ve included in this post some general guidelines to help you get started discovering where you might want to start saying no, and where you want to start saying yes!
A great way to recognize where you need to start saying no, is if any of these items on the “no” list you consider one of your “dirty little secrets” or “bad habits that aren’t hurting anyone”.
And if any of the items on the “yes” list light you up or make you think – “I would love to have that habit or routine”, that’s a great place to start saying yes!
This is one of the biggest boundary exercises you can do – creating boundaries with yourself! If you want additional support and help in building an evening routine that works for you and your life, schedule a Discovery Session with me today and let’s start the conversation!
Where to say no
Before bed say no to anything that impacts your ability to get a good night sleep. This could be:
- screen time,
- engaging in activities that wind you up,
- eating anything within a few hours of bed,
- or drinking coffee, alcohol, or sugary drinks within a few hours of bedtime.
Lack of quality sleep is a sure fire way to negatively impact your productivity.
If this subject is new to you, learn more about good sleep hygiene here.
You also want to say no to anything that falls into your “should” category. Often things we feel we “should” do are actions we’re trying to take because we feel an obligation to conform to our belief of what others expect of us.
These aren’t actually things we want to do or that are in alignment with our own unique priorities. Remember, every no is also a yes, and by saying no to these things, you’re able to open up the opportunity to say yes to things that will help you start the next day on a better foot.
Where to say yes
Perhaps even more important than what you say no to, is what you say yes to!
Before bed, say yes to anything that helps you calm down, unwind and relax as you head toward sleep. This might be:
- gentle stretching,
- listening to a guided meditation,
- reading: I pick magazines or books that aren’t nail bitters – think things that create a calming energy,
- taking a bath or shower,
- drinking a cup of chamomile tea,
- or journaling.
Again, quality sleep is so important to productivity!
You might also want to say yes to anything that will help your morning run more smoothly. This might include laying out your clothing for the next day, preparing your breakfast or lunch in advance, or packing your gym bag. Basically, if you can prepare it in advance, it will make your day run more smoothly and you’ll feel more productive.
I love the idea of saying no to something in order to set yourself up for success the next day! You can build on this by learning a few more of my techniques for increasing productivity by doing less, not more in my FREE Productivity Workshop!
