Evening habits to ensure a successful tomorrow

Your day is only as successful as your previous evening and we want to help you make sure your day is as successful as possible. That’s why we’ve found different ways that will leave you wanting to high five your past self throughout the duration of your day.

Before you leave the office

Plan for tomorrow

Having your to-do list ready and raring to be ticked off as soon as your arrive to the office means your morning can be spent firing off things and getting stuck into tasks, rather than wasting time thinking about what needs to be done. Writing your to do list whilst still in the throes of key activities means you’re more likely to know what needs to be done and with what urgency. Without doing this is can often take a while to pick back up where you left off when you get back to work the next day.

Reflect

Take a moment to assess what has gone well today and figure out a way you can recreate it the following day. Also consider what may have not gone so well and figure out a way to solve it or prevent it from happening again. You should also think about things that went well, but could go even better and consider a plan of action of how you would make this happen. It’s essential to reflect in order to grow.

Once you’ve left the office

Disconnect from work

Chances are you’ve been there all day and will be there all day tomorrow. Responding to emails and doing the odd task here and there can mean you never truly wind down, causing stress signals when you’re trying to relax and go to sleep. At a minimum, try to steer clear of work related issues at least an hour before you hit the hay.

Spend time with others

Book in time to see family and friends, especially those you’ve been neglecting. Make a date in your diary and don’t allow yourself to cancel under any circumstance. If possible, ban the mention of work and focus on other things that are occurring in each of your lives. Taking your mind off of work for a few hours and re-connecting with loved ones can leave you feeling calmer and more level-headed.

Exercise

Exercise is so important not just for physical health, but for your mental health also. Finding time to fit in exercise can often be tricky, and if you can’t fit it in before work, you should try and make time after. It can be a great way to relieve any stress from the day. Even just a simple stroll can do wonders, plus exercise has been proven to aid sleep quality. Something all busy entrepreneurs need help with.

Prepare breakfast and lunch

Do your future self a favour and prepare your breakfast and lunch for the following day the evening before. There are plenty of recipes you can make the night before that will save you time fussing over what to eat. Having lunch handy can also reduce costs of having to buy lunch and ensures you don’t panic buy that chocolate bar and processed sandwich. Here are some healthy make ahead recipes for you to try.

Before you go to bed

Meditate

With apps such as Headspace it’s never been easier to fit in some time to meditate. It can help relax your body and restore some piece of mind.  Due to meditation bringing the brainwave pattern into an Alpha state it can help promote healing. This reduces stress and boosts creativity, amongst many other things.

Set a bedtime

We know you’re not a child but having a regular bedtime means your body will naturally tire at a similar time each evening making it easier to fall asleep each night. Just like having a regular alarm means your body is more likely to naturally wake up at your set time. This means your body will notice the time and send signals to the brain suggesting it’s time to wind down.

Read

If it’s good enough for Gates and Obama then it’s a pretty sure sign you should be doing it too. Reading before going to bed can help take your mind off of the stresses from the day whilst also helping you expand your creativity and knowledge. Try not to read a book related to your work, after all you’re meant to be switching off; try a novel that you’ve been desperate to read but never found time for.

Unplug

Disconnecting from the world of work, and the outside world in general can help you de-stress and feel a sense of calm before heading off to the land of nod. If your evening routine currently consists of scrolling on your phone, you should seriously consider finding another alternative. This is because the blue light emitted from your phone mimics the brightness of the sun, keeping your body awake when it’s time to go to sleep. Try banning technology from the bedroom and replace it with or book or puzzle.