Better Mornings Begin The Night Before
Gram’s Wisdom Number 8
When I was a young girl and woke up out of sorts, tired, disorganized, or unready to meet my day on time, Gram said I should have thought of that the night before. She told me I would wake up in the morning in a better mood, less tired, and less frazzled if I would prepare for the following morning prior to going to bed each night.
Gram suggested I put homework and books in my book bag, lay out my clothes for the next day, and tidy my room before going to sleep. This, I was told, was so I’d have no worries about the coming day, and thus allow sleep to come easily.
If you have been following Gram’s Wisdom you will remember in a previous post, I said she was a firm believer in a fix it or forget it philosophy. (I have placed a link to this post at the bottom) So, I went along with the fix it and added 30 minutes reading time before lights out in addition to the suggestions she made.
It has been more than fifty odd years since those days and I still adhere to a nightly routine. Yes, my routine has changed with the seasons of my life many times over. A good routine needs to work with you and for you. And yes, I still believe it is the best way to achieve a good morning.
Achieve your good morning
The cornerstone of a good nightly routine is to get the sleep your body needs to recharge and repair itself. You know you wake up feeling more refreshed and ready to tackle your day when you’ve slept well. You also know it’s easier to work when you aren’t fighting cobwebs in your head or the lethargy of your body.
Finding a routine that works for you
Here are 11 suggestions for you to try:
· Read something, anything for 30 to 60 minutes. Your choices are limitless, and you can access your books in a variety of formats.
· Take a warm bath.
· Listen to music that puts you in a relaxed frame of mind.
· Tidy up your kitchen before going to bed. Dishes washed and put away, sink and counters wiped clean.
· Reflect on what your victories were today and celebrate those wins.
· Set your goals for tomorrow, start with 3 important ones and add a couple less important for good measure.
· Meditate for 15 to 20 minutes.
· Write in your journal for 15 to 20 minutes.
· Spend some time visualizing what you want your life to be like next year or 3 years from now.
· Lay your clothes and accessories out for tomorrow.
· Prepare your bedroom for optimal sleep. It should be dark, somewhat cool, no distracting clutter or technology. Keep your linens clean. After a week or so your sheets are a breeding ground of germs comprised of sloughed off skin cells, airborne allergens, and pet dander.
These suggestions are designed to help you 1 sleep better and 2 wake up feeling more organized. Begin with 2 or 3 of the suggestions to create your routine and add or change them as you like. Give yourself time to adjust to what you have chosen, say 3 or 4 months, and make changes as needed.
I would love hearing what your nightly routine is and what makes it work for you.