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Good night: 3 evening habits to cultivate a healthy mindset

While most people focus on creating powerful morning habits, productive moms realize what you do in the evening is just as important.

Cultivating a healthy mindset for a new day is often connected to how we ended the day before.

Just think about it.

Did you stumble through your evening just to make it to bed exhausted, worn out, and numb from the day? Have you ever started your day feeling like you’re already behind? Or, in true mom fashion, frantically rushed through your house just trying to get you and the kids out the door?

If you said yes, then friend, you are in excellent company.

Before we go any further, it’s important to note I am talking about your evening habits, not your evening routine.
So what’s the difference you ask?

A habit is an ACTION we often do in a regular and repeated way. A routine is a way of doing an action in a particular ORDER. A ROUTINE is made of several HABITS.

That’s why your habits matter, especially when you want to create a healthy mindset.

Whether we choose a consistent bedtime routine or exercise in the evening, we need to know what habits help or hinder us from cultivating a healthy mindset.

If we could start implementing one healthy habit each evening, imagine how you would feel every day. Imagine how you could develop a healthy mindset. Wouldn’t it be worth it to try?

Sounds appealing, right?

(A bonus of cultivating positive habits each evening means that if you are a night owl, like me, you can do a significant portion of your prep the night before). Here are three evening habits worth developing.

Bedtime Routine #1: Evaluate your day

We undervalue the importance of preparing in the evening and plunging forward into the next day without taking any time to reflect on our emotions, thoughts, and action. Using a journal to evaluate your day before you go to bed is a great way to assess your day. You can jot down your thoughts, create bullet lists, brain dump, or even write a note encouraging yourself. Often, I use gratitude logs to help me keep my focus, especially on hard days.

A few guided questions to ask yourself:

  • What were my wins from the day?
  • What can I improve for tomorrow?
  • What do I need to stop?
  • Did I focus on who/what matters?
  • How was I distracted today?
  • Where does God want me to focus my time?

Bedtime Habit #2: Unplug

As a momma, I have had spent my fair share of late nights up watching tv so that I could enjoy a few quiet moments alone. But I paid for every single one! Creating intentional time to unplug from your day is one essential element to creating evening habits for a healthy mindset. Set a time to switch off your electronics and limit outside interactions with people. I know it seems harmless to scroll a few moments on your phone, but don’t. If you are going to be up, consider picking up a book or a journal in place of your phone.

For my creative night owls, unplugging can be a challenge. Your brain wants to be on when it is time to shut down. No worries, a timer is your best friend. Set a specific time for your creative process then disconnect. Even a creative brain needs time to rest and recover.

Bedtime Routine #3: Take care of your mental health

Juggling a home, kids, and possibly a career can be exhausting some days, especially when the world is pushing you too do more, give more, hustle more. That’s why it is essential we take time each night to wind down and properly take care of our mental health. Taking care of your mental health does not need to be complicated or time-consuming.

Along with prayer and spending time in God’s word, there are additional ways we can tend to our mental health:

  • Meditation
  • Yoga/stretching
  • Reading
  • Listen to music
  • Say no
  • Ask for help
  • Connect with others
  • Laugh

So, what are your evening habits? If you could start with just one habit today, where would you start? Your evening habits become a part of your evening routine. Remember, like any habit, creating evening habits to cultivate a healthy mindset take time. Your brain will need time to adjust to new habits. Start with the one habit that will have the most impact for you, thus creating a ripple effect in your home.

I want to hear from you. What evening habits work for YOU?

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founder and owner of Mamie L. Pack Media

  • Lynn Armstrong
    May 23, 2019

    I love the evaluating part! You can really focus on where you went wrong and how you can better your self. No better time to start your new habits and changes than the next morning when you rise.

    Reply
    • Brandi Wiatrak
      Lynn Armstrong
      May 23, 2019

      I love to read and write in the evenings as a way to wind down. This are great ideas on how to set the tone for the following morning. I like how you evaluate your day and see where you can do better for tomorrow.

      Reply
      • Mamie L. Pack
        Brandi Wiatrak
        May 23, 2019

        I am a big fan of reading and writing in the evening too Brandi. Any particular books you love?

        Reply
  • juliemtms
    May 23, 2019

    I had never thought about evaluating my evening habits, but it’s a great idea. I’m all about mindset and a gratitude practice…maybe I’ll start with a check in in the evenings as well. And of course I’m guilty of not unplugging!

    Reply
    • Mamie L. Pack
      juliemtms
      May 23, 2019

      Oh, I think a lot of us are guilty of failing to unplug and then wonder why we aren’t resting well.

      Reply
  • beautybulletins.com
    May 23, 2019

    Prayer and spending time in God’s word is grounding

    Reply
    • Mamie L. Pack
      beautybulletins.com
      May 23, 2019

      I completely agree! It helps you to have a healthy focus.

      Reply
  • Livelearnbetter (@livelearnbetter)
    May 24, 2019

    I would start with exercising and being consistent. I enjoyed reading this because most of us dontt think of evening routine.

    Reply
  • Shayla Marie
    May 24, 2019

    So much wisdom and experience in this post. These are excellent tips. Love your blog.

    Reply
  • Leah Wade
    May 24, 2019

    I end every night with a good book. Right now I’m reading Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials to get psyched for HBO this fall now that GOT is over.

    Reply
  • alexandraderry
    May 24, 2019

    Thank you for this post, it is really a good habbit to do, and I know from being a homeschooling, work at home mom that its easy to just let the tv roll… I find knitting relaxes me, and reading to the kids at bedtime.

    Reply
  • Ariana
    May 24, 2019

    Love this, I can’t evaluate my day though – I have anxiety disorder, as soon as I start down that rabbit hole I never stop and sleep never happens!

    Reply
  • Melissa Jade
    May 25, 2019

    I can’t agree enough. These three tips are huge game changers for me too! I love how you stress being able to unplug–it’s something I’m consistently reminding myself to do, but it is so essential to a good sleep. Thank you so much for these valuable tips!

    Reply
  • stmarie38
    May 25, 2019

    These are great suggestions! I have always been a horrible sleeper and I think I might have to try some of these to just get myself in the right mindset to go to sleep.

    Reply
  • Chelsae
    May 25, 2019

    Unplugging is what I want to do more of. I keep saying I want to read more at night but I always go to my phone or the TV. I am going to take your tips and start a new nightly routine.

    Reply
  • sarahoutandaboutblog
    May 25, 2019

    I love the idea of evaluating your day. These tips are so simple but I had not thought of doing this. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Mamie L. Pack
      sarahoutandaboutblog
      May 26, 2019

      Hopefully one of them will be helpful for you in for your evening habits. Have you thought about which one you will try?

      Reply
  • lifeofababema
    May 26, 2019

    I love this post, especially the part about re-evaluating your day! It’s something that I do nearly every night and it helps me plan for a “better” tomorrow. I am somewhat of a night-owl and KNOW I need to change because I pay for it in the morning *insert crying face* but it’s hard. I like the idea of a timer…Another great post from you. Love it!

    Reply
    • Mamie L. Pack
      lifeofababema
      May 26, 2019

      Thank you! Being a night owl I understand the struggle. That’s why I have been trying to be more creative about how I use my night hours. The bed feels sooooo good in the morning. 😆😆😆

      Reply
  • Emily | The Multitasking Mom
    May 26, 2019

    I am so strict about bedtime most days. I love ending my day with reflection. It helps me start the day ready to go the next morning.

    Reply
    • Mamie L. Pack
      Emily | The Multitasking Mom
      May 26, 2019

      Oh, that is good Emily! We can be strict about the bedtime for our children but relaxed when it comes to our own.

      Reply
  • brianatrev
    May 27, 2019

    I love this! I need a new routine!

    Briana
    https://beyoutifulbrunette.com/

    Reply
  • Roberta Escobar
    May 27, 2019

    This is so good! Thank you for posting this!

    Reply
  • Mindful Mama Health
    May 28, 2019

    Love the evaluating your day! This is a practice I have started adding to my routine with my toddler. We like to reflect on our favorite part of our day and also if there was anything to learn from or Change. Such great tips!

    Reply
  • Arianne Peters
    May 28, 2019

    Unplugging is definitely something I need to do. I have the hardest time obsessing so much with my blogging that I’m up till 2am on social media. Great post!

    Reply
  • Breanna|Messy Buns and Mom Jeans
    May 28, 2019

    I’m trying SO hard to make sure to unplug every day. Not easy but worth it.

    Reply
  • Erica Holland
    May 28, 2019

    I could def use some new sleep routine tips. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • FitFamilyLifeBlog
    May 28, 2019

    Reading! I take 20 min at least to decompress after being a mom all day and then doing therapy at night!

    Reply
    • Mamie L. Pack
      FitFamilyLifeBlog
      May 29, 2019

      That’s great! What are you currently reading?

      Reply
  • Angel Sames
    May 28, 2019

    Yes! I love these tips. And I absolutely am all over the routine thing. I love a good routine.

    Angel | Mommy-ing Differently

    Reply
    • Mamie L. Pack
      Angel Sames
      May 29, 2019

      What’s your favorite routine?

      Reply
      • Angel Sames
        Mamie L. Pack
        May 29, 2019

        Ooh I wouldn’t say this is my favorite, but my nightly routine is: cleaning the kitchen, picking up the living room, having a snack (without little people asking for some lol), then reading and bed.

        Reply
  • Annie
    May 29, 2019

    I try to focus on my morning routine but honestly haven’t focused on my evening routine. I would love to do bedtime yoga each night!

    Reply
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  • Monica
    August 29, 2020

    Taking care of mental health before bed is so important! You get a better night sleep for sure.

    Reply
  • ayslynne15
    August 29, 2020

    These were some great ideas! I can’t wait to start implementing them! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • Danielle
    August 31, 2020

    These habits are exactly things you need to do to get a better mindset in the morning! I’m an early bird and Do some of these the night before.

    Reply
    • Mamie L. Pack
      Danielle
      September 1, 2020

      That is a good strategy too!

      Reply

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