Following on from my spring morning routine, I thought I’d share what I do in the evening. I’ll start by saying that this is my full routine, from 5pm to bedtime. In fact, I’ll separate it into two parts: end-of-day and pre-bed. Let’s get straight into my spring evening routine then!
END-OF-DAY
Write up tomorrow’s to-do list
Before shutting down my laptop for the working day, I always write a to-do list for the following day. It was a task I used to do as part of my morning routine, but I actually found that by getting organised the night before, I can just get straight on with work. Honestly, if you spend hours in the morning getting organised, tag it on to the end of the previous day. It’s been an absolute game-changer for me!
Inbox zero
The very last task I do on my laptop is trying to get my inbox to zero. I’m trying to open my inbox much less during the day. You get so much more work done when you’re not opening your emails every half an hour! Shock horror, I know! It’s just having the willpower to not do it!
Tidy desk
When I’ve completed work for the day, I like to tidy my desk a bit. I’m not talking about a deep cleaning of the room, just simply putting pens, diaries, and notebooks away in their rightful places, and having an empty desk area. It takes me a maximum of five minutes but it’s always nicer to return to a tidy desk in the morning, rather than a messy one.
Make tea + listen to music
During the lockdowns, I’ve really discovered a love of cooking. Whilst I cook the same handful of meals (stir fry, fried rice, curry, fajitas), I do experiment sometimes. I’m trying to cook a new recipe every month. I’ve also tried to make it more of an experience (basically romanticising my life) by blaring out some music so I can sing and dance!
Do housework
As you saw in my spring morning routine, I try to do a small amount of housework every day. In the evening, that means putting any dry laundry away, cleaning the kitchen, and washing the dishes. I’ll usually try to do this whilst my tea is cooking!
Take vitamins
I’m a bit of a wuss when it comes to tablets so I have to take them with food. In the evening, I take an antihistamine, magnesium, and vitamin D tablets. However, never take supplements just because someone else does! Do your own research and consult a doctor if necessary!
TV catch-up for an hour
When tea is made, I actually like to sit and watch whatever I’ve recorded on Sky+. Right now (and most of the year), it’s old episodes of Law and Order SVU. I record episodes on 5USA and Sky Witness and just watch an episode or two a day.
Duolingo
After I’ve eaten, I also like to open up my Duolingo app and do at least 10 minutes. I’ve been learning French since 1st Jan 2022 and haven’t missed a single day! If I’m travelling, I might just do one lesson. On other days, I’ll spend about an hour on the app!
Write a blog post
One thing that I’m trying to get into a routine with is blog writing. I’ve been trying to write one blog post every weekday evening. I’m not always successful but it does feel nice to use an hour or so to do something productive!
Watch TV in bed
When it comes to evening routines, all I do is sit in bed and watch TV. I’m not a social person so relaxing in bed is ideal for me. I’ll stick on a DVD box set and just unwind. Currently, I’m rewatching Chicago Fire and I’m just about to finish season 8.
PRE-BEDTIME
Phone off at 9.30 pm
A big habit I’m trying to implement is not using my phone before bed. After a final social media scroll, I try to turn off my Wifi at 9.30 pm. I only use my phone before bed to track how many pages I’ve read and update GoodReads if I’ve completed a book.
PM skincare
My PM skincare is similar to my morning routine, just with a double moisturise! I’ve really tried to make my routine simpler because this girl doesn’t have a spare hour to incorporate 20 steps. Plus, I know my sensitive skin thrives with just minimal products!
Pyjamas on
One thing I love is nightwear. I have so many sets of pyjamas (mostly from M&S) and would live in them and a dressing gown if it was socially acceptable. Previously, I’d just wear old T-shirts and leggings but in recent years, I’ve enjoyed having matching sets.
Take probiotic and collagen
More tablets! This is something I’ve implemented in the last couple of months after a lot of research. I’m 100% sure the pre/probiotic is working for me but the collagen isn’t doing a great deal. I’ve not felt any improvements in my skin, hair, or nails since taking it!
In bed at 10 pm at the latest
I’m 100% an early-night person. Technically, I’m in bed relaxing from 7 pm but winding down time starts at 10 pm at the latest. Bedtime is sacred to me!
Read for at least 30 mins
The last thing I do before sleeping is read. It’s something I’ve been doing since I was tiny as it always helps me to unwind and fall asleep. Whilst I might skip some nights, I’ve really tried to get back into reading, especially this spring. In 2022, I only managed to get through 24 books all year. So far in 2023, I’ve already finished 17!
I’m incredibly content with my spring evening routine. It seems like a lot of steps but they’re certainly nothing out of the ordinary! It’s also not particularly energetic because this girl just likes to chill out.
If you enjoyed reading all about my spring evening routine, you can see more about my organisational posts here. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram too!
