There’s a lot of pressure put on getting your morning routine right. The early bird catches the worm after all, right? However, your night-time routine should just as be as important as your morning routine. In fact, having a solid night regimen could just as be as important a predictor for your following day. If you’re truly serious about leading a fit and healthy lifestyle, the start of each day shouldn’t be your only consideration. If you want to know how you can make the most out of your evening and ensure a better morning after, then read on.
Review the day
Planning your day ahead also means looking back at the one that’s just finished. Reflect on what you accomplished and what challenges you faced since you woke up, particularly in relation to your health and fitness goals. Did you drink enough water? Was your lunch lacking protein? Did you take the stairs instead of the lift? Think of this as guilt-free exercise to simply take stock of your day. There’s no need to mentally beat yourself up if you think you made a mistake. Use your positive insights to bolster yourself and the less than positive ones to make a more solid plan for the next day.
Early to bed
How can you tell when’s the perfect time for going to bed? We’re supposed to get eight hours of sleep, so if you need to be up by 6 a.m., then you should be in bed so that you are asleep by 10 p.m. the night before. You could be under the blankets on the dot, but that doesn’t mean you’re completely asleep. In fact, it takes 30 to 60 minutes for our brains to fully relax and allow sleep to set in. This is why some people have difficulty falling asleep. If you’re one of those, try to see exactly how long it takes for you to doze off. It takes the average person 14 minutes to get to sleep once relaxed in bed. You then should be able to figure out your own perfect bedtime.
Mindful eating
Should you eat after 6 p.m.? Stay off late-night snacking? There’s plenty of debate surrounding eating at night, especially when you’re about to go to sleep. For some people, a light, hot snack can make them feel ready for bed, while others cope with digestive issues. There’s no simple answer to nighttime eating. Follow your body’s signals. This means being mindful of when you’re hungry and when you’re full.
Setting an intention
Once you’ve gone over the day, think about how you want the next day to be. Note what’s the most important thing for you tomorrow. This shouldn’t just be limited to diet and exercise. Maybe you want to catch up with an old friend, finish a report early at work or spend 30 minutes less on your phone.