What to Do in the Evening to Be Productive the Next Day

For the sake of morning rituals, not everyone is willing to wake up an hour or two earlier than usual. If you also like to sleep in the morning, we suggest you use the magic of the evening 100%. These simple actions will help you sleep soundly, get a good night’s sleep, increase your energy, and reduce your morning stress levels.

Go to Bed on Time

In the evening after a day’s work, you want to live for yourself! To do many things or, on the contrary, to linger over a TV series, enjoy gambling, or pleasant conversations. And yet, an early and, most importantly, regular bedtime is much healthier.

Try for the sake of interest at least for a week to go to bed between 10 pm and 11 pm, and you will find that your well-being has improved: you will have more energy during the day, and in the evening you will have strength for other things.

Stop Working

The first thing to start your evening is to end your work processes. If you’re out of the office but still answering emails, chatting with colleagues in messengers, discussing urgent matters on the phone, your work day continues.

It’s necessary to pause and rest even when the work is for pleasure and love. Otherwise, you won’t notice how professional burnout sets in. And after that – all sorts of health and mental problems. So make it a rule to keep your privacy after the end of the working day:

Politely postpone conversations.

Don’t check your work email.
Turn off notifications in work chats.

Turn off Gadgets

Putting your gadgets into air mode and turning off notifications is probably the best thing you can do in the evening. It will be difficult at first, as we are all literally addicted to smartphones and tablets. Try doing a digital detox at least 30 minutes before bedtime, and then gradually increase the time until you get to the maximum you can do. Ideally, up to two hours or more.

If you have elderly relatives or children who come home late, or if it’s important for you to stay in touch with someone for other reasons, get a separate standby phone. Make sure the number is known to only a few people closest to you, who will call only in emergencies.

Workout

Exercise is a great way to get rid of the stress and tension accumulated over the day. It can be a full-blown workout at the gym, a regular workout at home, or a walk in the park. Choose an activity to your liking, so the process will bring health benefits and pleasure. Some people sleep better after a good workout in the gym, while others prefer a quieter evening class like stretching or yoga. Be guided by your temperament and body.

Go Outside

If you have a dog to walk, one of the things you won’t forget to do in the evening is go for a walk. If you don’t have a dog, set your alarm clock and find the strength to take an evening stroll in any weather. Look around and breathe deeply. These simple actions allow the brain to switch from the work routine, rest and oxygenate. And the body will be just happy to have an evening promenade. Physical activity in combination with fresh air will help to improve your sleep and mood.

Summarize

At first glance, debriefing seems boring and unnecessary. But look at it as an opportunity to say to yourself, “I did great!” List all the day’s events, the things you managed to do, and the tasks you accomplished. Take apart the things that didn’t work out, and pay attention to those areas of your life where you should change tactics or shift your focus to something else.

Say Thank You to Yourself and Others

Remember to thank both yourself and the people around you. Every night, write out five to ten events or situations for which you are grateful: help from a colleague, a delicious coffee, a compliment from a waiter, your portrait performed by a child, exercise that you didn’t miss. Learn to notice pleasant events, and they will happen more and more often.

Make a Plan for Tomorrow

Starting a new day with a clear plan is quite satisfying. It helps avoid wasting time on rocking and fidgeting and gives clarity and a sense of confidence. So why not make one in the evening?

Write down in a diary or a planner on your phone all the things you have planned for tomorrow, do not forget even about the routine tasks (run the laundry, pay the utility bills, and so on). Divide them according to their importance and volume. This way you’ll see the big picture of the day, you’ll be able to prioritize and reschedule less urgent tasks. It will help you get all the worries and thoughts about tomorrow out of your head on paper, which means you’ll fall asleep faster and sleep better.

Complete the Morning Tasks From the Evening

Recall as many of the morning little things that waste precious time as you can. Try to do some of them in the evening. For example, prepare the clothes you’re going to wear to work, put your lunch in a container and put it in the fridge. Pack a bag to go to the gym or get a jogging outfit if your morning starts with physical activity. Pour a glass of water in advance and put your vitamins next to it so you don’t forget to drink them.

Take 10 Minutes for Silence or Meditation

After a long active day, it can be hard for the brain to slow down. We go to bed to rest, and there’s a whole swarm of thoughts in our heads that prevent us from sleeping. Simple meditation or breathing techniques can help bring the mind to rest. Numerous studies have proven that meditation slows the brain’s aging process and keeps the ability to recover and change according to the experience. If meditation does not work, spend 10 minutes in silence and solitude, relaxing and quietly observing your breathing.