Setting Up Evening Routines Challenge

Evening routines are essential to help wind down the family. It's important to establish not just morning routines but also evening ones. Try this challenge to create your evening routine. Your evening routine also supports your children by relaxing them and giving them time to decompress from the day.

Jump to:

• How to Create an Evening Routine?
• First, determine what needs to be done in your evening routine.
• Then, write down the tasks on a piece of paper for each person in your household.
• Examples of tasks that could be in your evening routines:
• Here is an example of an evening routine:
• Here is an example of a kids' evening routine:
• Now, it's time to create your evening routine.  

This challenge is to help you set up an evening routine for you and your family. If your children are five or older, feel free to talk with them and ask them what they like to do in the evenings to incorporate their favorite things.

How to Create an Evening Routine?

First, determine what needs to be done in your evening routine.

Ask yourself these questions:

What do your kids need to get done before going to bed?
Which tasks will help your next day run more smoothly?
What helps you relax before you go to bed?
What helps your kids relax before going to bed?

Then, write down the tasks on a piece of paper for each person in your household.

Each person should have their own tasks on their own paper. Don't worry about the order yet. Cut the tasks into strips and put them in order that makes the task list flow naturally (like placing all the bedroom tasks together) and tape them in the strips to another sheet of paper.

Tip: Make your tasks specific before placing them on a piece of paper. Then when you cut up the tasks, it will be easier for you to order the tasks.

Examples of tasks that could be in your evening routines:

Below are some examples of tasks that you may want to add to your evening routines.

Adult list of evening tasks:

• Bedtime
• Take a bath or shower
• Do yoga
• Stretch
• Read a book
• Meditate
• Time free from electronics
• Light snack / have herbal tea
• Write down a to-do list or write in a journal
• Get ready for bed
• Gather things for tomorrow and place them in one place.
• Pick an outfit for tomorrow.
• Use the bathroom.
• Get into pajamas.
• Prayer
• Brush teeth
• Comb hair
  

Kid list of evening tasks:

• Take a Bath or shower
• Get in pjs
• Quiet play
• Read a book out loud
• Create a made-up story and share
• Brush teeth
• Put phone or iPad away
• Have a light snack
• Go to the bathroom
• Gather things for tomorrow and place them in one place.
• Pick an outfit for tomorrow.
• Snuggle time with parents

Below are some examples of evening routines that may work for your family.

Here is an example of an evening routine:

6:30 PM to 7:00 PM - Have a light snack like popcorn
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM - Get what is needed tomorrow together and place it near the pocketbook
8:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Watch TV or read to relax
9:00 PM to 9:30 PM - Get ready for bed, brush teeth, etc..

Here is an example of a kids' evening routine:

6:30 PM to 7:00 PM - Get a snack
7:00 PM to 7:10 PM - Make lunch for tomorrow
7:15 PM to 7:30 PM - Clean up, put an instrument near the backpack, and put the backpack in the hallway for tomorrow.
7:30 PM to 8:30 PM - Watch TV or video
8:30 PM to 9:00 PM - Take a shower, brush your teeth, and get ready for bed

Now, it's time to create your evening routine.  

After you created the right flow for you and your family, write them on a sheet of paper like the evening routines I created below.

Each task can be divided into ¼-hour increments, ½-hour increments, 45 minutes increments, and 1-hour increments.

While routines are important every day, sometimes weekend schedules are unique. On the sheets below, you can also circle the days that these routines are most important. I made two sheets, one for ¼ hour increments and ½ hour increments.

Starting on a Sunday seems to help make the routine easier to manage for the week. Make your evening routine important for everyone and keep to the schedule.  It takes time to set a new habit, so stick with it.

Then, hang up the newly created evening routine. You can place it on bedroom walls so it is easily accessible until everyone knows the new routine.

By making evening routines, you are preparing yourself for the next day. It will help you wind down before bed. It will help control the stress of running around in the morning to gather these items together as well.   Try it and then leave a comment below and let me know how it goes.  Good luck.

Below are some additional posts I found online that talk about how to create an evening routine.

6 Tips to Build a Better Bedtime Routine

The evening routine essentials of the most productive people