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7 ways to prep the night before to make your day go more smoothly

A little effort tonight will equal big gains in the morning.

YOU’VE BEEN TOLD time and time again about the endless benefits of being organised and getting up early.

But do you listen?

Do you wake an hour early to meditate? Or make a nutritious breakfast? Or write a page of your novel before heading into work?

Do you what?

It’s just too much work on top of your daily tasks to even think about that kind of madness.

But there are some tips and tricks that you could do the night before that will make your morning times a whole lot easier, and we’ve rounded up seven of them for you right here.

Expect a whole new level of calm in the mornings.

You’re welcome.

1. Before you leave work…

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Organising what you’re planning to do tomorrow before you even leave means you’ll hit the ground running when you come in the next day.

Having a to-do list or the week planned out in advance means you’re less likely to forget one of the smaller, yet essential, tasks that can get lost in the mix.

Similarly, tidying up where you work – just a tad – will mean things should be (in theory) easier to find so you’re not wasting time searching for whatever you need whenever you need them.

2. Make your lunch

Meneer Zjeroen Meneer Zjeroen

It might be the last thing you want to think of as you’re going about your evening, finally home from work, but having lunch prepared for the next day means you don’t have to make it in the morning. You’re also more likely to actually bring a lunch with you – saving money as an added bonus – as it’s ready to grab before you run out the door.

3. Shower

Giphy Giphy

While having a shower in the morning is a great way to wake up, it’s quite a time suck. You have to get up earlier, and probably spend a good five minutes just standing under the hot water trying to wake up in the first place.

Having a shower the night before means one less thing to do in the morning – plus your hair will be dry leaving the house, handy coming into winter and all.

4. Have everything ready to go…

Giphy Giphy

If you always have one spot where you leave your keys, you’ll always know where they are. And in the same way, if you pack your bag the night before you go to work – whether that’s a handbag, gym bag or anything else you care to carry with you – you’ve just got to grab it on the way out the door and know you have everything you need.

5. Pick out your clothes

Giphy Giphy

Doing things the night before is all about cutting down how many decisions you have to make in the morning. Depending on where you work, one major decision can be what you’re going to wear to work every day.

If you pick out your outfit, then you can rest assured that all the bits and bobs to go along with it are ready too, and you’re not searching for the right pair of shoes to wear with those trousers, or find that the perfect top for that skirt is actually dirty and you need to start the whole process again.

6. Prep your breakfast

Eat-yourself-skinny Eat-yourself-skinny

We’ve already published a piece on interesting breakfasts here and another on all the ways you can spice up porridge here – so it’s safe to say we’re a fan of breakfasts.

Prepping it in advance as much as possible – whether that’s having a pot or bowl (depending on whether you cook your porridge on the stove or in the microwave) with the porridge ingredients weighed out, or making some kind of healthy breakfast bar or muffin you can grab as you run out the door – will mean you spend less time thinking about what to eat and more time eating it.

Win win.

7. Get a good night’s sleep

Moyan_Brenn Moyan_Brenn

And most important of all is, of course, getting a good night’s sleep.

Sleeping well improves tomorrow in innumerable ways and has major benefits for both mental and physical help.

Plus it makes your day that much better when you’re not yawning and mainlining coffee all day just to get through it.

Do you have any hints or tips for what to do the night before to make your day go more smoothly? Let us know in the comments below.

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15 Comments
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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Dec 1st 2023, 11:49 AM

    Good.

    213
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    Mute lastfewchocices
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    Dec 1st 2023, 12:27 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: it’s excellent. Also interesting that the comments are open on this. Seems very random.

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    Mute Jen McC
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    Dec 1st 2023, 12:45 PM

    About time, the point of the vote was so people no longer had to travel. If you offer a health service, it needs to be local.

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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Dec 1st 2023, 3:17 PM

    @Jen McC: health service its certainly not that for the baby

    129
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    Mute Chutes
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    Dec 1st 2023, 5:39 PM

    @Sheila McNulty: You gonna look after it for life? If not then it’s nothing to do with you.

    60
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    Mute Gerry Kelly
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    Dec 1st 2023, 1:29 PM

    5 more hospitals will be allowed provide “abortion services”
    AND you won’t be allowed hold even a silent vigil outside if you believe it’s wrong to kill unborn babies
    Our new “tolerant” and “progressive” Ireland is indeed a wonderful place

    176
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    Mute Margaret Brennan
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    Dec 1st 2023, 1:38 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: what don’t you hold a silent vigil on your own womb ?

    193
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    Mute Joanne Husband
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    Dec 1st 2023, 1:46 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: nor should you be allowed to, make your own decisions for yourself based on your beliefs/standards/morals and leave others to do so also.

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    Dec 1st 2023, 1:51 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: Who told you unborn babies are being killed?

    How on Earth would any sensible person arrive at that conclusion?

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    Mute Ciaran Forde
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    Dec 1st 2023, 1:53 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: Yes absolutely the right call. Have the vigil in your backgarden.

    72
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    Mute Jon Doesn't
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    Dec 1st 2023, 2:14 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: light a candle in your own gaffe… Do as long a vigil as u like.. While doing so, ask gods forgiveness for poking your nose into other’s business and for judging others actions.. And if you have a green house, throw a stone or two.

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    Mute Colm O' Shea
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    Dec 1st 2023, 2:16 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: you can hold a vigil, just not directly outside a hospital, feel free to have a non silent vigil outside the Dail etc.
    Not allowed outside hospitals because it has been used to intimidate women who are going for legal medical treatment

    94
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    Mute The Anti palestine And Islam
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    Dec 1st 2023, 5:29 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: F off with your vigil.

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    Mute Chris O'Brien
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    Dec 1st 2023, 12:47 PM

    Imagine a hospital providing legal service being news.

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    Mute lucia
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    Dec 1st 2023, 8:32 PM

    As a nurse I saw my first abortion in the 80s in the uk it was horrific I’m glad I’m now retired and don’t have to see it done ever again

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    Mute Jason Memail
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    Dec 2nd 2023, 11:41 PM

    @lucia: Ever see open heart surgery? Horrific stuff.

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Dec 1st 2023, 7:15 PM

    So they are expanding this service. Contrast with lack of any provision of dental services for children who need general anaesthetics.

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    Mute Karen Byrne
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    Dec 1st 2023, 6:24 PM

    Absolutely disgusting to do this
    How you’d sleep at night would be beyond me
    Have a bit of cop on go on something if you dnt want a child

    59
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    Mute Jason Memail
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    Dec 2nd 2023, 11:43 PM

    @Karen Byrne: The irony of telling people to cop on while displaying zero. Poor effort at trolling, 2/10

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    Mute Simon Eales
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    Dec 1st 2023, 6:34 PM

    Two fingers up to the old Catholic Ireland. Viva la modern society

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    Mute Seanfhear míshásta
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    Dec 1st 2023, 6:26 PM

    Good but why has it taken so long?

    23
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