Even if the to-list doesn’t get finished and the laundry doesn’t get folded and put away, you can rest easy every night with this simple evening routine.
As a homemaker, one of my main goals is to keep things moving so I’m at least one or two steps ahead of where I need to be. And I don’t mean that I’m wishing my life away.
When I’m making my meal plan and know I’m going to have soup on Tuesday night, I make broth on Monday. Or, to avoid the “where are my shoes?!” rush on Sunday mornings (if you know, you know), I simply take 10 minutes on Saturday to set church shoes by the front door.
My entire family has even picked up on our Saturday church preparation routine! My children know that when they see their button-up shirts, dresses, and nice jeans hanging off to the side in their closet, it’s time to prepare our minds for worship.
Adapting to a house reset flow was no different.
Every evening, my children know we will ask them to tidy their rooms and find their jammies. My four-year-old can do the routine without even being asked!
As you read on, I’ve outlined a routine for you, the homemaker, to do as you’re tucking your children into bed and beyond. Even though the dishes and laundry never end, each day does.
So as you look at your never-ending to-do list, remember that you can find a stopping point and peacefully take some time to yourself. The day does in fact come to an end, as do your duties and responsibilities.
I hope this sample, evening homemaking routine inspires you to wrap up those last tasks, provides you with a successful morning, and helps you establish an ideal evening routine, no matter what season of life you’re in.
Happy homemaking!
Pin this post for later!
Why Establish an Evening Routine?
At the end of the day, a good routine can make a big difference in the next day’s agenda.
A clean kitchen invites a homemaker in to make breakfast. A dirty kitchen hinders a homemaker from starting anything because a mess has to be cleaned before breakfast can be started!
No clean clothes prevent a homemaker from being presentable. As little as one clean outfit kicks the day off with a fresh start.
An evening routine can help you set yourself up for success or keep you dealing with yesterday’s problems. Don’t live your life always being behind by a whole day!
A Simple Evening Routine for Homemakers
This is by no means in chronological order! Feel free to adapt this so it fits your home and your family’s needs.
Tidy the House
This isn’t a full-blown deep clean. This means simply making sure the floor and large surfaces are clear of toys and other items.
In our living room, we simply pick up the floor. This is a great way to get younger children involved in chores. We keep a basket for shoes by our front door. Before our children could walk we asked them to pick up shoes. The same goes for toys. We pull a basket (sometimes even an empty diaper box!) out and place it in the middle of the living room floor. All the toys get put in the box so the living room is tidy. We can deal with organizing the toys tomorrow!
In our kitchen, we make sure the kitchen table is clear and the sink is free of dishes. Our countertop often serves as a drying rack, so it’s rarely ever clean.
Remember – the name of the game is simple! No deep cleaning – it’s time to go to bed!
Start the Dishwasher
Before I leave my kitchen for the night, I always start my dishwasher. Even if I could manage to squeeze a few more dishes into it (not that that ever happens!)
When I wake in the morning, I know that no matter what I’m going to have clean plates and utensils for breakfast. And that’s the goal! Always keep things moving a step or two ahead of when we will actually need them.
Start the Washing Machine
This may be controversial, but if you’re looking to really maximize your time and effort at home, throw a load of laundry in your washing machine before going to bed! In the morning when you wake, move it to the dryer. In a home with small children, this could be a great way to stay on top of the laundry!
In our home, I start a load of laundry almost immediately upon waking. That way, I know that by the time I get my kiddos up, fed, and dressed for the day, it will be time to change the laundry over to the dryer and start another load in the washer.
However, my children are older and are able to help me with things like bringing a hamper to the laundry room or putting laundry away.
So for the mama rocking that baby to sleep in her arms right now – start a load of laundry before you put yourself to bed!
Pin this post for later!
Brain Dump
Now that my children are in bed, the house is picked up, and the robots of our home (hah!) are toiling away, I can turn my attention to what didn’t get done today and what needs to get done tomorrow.
By taking a glance at my planner, I can start rearranging my tasks so I can start tomorrow with a clear head.
This is also the time I like to check in with my husband. If something came up in the day, this is usually when I would address it and seek his opinion. If I need his help completing a task or getting a larger house project done, this is when I will ask him what his agenda for tomorrow looks like.
With the final thoughts in my mind finally tethered and organized, I can move on to doing what I want. Mom is off the clock!
Invest in Hobbies
As a mom, I keep several plates spinning throughout the day. But to have the stamina, and frankly, the peace, to handle those without buckling under the weight of those plates, I need to set pretty strict boundaries on my time.
At the end of the day, I make it a point to invest in things I enjoy doing, not things I have to do. Usually, that also means these are things I can (or have to) do without my children present.
This is not the time I’m paying bills, creating my grocery list, or folding laundry.
This is the time I’m reading a book, doing some sort of craft, or catching up on a beloved TV show.
When I make this time a part of my routine, I’m giving my brain a rest and fueling that selfish part of me that just wants a moment to myself. And since I have healthy routines in place that take care of the rest of my home, I don’t feel the least bit guilty about taking this time for myself!
Get Ready for Bed
This is going to look different for everyone. And I’m not going to dive too deep here. It is important to mention it, though. Take the time to get yourself ready for bed!
When my daughter was about three to four months old, She would go to bed around 7 to 7:30 pm and nurse again around 10 pm. I was so exhausted from becoming a mother, I would fall asleep on the couch folding laundry, only to be startled awake by my 10 pm alarm to nurse my baby!
My husband, seeing my exhaustion, would simply turn the room lights off and let me sleep.
As we have added children to our brood, I’ve truly prioritized getting ready for bed so I’m not that frazzled, startled mom falling asleep amidst piles of laundry.
Carve out the time to get ready for bed, mama. Even if that means you perform an entire skincare routine every single night.
Pin this post for later!
Read
You need so many hours of sleep to function properly. Embrace that fact!
Reading allows you to drift off to sleep, not be woken up by the bright lights and constant flood of information from a phone.
From thrillers to education to studying more about the Bible – there are so many books you could choose from! For my recommendations, check out my resources tab for a list and short reviews!
A Good Evening Routine Makes a Huge Difference
An evening routine doesn’t have to work around set times. I’m not saying you have to have the kids showered and in bed by 7:30 pm so you can start your dishwasher promptly at 7:31 pm.
I’m also not saying there won’t be a couple of times any of this doesn’t get done. There will be days, or seasons of life, where an evening routine just goes out the window!
New habits can also be hard to form, so give yourself grace if this is something you desire, but you’re struggling with putting it into practice. Good things take time!
Want to Create a Tidy Home?
If you’ve been around here for any amount of time, you know how much I love routines. I have a whole blog post dedicated to creating a home management system that works for you! (SPOILER ALERT – this isn’t your traditional system! No steps here – just tips for how to choose what works for you.)
You can take my three tips on how to create a home management system, or you can check out the tips I have for how to become an effective homemaker! From planning ahead to taking breaks, I also tackle how social media impacts our homemaking success!
For even more homemaking inspiration, follow me on Pinterest!
Pin this post for later!
[…] How to Create a Simple Home Management SystemA Sample Daily Evening Routine for Homemakers […]