Mum Of 3 Evening Routines – To-Do List

Hi!

Let’s talk about routines. 🙂

Now I’m someone who needs organization and routines to keep on top of everything I need to do. I’m actually paradoxical in this because although I am organized and methodical in certain areas, I’m disorganized in other areas.

I guess because I have learnt to be organized in the things that are my top priorities and our frequent needs as a family, but I haven’t extended my organization skills to all areas of life.

Anyway, one thing that I have found that helps me as a mum of three is to have certain morning and evening routines on school days.

This really helps me to keep on top of the school prep, the housework and the meals and I’ve found that once I gain a habit or routine, I do it without much thought and that results in fewer decisions to make and a lighter mental load.

So here goes my evening to-do list:

Evening To-Do List

• clear clutter in the kitchen and entrance
• get bags ready for the next day (I use lunch bags for storing the kids’ morning snacks for school)
• make dinner
• prepare my husband’s lunch for the next day – this is just getting the leftovers from dinner and putting them into microwavable glass containers.
• load the dishwasher, wash pans, tidy the kitchen
• unload the dishwasher
• set the table for breakfast

Evening To-Do List Explained

So at around 6.00, I get dinner ready. As I’m preparing the food, I usually get the lunch bags ready for my kids and I also clear up any clutter in the kitchen and entrance. In the warmer months, I also use this time to water the patio plants quickly.

We eat at 7.10 and then at around 7.35, I organize my husband’s lunch for the following day and I clear up the kitchen. Usually the kids will start going upstairs to get ready for bed while I’m doing this. Then at around 7.45 we’ll do bedtime stories and then at 8.00 it’s lights out.

After the kids are in bed, from 8.00 to 9.00 my husband and I usually get on with computer work, sort out the shopping or have meetings.

Then we’ll watch a couple of episodes on TV. Then at 10.00, I like to unload the dishwasher, and lay the table for breakfast. I got this idea from Jennifer Scott, over at The Daily Connoisseur and I have noticed that it really improves my mornings.

As I spend most of my early mornings having quiet time and writing, having the kitchen ready helps me not to feel overwhelmed with things to do in the morning. Speaking of which, check my article Morning Routines for info on my morning tasks.

Then after laying the table at around 10.10, we’ll head off to bed. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings we’re off, so we usually use these evenings to either have date night or rest.

How about you? What are your evening routines? Let me know in the comments below 😉