There are plenty of articles about having a good morning routine. All the best entrepreneurs have one, if you believe it. Starting the day right is important. But what about finishing your day right? Every day has to come to an end. A great finish can make even a bad day better. So how can you create a meaningful evening routine?
Be intentional. Reviewing your day, your interactions with others, your work and what you were able to accomplish can seem overwhelming at the end of the day. What if you totally blew the whole day and didn’t accomplish anything? That’s where the intentional part comes in. Be intentional on focusing on the good from the day. Celebrate small victories and be grateful for positive interactions and blessings. Journaling, meditation, spiritual devotion, prayer or even exercise can be a great way to process these thoughts. Just don’t work out too hard close to bedtime or you might have trouble falling asleep.
Limit your screen time. It may seem like vegging on the couch watching Netflix at the end of your day is a great way to unwind and it can be… for a bit. If your nightly Netflix routine takes over your life and you end up bingeing your favorite show for hours at a time, you are just going to be tired, cranky and feel unproductive. Instead limit how much you watch at night and make sure to turn that TV, tablet or phone off at least an hour before bed to help your mind unwind for sleep.
Increase family time. Mornings are a rush to get everyone ready and out the door. Evenings are your time for connection and check ins. Your family time is what can rejuvenate you and help prepare you for the next day. Spend time together as a family having dinner, playing games, working together or just talking. Make the time you spend together as a family important, no matter how short it may be. Turn your phones off for awhile and remember the reason you work so hard.
Connect with yourself. Do you know who you spend the most time with? Yourself. It can be easy in the rush of your day to ignore your own needs. Evenings are your time to do a personal check in and see how you are feeling emotionally and physically. Take a small bit of time to do something that you personally enjoy. Maybe it’s just a walk around the neighborhood or some time indulging in your favorite hobby. Whatever it is, take twenty minutes and do something that makes you feel good about who you are as a person, not something that you feel obligated to do. Cultivate an interest and passion in your life that brings you joy.
Go to bed! This last one is the most important. Not getting enough sleep can cause so many problems for your health and emotional state. If you want to be your best, go to bed on time every night. You make your kids have a bedtime and a routine; give yourself one too. Stick to it at least 80 percent of the time (you’ve still got to live a little), and you will find so much more energy in your daily life. Your body needs rest and rejuvenation. Sleep is the best way to get it.
It may seem tempting to come home from work every night and just tune out the world. Our daily lives can be exhausting, but learning to use your time wisely and being intentional will make all the difference. Every great runner knows that no matter how good you start the race, it’s your finish that matters most. Finish your day in the best way possible.