My Productive Evening Routine
That helps me unwind and prepare for the following day.
I die inside every time I hear my alarm clock ring.
It puts me back to the days I had to wake up before 5 am every day, jump out of bed, quickly down a pre-workout drink, and rush to the gym so I could get a workout in before heading into the office by 7.
There’s a specific tune too — and every time I hear it, I cringe. I remember how irritated I’d be hearing it every morning, mumbling to myself about how much I hated that stupid alarm clock.
Now — I don’t use an alarm clock. I usually wake up naturally between 5–6; if I do need to wake up earlier, I’ll set one, although I pick a different ringer.
I’m currently doing Vlogmas, where I have to upload a YouTube video every day until Christmas; it’s a lot of work — and one particular video I recently edited was my evening routine.
My evening routine is just as significant as my morning one; in fact, I’d even argue it’s more important because it’s what sets me up for the following day.
If you don’t have a proper evening routine, this might help you set one up, as well as realize how important it is to have one.
I come to a hard stop every night after the completion of my tasks.
I always have 3–4 major tasks to do, and after completing them, I come to a hard stop. I don’t try to do more than I set out to do because I know the quality of my work will suffer if I put too much on my plate.
My main tasks daily consist of writing, editing/creating a video, and doing contracting work. That takes up the bulk of my day and mental energy. There’s no point in trying to spread myself too thin/
Besides, reading, unplugging, and spending quality time with my partner is incredibly important to me, so if I continue working, I’ll have to sacrifice one of those things.
There’s really not much you can do late at night anyway when you’re tired and worn out. Instead, take the time to relax and leave the problem-solving for tomorrow when your brain is fresh and alert.
Pro tip:
Set 3–4 major tasks for yourself every day, and accomplish them one by one.
After, come to a hard stop. This allows you to not only have the ability to relax and have some time for yourself every evening, but it’ll make you feel like your life doesn’t revolve around work.
If you do have other pressing tasks on your calendar, by all means, stay up and do them, but doing so on a consistent basis can lead to burnout and make you feel crabby.
Create a plan for the following day.
I hate waking up without knowing what I’m doing that day. In fact, I hate going to bed without knowing what the following day holds for me.
Most of our stress, anxiety, and frustration come from unsolved problems, which is why setting up a plan for yourself can not only ease your worries, but it’ll significantly increase your chances of having a solid and productive day.
I identify what workout I’m doing, if it’s a leg day or upper body day, whether I’m going to go for a walk outside or instead getting some steps in on the treadmill.
I figure out if I have any meetings and what time they’re scheduled so I’m not late for them. I figure out what I’m filming that day and whether or not I’ll be outside for the bulk of it or camped out at my desk.
My writing window is usually the same every morning, and I identify whether I have pieces that need editing or if I’m starting something new.
Pro tip:
Invest in a planner, and jot down 3–4 tasks you need/want to work on every evening for the following day. Whatever you didn’t get to on Monday, do it bright and early Tuesday morning.
Cook a healthy dinner while listening to an audiobook, podcast, or music.
This is where the good stuff happens. I look forward to this almost every day.
After I turn my computer off, I head into the kitchen and pull out the ingredients for whatever I’m cooking up that evening.
I plan out dinners in advance and have a few options to pick from, and once I have everything prepped and ready to go, I turn on an audiobook or podcast and quite literally start unplugging and unwinding for the day.
Depending on the day of the week, I’ll pour myself a glass of wine, but usually, I stick to La Croix.
My workout quality every morning is based off how well I slept the night prior, and how well I fueled my body the day before. I try to incorporate wholesome meals into my lifestyle so that I’m energized and highly functional throughout my workouts and everyday life.
Pro tip:
Not everybody likes to cook or views it as a form of unwinding, which is why I highly encourage those individuals to look into meal prep or meal prep services.
It’s important to fuel your body with the right foods so you can function at a high level and feel good. Don’t skip out on a healthy dinner and eat cereal.
You’ll regret it the following morning.
Do something for YOU.
This might be scrolling through your socials because you avoid them throughout your workday. This might be reading, watching some TV, journaling about your day, catching up on YouTube videos, etc.
Whatever you choose to do, make sure it makes you happy and relaxed.
I watch a couple of episodes of Friends or another favorite TV show of mine. My boyfriend reads the news next to me. Sometimes we play scrabble. Sometimes we chat about our day.
Pro tip:
What do you like to do? What do you feel is missing from your day that would make you feel fulfilled and satisfied at the end of every night? Maybe you need a hobby or something to help you detach.
For me, it’s enjoying a good film or TV show and cuddling with my partner.
A friend of mine likes to go take yoga classes every night. My mom likes to go on 5 mile walks around the city in the evenings.
Read before bed.
I’ll either read before going to bed, or I’ll read while in bed. The goal is to just read — 10 pages, a chapter, two chapters, whatever it might be.
It’s screen-free time, and it’s the most calming and soothing kind of ritual. I make myself a mug of hot tea, and as it cools, I dive into the minds of so many other incredible and smart individuals who I aspire to be like one day.
Also, reading before bed gives you a more restful night’s sleep. It calms your chattering brain and help you transition peacefully into dreamland.
Pro tip:
Pick your poison. Fiction or non-fiction. Poetry or essays. I stick to fiction, and sometimes if I’m feeling extremely tired, I read a few passages from Marcus Aurelius or Anthony de Mello.
I go to bed every night feeling relaxed, and I wake up focused. My evening routine provides me with structure and a plan to turn the day into a success.
If you don’t have a solid evening routine, try incorporating some of the things that I do mentioned above into your evenings and watch how it increases your productivity and your overall happiness.