Learn how to create a calming night routine as a busy stay at home mom.
Night Routine for Moms
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Getting your days started right can help you be more productive and focused as a busy stay at home mom.
But how you end your days?
That’s just as important.
Having a night routine or evening ritual that you faithfully follow can make such a difference in how you feel each day.
And it’s especially helpful if you’re not a morning person. (Which I definitely am not.)
If you always feel tired during the day or you just can’t face the alarm clock each morning, then creating an evening routine could be exactly what you need.
Related post: Bedtime Routine Chart (5 Cute Printable Bedtime Charts for Kids)
Why Is a Nighttime Routine Important?
Having a nighttime routine is important for kids but it’s just as important for busy moms, too.
According to at least one sleep study, being tired during the day affects the productivity of 75% of Americans.
When you’re a mom doing all the things — cleaning the house, paying the bills, helping kids with schoolwork or working from home — staying on top of your time matters.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day. And as a mom who’s always juggling, you have to make the most of them.
Putting a night routine into practice can help you destress at the end of a busy day. And it can help you sleep better, too.
Getting better sleep can help with:
- Improving your focus
- Boosting your energy levels
- Elevating your mood
- Maintaining a healthy weight
That last one was a real eye-opener for me. I had no idea that lack of sleep could lead to weight gain but it’s totally true. 🙄
Bottom line, following an evening routine can make you feel better overall in more ways than one. And being a happier, more energized mom is good for everyone!
Learn how to create a morning routine as a stay at home mom:
The Perfect Morning Routine Checklist for Busy Moms
How to Start a Stay at Home Mom Night Routine
Ready to get your perfect evening routine habit started? Here’s exactly how to do it!
Set a bedtime reminder
Getting up at the same time is a big part of my morning routine each day. And going to bed at the same time is also important.
When you go to bed at the same time each night, you’re creating a built-in habit. Your brain will start to tell your body when it’s time to lie down and get some sleep.
If your bedtime is all over the place, figure out an optimal time that you can go to bed each night.
Once you pick a time, set a regular reminder so you can begin readying yourself for rest mode.
A simple way to do this is by setting an alarm on your phone or using a kitchen timer. You can set the timer to go off 15 to 30 minutes before your target bedtime so you know that it’s time to start your night routine.
Tidy up the house
I can’t go to bed and sleep well when the house is a cluttered mess.
So part of my nightly ritual involves tidying up a little so the house is neat for the next day.
This doesn’t mean I’m doing a deep clean at 11 p.m. Instead, I pick small things I can do to pick up and straighten up.
For example, that includes:
- Straightening up the pillows on the sofa
- Rounding up TV and Roku remotes in one place
- Folding throw blankets
- Sweeping
- Wiping down kitchen counters
This all takes me about 10 minutes. I don’t do anything in my kids’ rooms, since they’re old enough to handle tidying up themselves.
But if you have smaller kids, you might add in a nightly toy pickup to your kids’ bedtime routine.
Going to bed knowing the house isn’t a wreck helps me sleep easier. And if you’re a Type A mom like me, then you’ll appreciate the feeling of a tidy home, too.
Read these posts for more decluttering tips:
21 Painless Ways to Declutter Your Home When You’re Tired of the Mess
11 Daily Tasks to Clean House Quickly When You Don’t Have Time for the Mess
Create your to-do list for the next day
I love to-do lists; I wouldn’t get a thing done without them!
If you’re the list mom type as well, then be sure to spend 5 to 10 minutes in your night routine making your to-do list for the next day.
For example, your list might include:
- Phone calls you need to make
- Errands you need to run
- Bills you need to pay
You can also include your next day’s meal plan on the list. Meal planning can be such a time-saver as a busy mom.
And if you’re not meal planning yet, check out $5 Meal Plan. You can get custom-made meal plans for pennies a day!
When you’re making your to-do list, try to keep it simple.
Adding 20 things to your list will only make you feel overwhelmed. Having 3 to 5 things you need to tackle, on the other hand, can feel a lot more doable.
And prioritize your to-do list, too. Break your list into “must-do’s”, “could do’s” and “should do’s”, then start with what’s most important.
Stop snacking and drink some water
Eating right before bed is a no-no if you want a restful sleep. (Indigestion, anyone?)
At the same, you don’t want to be woken up in the middle of the night by a growling tummy.
A simple way to cure that is cut out the snacks after 9 p.m. and switch to drinking water instead.
Drinking water before bed can help you stay hydrated overnight and keep you from feeling hungry.
Just don’t overdo it, since you could end up disrupting your sleep if you have to make frequent trips to the bathroom at night.
Shut off screens an hour before bed
Screens seem to dominate so much of mom life and kids’ lives, too.
I’m totally guilty of checking my phone right before bed or even first thing in the morning when I wake up.
But that is sooo bad for you.
The blue light from your phone or laptop can suppress melatonin, making it harder for you to fall asleep.
Not to mention, checking your phone right before you lay down can key up your brain when you’re trying to relax.
So what should you do?
Get in the habit of turning screens off an hour before bedtime each night. If that isn’t doable, ditching screens at least 30 minutes before bed can still offer health and sleep benefits.
Prep for the next day
If you love feeling like an organized mom, one of the best ways to do it is to do as much as you can the night before.
So, for example, your night routine might include:
- Picking out clothes for yourself (and your kids if you’ve got littles)
- Setting the coffee pot so it turns on automatically in the morning
- Packing lunches for the next day
- Taking out meat that needs to defrost for tomorrow’s meal
- Packing your diaper bag or mom bag if you have to go out
The more things you can do the night before, the less you’ll have to worry about in the morning. And you might be surprised at just how much you can get done!
Work in a little self-care
Of course, your evening routine isn’t complete without some bathroom time.
Brush your teeth, floss, wash your face, moisturize — these are little things that can help you feel healthier and happier.
You might also try journaling, meditating or even starting a simple bedtime yoga routine.
These are all great ways to relax so you’re not tossing and turning once you lay down.
Read these posts for more self-care ideas:
How to Create the Perfect Self Care Routine as a Busy Mom
15 Brilliant Ways to Practice Self-Care in 15 Minutes or Less
How to Get Better Sleep Each Night
Once you’ve gotten your night routine wrapped up, it’s time to go to bed. And these tips can help you get some quality rest while you’re there.
Invest in some comfortable pillows and bedding
I don’t know about you but I’m the burrow under the covers type. If you’re the same way, splurging on some comfortable bedding is well worth the money.
Look for sheets that have a higher thread count and a tighter weave. Both of those = better quality.
Pick your fabrics carefully and avoid anything that doesn’t feel good against your skin. (I prefer plain old cotton but you might like flannel, linen, silk or microfiber.)
Choose pillows that have the right kind of support for the way you sleep. And think about the filling, too.
Goose down pillows are often the best quality but if you need more support, you might prefer memory foam instead.
Upgrade your mattress
As a general rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to change your mattress every six to eight years.
If you’ve had your current mattress for a while, consider swapping it out for something more up to date.
When choosing a new mattress, think about:
- What kind of support you need
- Your preferred sleep position
- Which materials you want to avoid (because of allergies or personal preference)
- Whether you want to with memory foam or coils
If you don’t have the cash for a new mattress, you could still get better sleep by investing in a good memory foam or gel topper.
I have one and it’s ways more comfortable than sleeping on my mattress by itself.
Listen to relaxing music
Listening to music before bed can help you calm down, relax and de-stress.
One of the best music choices for soothing your tired mom soul is classical. For the longest time, I would fall asleep to Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”.
If classical music isn’t your thing, you could try something else that has a slower tempo. (No house music, please.)
And one other option is listening to an audiobook instead.
Audible is great for that and if you haven’t signed up yet, you can try it now and get two free audiobooks!
Try essential oils
Essential oils can help promote better sleep and make you feel more relaxed. If you aren’t using them yet, it’s time to test them out!
Some of the best essential oil scents to use for relaxation include:
- Lavender
- Cedarwood
- Bergamot
- Vetiver
All you have to do is pop the essential oil of your choice into a diffuser and drift away into a peaceful sleep.
Get blackout curtains for the bedroom
I have blackout curtains in my bedroom and oh my gosh, they are so worth the money!
Blackout curtains are perfect for blocking out street lights and keeping an early sunrise from interrupting your sleep.
I love these blackout curtains because they match my bedroom decor and they’re great at keeping unwanted light out.
And if you don’t want to go the blackout curtain route, you could always try a comfy sleep mask instead.
My Amazon picks for a restful night routine
Do you have a regular night routine as a stay at home mom?
Having a bedtime routine or ritual you stick to really can make a difference in how productive and energized you are.
When you wake up each morning feeling rested, it’s so much easier to get things done and power through your busy mom days.
These tips can help you figure out the perfect evening routine for you and your mom lifestyle.
Do you have an awesome tip or two for creating a nighttime routine as a busy mama?
Head to the comments and share it. Then don’t forget to pin and share this post!
Read these posts next for more stay at home mom tips:
How to Create a Realistic Stay at Home Mom Schedule for Stress-Free Days