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
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The evening routine has been the hardest task for me so far. I find that I’m exhausted by the time I get my 10 month old to bed and then I sit on the computer for ages and don’t do much (yes I know how terrible that sounds). Trying very hard to build in some proper relax time (bubble bath or read some of a book before bed) and also trying hard to make sure I do some exercise each day at some point so I can get a bit more energy! I’m hoping this challenge helps me improve a lot of different areas of my life, not just my cupboards!
Hi Candy, I remember how exhausting those days were with a young one and sitting on social media was a read outlet to unwind. What after you put bub to bed, tell yourself I’ll do xyz task (clean kitchen, do washing etc) then social media, see if that can help you to get one extra task done?
I must say I’m struggling at writing the routines up for myself. The kids, too easy! I just struggle to know what I need to do each morning/ night as it changes daily
start with the basics Lindsay, dishes, clean benches, washing, tidy up loungeroom, lunches.
I’ve finally managed to create a morning routine and am working on an evening one, I’m wondering about the In-Between time though. Should we create a routine for between 12pm & 5pm, or just stick to the evening alone?
You could Vanessa, but I found that that time was spent with the kids or I did general cleaning. Many actually prepare dinner during that in-between time too. You don’t want to make it too complicated for yourself.
Thanks Kat. I do have a bad habit of making things too complicated for myself, which is exactly why I’ve joined the challenge.
I ended up finishing my evening routine. And I did a very loose afternoon one but found that I pretty much wrote what you mentioned. It was time with my munchkin and cleaning. Hope to slip some Me Time in here and there but we’ll see how that goes. Thanks for the simple but good idea if prepping for dinner during this time too.
You should absolutely make me time, even if it’s in the middle of the day, or more so at the end of the day to help you wind down for a good nights sleep, it’s really important to look after you.
All done 🙂
Kat, I’ve tried so hard to get a routine going in the evening but it just all seems to fall apart. The main reasons are these:
I have three children who all do different extra curricular activities on different nights at different times.
Dinner time can never be at the same time every night.
Some nights I’m not home early enough to get dinner ready at the same time or a child has an activity on at the proposed dinner time. I have taken to slow cooking though and all I generally need to do is cook some rice or pasta.
I study as well and find I do a lot of it at night so don’t get a chance to sit and watch TV or generally wind down. As you can see it’s 12.32am and I’m still up on the computer. This is when I start going off on a tangent from uni and do things like this at ridiculous hours of the night!
My daughter is getting really slack with her piano practice because I just can’t seem to get a routine in place. HELP!!!
Hi Amanda, your life does sound very busy. Key is to start with a basic routine, your routine needs to be different to the kids. So your daughter needs to have piano practice on her routine list and perhaps put on yours check she has done her practice to give her some praise or recognition. Do you meal plan? Sounds like you may, this will also help with those nights that you are busy and you can create meals based on your activities. Perhaps on some nights cook a double batch of the meal (this is easy in the slow cooker) so then you can have left overs through out the week, this will save you a bit of time cooking and preparing dinner. It’s important for you to take some time out for yourself, otherwise you are going to burn out. There are a few tips throughout the challenge that may help you with this. This blog post may help you, creating a stress free morning routine, which is all about preparing the night before, or on the weekends: https://theorganisedhousewife.com.au/organising/stress-free-school-morning-routine/ Please keep asking questions I am more than happy to help you.
Evening routines sorted. I’m having way more fun than any normal person should be 🙂
LOL, this made me smile Katie….. love a good list and this and the morning routine especially can make such an impact and difference.
I seem to have lost my way since my husband retired and he has taken over lots of my tasks for the day. As a result I need a routine. I haven’t had an evening or morning routine since he retired. Thank you. I now know what I am going to be doing each day.
what a lovely husband to be helping out! Yes it would throw you out a little and probably give you an opportunity to do different tasks, hope you enjoy your new routine.
I’m beginning to see my problem here. Each year I have created afternoon routines for the children but fail in getting them to comply – my problem – I’ve failed to create a routine for myself, so how can I expect them to follow a good example.
Love that you can see that Sarah, yes we need routines just as much as the kids.
Agree Sarah & Kat, I have just looked at this through a different lens and even though I am ‘fairly’ organised, I can be little flighty at times and change things around…. loving these tasks 🙂
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