MAKE THE MOST OF THE NIGHT BEFORE
A month ago, I wrote about The Magic of Morning Rituals. The post was well received and I enjoyed reading your comments, across different social media platforms, about what does and does not work for you. It also prompted a discussion about evening routines and how that impacts your morning.
Many thanks to Professor Leslie Brunell who encouraged me to write this post about making the most of the night before.
SLEEP FOR A HEALTHY HEART
According to this article, a recent study at Northwestern University shows a connection between sleep and a healthy heart.
Here are the major findings:
Consistent sleep patterns help your heart recover from each day.
Insufficient sleep can increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
Staying up too late and lack of sleep can cause a quickened pulse.
A good night's sleep is good for your heart.
Going to sleep each night at a decent hour can help to reduce stress and keep your heart healthy. Setting a regular bedtime for yourself aids in creating a routine and structure to your day. (As an added bonus, it may also stop you from watching 'just one more episode' of something on Netflix!)
AVOID THE MORNING RUSH
Spending a few minutes each evening to prepare for the morning can significantly reduce the stress of a harried start.
Some suggestions:
Lay your clothes out for the next day.
If you make lunch (for you or your kids), prepare it the night before when possible.
Set up the coffee maker.
This article explains why blue light is bad for your sleep. Charge all devices outside of your bedroom to reduce the temptation to check emails and texts. It can all wait.
Use traditional alarm clocks (not cellphones) in each bedroom. Set an expectation that children should be setting an alarm and not relying on you to wake them. This has two benefits:
Nobody likes to start their day fighting
It teaches your child a necessary life skill
MANAGE PRIORITIES DAILY
Spend the last 10 minutes of your workday:
reviewing your day
updating your to-do list
re-prioritizing what needs to get done
assigning specific times in your calendar to get things done
Doing this each evening will enable your mind to separate from work. Your brain can rest knowing that you have a plan in place.
In today's global economy, you may wake up in the morning and find that things have changed overnight. Because your priorities are clear from the evening before, it will be easier to adjust your schedule and react appropriately to any crisis that arises.
Planning your day the night before enables your mind to rest so you can sleep better knowing what to expect the following day.
DO YOU HAVE AN EVENING ROUTINE?
I'd love to hear what works best for you! Please share in the comment section below.
WANT MORE PRODUCTIVITY TIPS?
Check out Super-Productive: 120 Strategies to Do More and Stress Less.
Available on Amazon.
To learn more, visit ControlChaos.org
