The REAL secret to a great morning routine starts before you even get into bed the night before. Having a consistent evening routine sets you up for success for the next day.

1. Go to bed at roughly the same time each night. Set a bedtime alarm on your phone to remind yourself that it’s time to settle in. Choose a soothing sound (My bedtime alarm is literally the first few notes of “Rock-a-Bye, Baby”), so it signals to your brain that it’s time to start winding down. Selecting a bedtime alarm that’s jolting is counter-productive, so choose wisely.
2. Stop eating and drinking a few hours before bed so your body isn’t digesting, but instead ready to rest and regroup.
3. Turn off all screens for at least an hour prior to bed. Let your brain turn off.
4. Lots going on in your mind? Try a brain dump. This is simply taking a blank piece of paper and writing out literally everything on your mind. Just getting it out of your brain can help you relax and clear your head. When I use this tool, I will literally tell my brain, “It’s ok, I can relax and go to sleep now. I have the list of thoughts ready to go for tomorrow.”
5. Start a gratitude practice – this is essential. End each night by listing at least 5 small things you’ve noticed throughout the day to be grateful for. I do this every night and it allows me to fall asleep feeling blessed and grateful and abundant. (Reminding yourself of these gratitude items in the morning is a great addition to your Morning Routine).
6. Lay out your clothes the night before, taking away the decision in the morning. It’s one less thing to have to worry about in the morning. (If you’ll be including exercise in your Morning Routine, lay out both workout clothes, as well as whatever you’ll be changing into for the day.)

By committing to an Evening Routine each night, you’re setting your future self up for success. Whether you follow my steps or create your own Evening Routine, commit to doing the same thing each evening. This will help train your brain that bedtime is coming, and sticking to a sleep schedule will help you sleep better in the long run.