Evening Routine for Working Moms
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Finding an evening routine as a working mom has taken me a very long time. I was always so concerned about taking care of everyone else that I neglected to take care of myself. The result wasn’t pretty and one that I hope to never repeat. I was always tired and definitely not the best version of myself.
Today I am here to share with you what my evening routine looks like and how you can make it your own.
So how can you get the most of your evening routine when all you want to do is relax on the couch? Between making dinner, running kids to practice and all the other extras you have in the evening, the last thing on your mind is preparing for the following day.
What I have come to realize is when I prepare for tomorrow, I wake up feeling less stressed and I can focus on my morning routine.
Related Post:
Morning Routine for Working Moms
Read on to find out how this evening routine for working moms can make a positive difference in how you start the next day.
How to Prepare for the Following Day
Start After Dinner
Immediately after dinner start by cleaning the kitchen, loading the dishwasher and preparing lunches for the following day. If you’re not a coffee drinker in the evening, prepare the coffee pot and program it to start 15 minutes before your alarm goes off. This way, you’re more likely to get up if you can smell the coffee brewing.
I prefer to empty the dishwasher before heading to bed if time permits. If not, I allow a few extra minutes in the morning to make sure the dishes are put away.
Check Backpacks/Homework
Checking backpacks for announcements and homework can be done while dinner is cooking or immediately after eating dinner while the family is still sitting around the dinner table.
There are seasons in our life when dinner around the table becomes a rare event because everyone is going in different directions for practices and games. During our busy seasons, checking backpacks and homework is done as soon as we get home from our evening activities.
Iron Clothes
I grew-up in a family that ironed every single piece of clothing that was worn and washed from the previous week. Every. Single. Piece. Nothing went into a closet or drawer than wasn’t ironed and ready to be worn.
Well…times have changed and it is not practical to spend an entire Sunday afternoon ironing clothes. My grown-up self prefers to iron on an “as needed” basis. If on the weekends I plan every outfit for the week and can iron those clothes I do, but most often it is a nightly chore.
Taking five minutes to iron clothes for the following day doesn’t seem like you’ll be saving yourself much time until the day comes when you’re running late and you really need those five minutes. If I had to choose between make-up and ironed clothes, make-up would definitely win.
Plan Time for You
Get Active
Everyone knows that physical exercise is the key to staying healthy. What everyone doesn’t always know is how to find the time. I feel like I had more time to exercise when my kids were younger and I could spend an hour at the gym before picking them up from preschool.
As my kids have gotten older and their schedules have become busier, I have to be creative to find time to get active. I walk my dog twice a day and that is great, but I don’t walk fast enough and I stop often to allow my dog to smell every tree along the way. In other words, I’m not raising my heart rate walking my dog.
Alternatives to spending hours at the gym can be getting out your yoga mat or towel and striking a few poses. Perhaps after you drop off your sports star for practice you can take advantage of the time and go for a brisk walk or run. This works great for me when outdoor practice begins.
Another option for you may be to utilize the many exercise apps you can download on your phone. I use the 7 Minute Workout app which provides me with 12 high intensity bodyweight exercises that can be completed in 7 minutes. Each exercise is 30-seconds long with 10 seconds to rest in between. There are different workout options and you can even customize your workout. Seven minutes is a small investment and it will make you feel so much better than doing nothing at all. Even on my busiest days I can manage 7 minutes.
Take a Hot Shower or Bath
Taking a hot shower or bath to totally relax your muscles is one of the most fabulous ways to end your day. If I’m sore from chasing preschoolers around (true story) or just really tense, I prefer to soak in bath salts. I light some candles, put on some relaxing music and slip into a meditative state of pure bliss.
You can almost feel the stress leave your body.
Keep a Journal
Writing down private thoughts in a journal is something I strive to do on a regular basis. I am not always able to write every night, but when I do I can always tell a difference in how calm I feel. Between reading at night and writing in my journal, I am able to completely unwind from my day and get the sleep I need.
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It’s taken me a long time to get to this point where I am determined to spend as much time as I need to take care of myself. As a teacher, my job has become increasingly more difficult and challenging. I know that if I’m going to be my best self for my students and my family, I have to consider taking care of my own needs.
It’s similar to traveling on an airplane and the flight attendants demonstrate the various safety drills. Adults are told to put on their oxygen mask first before helping others. Same concept.
Read
Just this past year I have made a concerted effort to read before going to sleep. I would always have a stack of books that would collect over the school year to read when I had time (like during breaks or long-weekends) and I never found the time. There was always something else that needed to be done.
Hello burnout. I realized when I didn’t allow myself to do the things I enjoyed that life was not very joyful. I would keep myself busy with school work or things around the house without ever taking time to wind down from my day.
Even on the evenings when I’m working on my blog (and I lose track of time), I still try to end my day with a book. Spending 15-30 minutes getting lost in the pages of a story is the best way to unwind and turn-off any thoughts running through your mind that can potentially keep you awake.
Time for Bed
The evening routine for working moms I described here is a combination of preparing lunches, clothes and backpacks for the following day and mentally preparing yourself for a restful night of sleep.
Making the time for yourself will prevent you from feeling burned out and stressed when you’re constantly giving everything you’ve got to your job and your family.
Taking time for yourself will never be time wasted.
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