I am not a morning person. I can barely function first thing in the morning, and generally need caffeine to do complex tasks. So leaving all of the morning tasks for the morning is a recipe for disaster. Instead I do simple evening habits that make tomorrow easier.
Why the Evening Shapes the Next Day
I am a big believer in doing things when I have the time and energy to do them. Not necessarily waiting until the last minute. I learned many years ago that trying to do things in the morning inevitably puts stress on my time because my mental processes aren’t up to speed. Not to mention being sleepy and not quite with it, this hits the energy part of things. I like doing things in the evening for a few reasons.
- Evening decisions affect morning friction. If I do things in the evening, I am making things as smooth as possible the next morning. I don’t have to rush around making decisions, and everything is set up as far as possible.
- Preparation lowers stress. If I prepare what I am going to wear the night before, I catch any problems then and can choose differently. If I pack my breakfast and lunch the night before, I don’t have to try to figure out what I am going to eat in the morning. Little things like this are minor stressors, but they add up. The more I can prepare the night before, the lower my morning stress.
- A calmer night supports a better start. When I am preparing at night, I am not frantic. That sets the tone for the whole going to bed. I don’t lie awake staring at the ceiling and thinking about all the things I have to do first thing. I can go to sleep knowing things are taken care of.
How I Reduce Morning Friction
I take specific action – even going into a weekend – to lower my friction in the morning. This means I am not stressed as I get ready to go into my day. Here’s what I do:
I aim to decide less in the morning. Because I am not at my mental best, I try not to make decisions. Most decisions about the morning can be done the night before. It doesn’t mean I necessarily take action the night before, but having the decisions made makes it easy to implement them.
I keep essentials easy to find. Nothing stresses me out more than to be searching for something as I need to leave. Keys and phone are the two biggest offenders. Having set places for my items, as well as having a backup method* to find them, cuts this stress down.
I set out anything needed ahead of time. I may not be able to take action, but if I set things out ahead of time, it makes things easy to implement. This applies to equipment, food, jewelry, clothing, water bottles and travels cups. Having it all in sight not only makes it easy to take action, but it serves as a visual reminder of what I need to do.
What I Prepare the Night Before
I don’t have a long or complicated routine for the evening. And I follow this routine, even when I am not working the next day.
The first two things I do is check the weather, and my calendar. This informs what has to be done for the following:
- Clothes. I always pick out my clothes for the next day. I choose based on where I will be, what my schedule is, as well as the weather. I have a dress code for the office as well as working from home, but I also pick out appropriate clothing for my days off. I also pick out my jewelry and place it on the dresser.
- Bag or work materials. I am required to leave my work computer plugged in and on overnight, so if I am heading to the office the next day, I pack my work bag with notebook and glasses and leave it on my desk, ready to put my computer in. I also pack my “home” bag, which contains everything I need for my morning routine into a single bag – this became a necessity after I bounced down the steps earlier this year with my hands full of many things.
- Meals and/or snacks. When I am in the office the next day, I pack the non-perishables into my lunch bag and set out my travel coffee cup. I make sure that the refrigerated/frozen foods are ready to put into my bag. I make sure that I have decided on my breakfast, and it is set out/prepared (I mostly eat oatmeal and overnight oats).
- Top priorities for the next day. This is a fairly new addition to the routine. I may not do more than think about them, but I look at my tasks and decide what is the most critical if I should have a low-energy day.
A Simple Evening Routine You Can Copy
Here is a simple evening routine that you can copy if you want to give this a try.
- Do a 5 minute tidy. For me, that means making sure dirty dishes are in the sink or dishwasher, wiping down the counters, and clearing clutter from kitchen counters, my dresser, and the bathroom vanity.
- Take a quick look at tomorrow. Look at the weather and your schedule. Decide what you will need for the day ahead.
- Do a quick prep. To start with, pick one area that you can prep ahead of time. Maybe pick your clothes or do a lunch pre-prep.
In Conclusion
In the end, my goal is not to create a perfect evening routine, but a practical one that makes the next morning feel easier and less chaotic. Even a few small steps the night before can save time, reduce stress, and help me start the day with a little more calm and a lot less scrambling. If mornings are hard for you too, I encourage you to try one simple habit tonight and see how much smoother tomorrow feels.
