5 Things To Do the Night Before To Have a Happy Morning

After a very long week, I spent the weekend unwinding and getting prepped for my 28-day reset. Saturday and Sunday were both sunny days though a bit chilly for my liking. I woke up early on Saturday for a heart-pumping Platform class at Pure Barre Cathedral Commons, which happens to be right next to Cactus Cantina and my beloved swirl margaritas. It was fun to be back in my old neighborhood and see how much that block has changed!

I met up with my college roomie for a Sunday afternoon Flywheel class. After catching our breath, we caught up over dinner at Glen’s Garden Market (Seasonal veggie panini – YUM!). I kept hearing the spin instructor in my head saying “Reset. Recenter,” something she did at the start of every cool down after an intense burst of riding.

I had already had this post ready to go for today so it felt extra serendipitous. Life’s funny like that, yes? Sunday afternoons and evenings are incredibly important to me and I have my little rituals that I do to start the week off in the best possible frame of mind. With everything going on this week, “Reset. Recenter.” struck me as the mantra I need.

The best way to have a happy and productive morning starts the night before for me. Here are 5 things to do the night before to have a happy morning:

1.Meditate: I downloaded the “Headspace” app after hearing one of my favorite podcasts sing its praises. I’ve dabbled in meditation before but never really made a habit out of it. With my recent anxiety rearing its ugly head, I figured it couldn’t hurt to give it another whirl. “Headspace” is a FREE app with 10 10-minute meditations, you can pay $12/month to unlock their more specific practices. I love their freebie meditations and it’s become a regular before-bed practice for me and it’s made a huge difference in my sleep habits. It keeps me accountable for going to bed at a reasonable hour and I get a good night’s sleep that leaves me waking up feeling recharged and ready to conquer the day!

Tervis Tumbler | Vera Bradley Candle | Target Lamp 

2. Hydrate: Drinking water is important throughout the day, everyone knows that. But it’s also important to drink water right before bed. At night, drinking a glass of water naturally balances our bodies’ hormones, energy levels, joints and muscles. A glass of water also gives your body the tools it needs to clear out those toxins. This simple act helps you relax and wake up refreshed! I fill up my 16 oz tumbler and aim to finish it before I hit the lights. To jazz it up, I’ll typically add lemon slices or sometimes cucumber and mint if I’m feeling fancy.

Chambray Blazer (Last Styled Here) | J.Crew Factory Stripe Dress – Last Styled Here | Multistrand Pearls 

3. Prep Your Outfit: I can’t tell you how many I didn’t iron or steam my outfit for the night before and then overslept. It sends you into “I’m-going-to-be-late!” panic mode, not exactly how anyone wants to start the day. I will iron my clothes the night before and lay out every piece of my outfit from earrings to stockings and shoes. Plus, this leaves you feeling guilt-free during those rare times when you decide to hit the snooze button and catch a few extra minutes of sleep. You can search here for work outfit ideas!

L.L. Bean Tote | Ray Ban Aviators | Vera Bradley Laptop Sleeve | Kate Spade Keychain 

4. Pack Your Bag: I’ve had this habit since I started packing my own backpack in middle school. After finishing my homework, I packed away all my notebooks, textbooks and folders into my backpack and put it right in front of the door for an easy grab ‘n go to catch the bus. Same principle but now my “backpack” is my trusty tote and instead of textbooks, I pack my planner, current legal pad, a catch-all, sunglasses and my keys and place it right in front of my apartment door. This way I know everything is ready to go and I won’t forget my homework a critical item. Even if I know I’ve packed my keys, I always double check before heading out.

Lilly Pulitzer Agenda | Lilly Pulitzer List Pad | Lilly Pulitzer Supply List

5. Create a “To Do” List: I typically would spend the first 15 minutes of my work day creating my to-do list. I get that things sometimes change overnight or at the last minute but now I try to have a list of things I need to conquer that day when I walk into work. It frees up those 15 minutes and helps you be productive right out of the gate. I also find it helpful to have an idea of how your day is going to look. Though trust me, I have those days that do not look at all like I thought they would and though I was productive, when I look at my to-list at the end of the day did not cross one thing off! It happens. But having a game plan ready to go the night before gets you in the mindset to #GSD.

What do you do the night before to have a happy morning?

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