If you’re not much of an early riser, if you can’t get to sleep before midnight, or your mind is more active in the evening, you just might be a night owl.
Last month, we talked about having a morning ritual – a great way to incorporate positive and productive habits at the beginning of your day. The first hour we’re awake has a strong influence on how we’ll handle the rest of our day.
The same could be said of the evening. If you’re late to bed feeling unorganized, unprepared or possibly a little panicked, it’s a great idea to get yourself organized before you head to bed. Make the evening – early or late – your time to be productive. Remember: Night owls can be just as productive as early birds. Why not take ten to thirty minutes of that time to get a jump start on tomorrow?
Instead of scrambling in the morning to pick out your clothes, get them ready the night before. Cook and pack a meal, or pack away your leftovers so you can grab it and go. Creating an evening ritual right before you sleep gets yourself to bed, knowing you’ve made a few more accomplishments, constructing a positive and productive habit that will eventually carry over into your morning routine - what ever that may look like.
Everyone’s routines will look different, but here’s a glimpse into my evening ritual:
*Prepare snacks/lunches
*Pick out clothes
*Clear out e-mail (I’m not a fan of cluttered inboxes)
*Have a cup of tea (or some nights, a glass of wine)
*Review my day, plan and write out tomorrow’s tasks or goals (including anything I missed today)
*Set my alarm
*Read, meditate, or journal
*Lights out!
It might sound easy to establish a routine like the one listed above, but like any habit, they’re just as easy to fall out of. Make your evening ritual a habit that will stick. Modify it to your needs, adding elements that fit you. Whether it’s tidying up to wake up to a clean place, or getting a quick workout in so you don’t have to do it in the morning, you’re preparing yourself for the next day so you don’t have to do it in the morning.
If being more productive in the evenings can shorten or simplify your mornings, you just might find your mornings less daunting.
And, don’t forget: Practice makes permanent.
A Night Owl’s Ritual: Get a Jump Start on Tomorrow
By: MJ