My One-Hour Night Routine For A Productive Morning

I used to sleep in the wee hours and had no care in the world, especially in college. Then, at 6:00 AM, of course, I was dragging my feet off the bed, eyes puffed, and feeling tired despite just waking up.

You could picture a zombie trying to pack her things up for school. Running around and getting agitated, I felt sick every morning.

What irony to feel exhausted when you just woke up. Ugh, it was dreadful.

But thank to adulthood, I had no choice but to whip my poor discipline back to where it needed to be.

Responsibilities are piling in, so we must be more organized and dutiful if we want to survive!

So now, while I have a morning routine that I do before 8 AM, I also have a night routine that would only take an hour to set myself up for a smooth, chaos-free morning.

Here’s a peek into how I set myself up for success with a night routine that’s as flexible as I am.

My One-Hour Night Routine For A Productive Morning

1. Writing a Checklist for Tomorrow

An hour or two before I sleep, I sit myself down and pull out my Notes App.

Okay, so what am I gonna do tomorrow? What do I need to accomplish tomorrow?

I would jot down a checklist of tasks for the next day. See, it’s hard to remember every task, especially since I have a possible ADHD.

I tend to start a task and be distracted by another, so my checklist is central to my productivity.

I write tasks, what to bring, reminders – almost everything! Especially since I work two jobs, am very involved in the Church, and care for my family. Busy busy!

Also, I don’t confine myself to a strict schedule. I prefer flexibility, so I write down what I need to get done, but I tackle it all at my own pace. Some days, I feel extra motivated and check off everything quickly; others, I take my time.

This little step helps me avoid that dreaded feeling of waking up and scrambling to figure out what I need to accomplish. And I avoid procrastination!

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2. Ironing My Clothes at Night

I love slow, peaceful mornings. I simply believe everyone should pause and appreciate it, too. Rushing around is just not my thing.

Sipping on coffee. Short chats with my mom or siblings. I prefer that, not frantically searching for something to wear.

To avoid the “I have nothing to wear!” dilemma, I plan my outfits at the start of the week and iron out what I’ll need the night before.

And don’t forget to try them on to make sure my outfit matches the shoes or heels.

It’s a small thing, but it makes a huge difference.

This gives me that extra breathing room to enjoy my mornings the way I want to—calm and unrushed.

3. Organizing and Cleaning My Bag

Depending on the day, I might be using my school bag, my church bag, or my casual bag.

I do this every week. I empty out any random receipts or papers that snuck their way in.

Sometimes, my ball pens are out of the case, or there are candy wrappers I need to throw. I also refill my essentials and triple-check that I never leave home without:

• Phone
• ID
• Cash and Cards
• Toiletries
• Makeup and fragrance
• Water Tumbler
• Umbrella (Yes, we use umbrellas in my country A LOT. It’s either blazing hot or raining; you can’t tell!)

This little ritual of tidying up my bag is oddly satisfying, and it ensures that I’m never caught off guard the next day.

4. Preparing Everything I Need To Bring

You bet, I grieve over the things I forget to bring.

It’s honestly one of my biggest pet peeves.

Say, I don’t like troubling myself in the workplace simply because I didn’t bring my HDMI cable. (I had to walk all the way to the school computer laboratory to borrow one! Ugh.)

Or buy two bottles of water because I forgot my water jug (not in my budget!), or suffer under the scorching tropical heat because I forgot my umbrella.

Na-ah. I’m a Girl Scout, you know!

So, the night before, I check my list of what I need to bring—whether it’s something I need to return, documents for school, a donation for someone, or even just food.

The next day, I can grab my bag and go with zero worries about leaving anything behind.

I love this little tweak at night that made me more organized at work and generally in everything.

5. Planning My Food for Tomorrow

I eat a light breakfast in the morning, so meal planning is pretty straightforward.

If I’m working from home, I don’t bother prepping much since I can just pop out to the market for some kakanin (rice cakes) or pandesal (salt bread).

But if I’m heading to my part-time job at the school, I make sure I’ve planned out what I’ll eat for breakfast or lunch.

I realize that a smooth sailing life is often based on preparations. It’s just as important as the execution!

6. Getting to Bed Early

Finally, the most important part of my night routine—sleep. I’ve learned that tomorrow’s success really starts the night before.

I aim to get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep so that I’m not dragging my feet when I wake up.

On the contrary, if I don’t sleep enough, all my preparations will be useless because I won’t feel relaxed and refreshed either way!

Conclusion

This productive night routine list might sound simple, but it works wonders for me. It will only take an hour!

This takes away the usual rush in our mornings. We set ourselves up for a calm, productive start, which makes all the difference.

You gotta try this!

That’s it. Thanks for reading!

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