PRE CHALLENGE TASK 4

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’]

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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.

Please share your progress in the comments below