Add These Steps to Your Evening Routine to Be More Productive

Many people find they are more productive after they have shaken off their morning drowsiness. This means getting ready for work and even the first hour or so spent in the office is not super productive. There are steps that many successful people take to make their early hours more useful and less stressful. Here are a few things to add to your nightly routine to make mornings easier:

Pick Your Clothes
It's much easier to hop out of the shower and put on whatever outfit you laid out the night before than to traipse to the closet and contemplate your options. Instead, take five or 10 minutes before bed every night to choose the next day's clothes. Factor the weather forecast and temperature of your office into your choice – you'll want to dress comfortably yet professionally. Women should also consider what shoes to wear based on whether they will be doing a lot of walking during their commute or if they have lunch plans that aren't super close to the office. It's never a bad idea to add a blazer to your attire just in case the air conditioning in your workspace is chilly. You can always take it off if you're too hot. Roll pack one and add it to your purse or briefcase in the summertime or even leave one in an office closet to wear when you need it.

Make Lunch
If you bring your own lunch to work you may end up grabbing not-so-healthy options in the morning because they're easy to toss in your bag. Instead, pack your lunch the night before and stash it in the fridge. Leave a note by your keys so you remember to bring it with you, or you may end up eating out of the vending machine or going out. 

Write Your To-Do List
Before you leave work at the end of the day, write up a to-do list for tomorrow. At this time, all your undone tasks are fresh on your mind so you can easily parse out what needs to be done and in what order. It can be briefly scrawled on Post-It notes or beautifully written on a personalized notepad. Prioritize the list with the more important items first so you can tackle them right away. It's easier to get out of work-mode when you leave at the end of the day if you've emptied your head of all those things you are trying to keep track of by creating a to-do list.

Meditate
The entrepreneurial world is abuzz with talk of mindfulness and meditation. According to Inc., big names associated with Facebook, eBay and even General Mills and Google have been known to spend time meditating. Business owners and executives often face stressful days trying to accomplish everything they plan to do and find that getting to sleep can be an issue. To help yourself get more rest and feel relaxed, try meditating before going to bed. Sit in a comfortable position and spend 10 minutes in silence, concentrating on your breathing. When a thought comes to mind acknowledge it and then let it go in favor of paying attention to inhaling and exhaling. You may be surprised how much easier it is to get to sleep with a clearer head.