EVENING ROUTINE
My evening routine would have to be what helps my mindset for the following day. To not wake up to a messy kitchen and make a start on cleaning the dirty washing. Adding a few of the tasks that may take up too much time in your mornings to your evening routine, may just be all that’s needed for a less chaotic morning.
My evening routine has not changed over the years, it seems to work well for me. However, remember like I mentioned in the previous task create and find a routine that suits you and your family. One thing that I may do differently to a few households would be that I put a load of washing on in the evening and hang it on the line before dark. As I live in QLD the sun shines early and strong, if it’s put on the line the night before (providing it doesn’t rain), it’s usually dry by 10am. Which allows me to get another load out if needed.
This was my routine when the kids were in primary school, now they are older we don’t do readers, they clean their own bathroom and go to bed a little later.
My Evening Routine
5.30pm – put on a load of washing
5.35pm – start making dinner
5.50pm – hang washing on line
6.00pm – serve dinner, eat together as a family at the dining table
6.30pm – do dishes, put on dishwasher, wipe bench, quick vacuum under chairs
6.45pm – watch TV with the kids
7.30pm – read with kids
7.50pm – straighten up the kid’s bathroom
8.00pm – kids lights out & relax and chat with hubby, watch more TV
9.00pm – get ready for bed
I don’t dry my dishes, instead, I leave them to dry overnight and I put them away in my morning routine. We will talk about the dishes in more detail throughout the challenge.
It’s a good idea to switch off from work, chores or the computer at a reasonable hour leaving time to unwind in the evening. I find that if I check emails, facebook or look through Pinterest before I go to bed my mind starts thinking and I find it hard to sleep.
Create your evening routine
Use the blank evening routine list create your own routine. Be realistic with your evening routine, don’t fill it with too many chores as the evening is the time to rest and relax.
- Perhaps if you don’t have time throughout the day to clean add an additional cleaning task each night to your evening routine (preferably before dinner).
- If you are time poor in the mornings consider making lunches the night before.
- Having your meals planned for the week ahead will reduce the amount of stress during a busy evening.
Create an evening routine for the kids
Kids benefit from a regular routine, knowing what is expected of them soon becomes a habit. Create tasks within their routine which will teach them about responsibilities they have has a family member as well as it helping you, ie. tidying the bathroom after they brush their teeth, or picking up toys in their bedroom.
This chart is available in my shop in a range of colours, along with an option to personalise with your own tasks.
[wlchecklist name=’PreTask4Kidseveningroutine’]
DOWNLOAD
Print the evening routine lists to help you create your own evening routine that suits you and your family to help make tomorrow calmer.
- EVENING ROUTINE – file behind ‘Routines’ divider – click to download.
- BLANK EVENING ROUTINE – file behind ‘Routines’ divider – click to download.
213 comments
Got this one pretty sorted – although still needs to be fluid since work some days til late and got to work around bub and babysiters too. If he gets off to sleep ok, then I get stuff done – yay! Other nights might be completely different story tho lol! Xo
Like the morning routine, looking forward to fine tuning this so I achieve more and sleep easier knowing tasks are done.
Done!!! Will
Need to tweak because ofvtoddler and having had NO routine for myself lol
yes its all trial and error here and seeing what works for yourself and bub! well done!
I don’t get how you can hang the clothes on the line after only 20 mins of putting the load on? confused?
my washing machine has a quick wash setting 🙂
All done 🙂 Might adjust with an added chore. See how it works first.
Yes absolutely, it’s all trial and error with these routines!
Evening routines done.
Again mine is flexible cos of bub
Will tweak as we go…
Fabulous, I had baby brain for years after I had my bubs LOL, so having simple tasks like a routine written down was helpful to remember things that wouldn’t normally be top of mind. Hope your morning and evening routines help you 🙂
Made up evening task list. Again never had one and will need to be tweeked along the way. Its just hubby and I and we both pretty lazy during the week!
This will help you along with way Sharon, you may find that some of the tasks you’ve got on your routine list may only take you a few moments and soon enough it will start becoming a habit, it’s the small steps that end up making a big difference 🙂
Thank you Kat x
This is a tough one. Have created a more structured evening routine. Trial and error might be the way to go with this one to see what works
yes you may need to tweak it as you do, but it’s a great start that you have something down and in place, as you find something not working for you, you may consider adding it into your morning routine or delegating someone else int he family to help. ie. not enough time to do all you need, but can’t remove anything from teh list get the kids or your partner to help pack the dishwasher or hang the washing on the line.
Done. Now all of my children are adults things are a little easier 🙂
and that’s what it’s all about, trying to make life easier for you, helps to streamline so you can fit more you time into the day.
Eveving routine done ✔
Evening too lol