Do you struggle to get up and around every morning? Does your day start with you feeling overwhelmed by everything you have to do, need to do, and feel you should do?
I want to challenge you to try doing three things every single night before you go to bed. These are not hard or difficult or time-consuming, but by doing these three things almost every single night before bed, I set myself up for success every morning when I get up. And I truly believe that a successful day begins the night before.
Here’s my list of three things I think you should do every night before bed:
1. Clean Up the Kitchen
Waking up to a clean kitchen does wonders for my spirit. I don’t know what it is, but when my kitchen is clean, it feels like my whole house is clean!
Jesse and I usually work together to clean up the kitchen at night before we head to bed. Not only does this mean that we don’t wake up to dishes with food crusted on them that then we have to try scrape off, but it also makes me feel like I have a fresh head start on the day.
A few tips: I’ve found that if I make sure the kitchen is completely clean after breakfast and after dinner (here’s our simple system for keeping the kitchen clean), it makes it so much easier to stay on top of the kitchen. It seems like letting it go for more than two meals makes for an almost insurmountable job!
Also, if you have a dishwasher, use it. And if you don’t, maybe consider simple meals and paper plates as often as possible?
2. Pick Out Tomorrow’s Outfit
When I dress in an outfit that makes me feel great, I tend to feel happier, more energetic, and more productive. Taking a few minutes each night to pick out an outfit — down to shoes and jewelry — not only saves me time in the morning, but it makes it so much easier to actually get dressed in something I love.
A few tips: I found that keeping my closet simplified (here’s my system for keeping my closet pared down) and only owning what I love, makes it much easier to put together outfits that I feel and look great in.
I also have found it so valuable to wear things that are my type and style (here’s the course that changed my approach to how I dress).
3. Plan a Time-Blocked To Do List
Every night before bed, I write out a prioritized to-do list. It’s simple and it only takes a few minutes, but it has revolutionized my productivity, helps me sleep better, and allows me to go to bed feeling peaceful and calm.
I check my Google calendar to see what projects and activities are already planned for the next day and then I write down a to do list with time blocks for each item on the list. (See my system for creating this to do list here.)
I aim to focus on getting the hardest tasks done first because I’ve found that when I “eat my frogs” early in the day, I have a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment to carry with me the rest of the day.
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This 14-day online course includes videos, a workbook, and step-by-step projects and is designed to help you revolutionize your productivity, streamline your routines, invest your time in things that truly matter, and find more joy and peace in the process.
If you’ve ever wished that you could figure out how to get more done, have more organization in your life, and find time to spend on things you love, the Make Over Your Mornings Course is for you. Find out more about it here.
How do you use a time block list, especially with children at home?
thanks for great tip.
Make your bed each day it makes your house look better and you get to get in a made up bed at bedtime. I also straighten up the living area too before I go to bed.
Knowing in my mind what I’m going to make for my children’s school lunch is definitely a requirement before I go to bed! It makes my morning much easier.