No matter what your goals are in the evening, it’s important to establish a good routine. Start out by implementing just one of these habits in your evening and casually add more in as you get more comfortable. Many entrepreneurs will notice a huge difference in their energy levels and productivity wherever they find a routine that works for them!
You can’t function correctly, and neither can your business if you are stressed or burnt out. Entrepreneurs are some of the bustiest people, and they often forget to take time for themselves, but for these nighttime activities, you don’t need a lot of time to get something out of them. Our Digital Advantage team has outlined 6 evening routines to help you get the most out of your time away from work.
Read
There is one thing that most successful entrepreneurs and CEOs have in common - reading. Reading daily can help you gain new knowledge, reduce stress and improve your memory. Many successful entrepreneurs read before they go to bed, and there are so many different genres to choose from. Reading is like a mental workout for your mind, which can improve the long-term health of your brain. If you can’t handle reading a real book, maybe take that time to read a book to your kids instead, or listen to a podcast.
Stay Off Your Phone
According to Dr. Charles Czeisler, a sleep medicine at Harvard University, the screen light coming from your phone disrupts our body’s natural “internal clock” that recognizes and alerts us when we need to sleep. Those bright lights are causing those chemicals to not be released, creating more issues going and staying asleep. So, if you want a enjoys a good night’s rest, remember to stay off your phone for at least an hour before going to bed.
Take Time For Yourself
This phrase can mean many different things to people. Everyone needs a break from work to blow off steam and do something that they enjoy. It’s called “me-time” for a reason so do with it what you want. This could mean reading, writing, painting, taking a bath, or catching up on your favorite shows. No matter what you decide, do something that you enjoy, that helps give your mind a break, so you can come back to work with more energy and creativity. Make time for all the things you love doing and find ways to do them every night to help you unwind from work, so you do not feel as burnt out.
Plan the Next Day
Taking a few minutes at the end of your day, to get the next day’s tasks and goals you want to accomplish planned out is essential to get the most out of your day’s work. Having your to-do list written down means there are minimal decisions you have to make when you wake up and leads to less stress in the morning. Whether you use a journal or a to-do list, it's important to visualize the goals you want to achieve and the tasks you want to complete and plan out how much time each of those tasks will take. This also allows you to check your progress, and celebrate your wins at the end of each day, so you know where tomorrow will take you.
Get Your Body Moving
Try to exercise every single day, even for a little bit - it’s a great stress reliever. For a busy entrepreneur, an evening stroll is a perfect way to unwind after a long day. In fact, many successful business owners like to take a brisk walk to end their day, as it can help turn off those thoughts about work. Simply walking around can help you disconnect from work which helps you in your after-work hours. Even a simple walk around your office, or a few jumping jacks, when you’re feeling overwhelmed can help you get out of your head. Any movement is always better than no movement! If you’ve been feeling creatively blocked, maybe a nice nighttime stroll around the block is exactly what you need to help you stop laying awake thinking about work and will help you to be more present at home.
Self-Care
Entrepreneurs experience more mood swings and their motivation can really suffer if they aren’t taking the proper care of themselves. It's important to take a little bit of time every day to clear your mind and relax your body. “Self-care” means different things for everyone, some people may write down their thoughts, go on a walk, or some may throw on a face mask and get in a nice, warm bubble bath. Whatever self-care means to you, go do it, because you deserve it.
How you wind down after a long day is very important to your mental and physical well-being, which must take priority in your life in order for your business to have long-term success. At eWomenNetwork, we are all about taking time for yourself, because your business can only function as well as you do. By spending your evening away from work, you give yourself time to decompress, reconnect with loved ones, and are able to do something for yourself. So, shut your laptop, draw yourself a bath, go for a walk, or call your best friend. Even the most successful entrepreneurs know you have to carve out time for yourself.