Evening routines make the difference between chaotic mornings and focused ones. Obviously, focused mornings make for a great school day, but that same great day starts very early: the night before. There aren’t many better ways to get this going than this calming, powerful evening routine ritual that will help students go into the game confident and prepared.

Evening routines reduce decision fatigue in the morning. Children and adults do better at…well, everything when their day starts with clarity and intention. Sometimes mornings can be chaotic, but a great morning is perfectly within your control. Morning mastery carries so many benefits: arriving on time, better sleep, fewer forgotten items, improved focus, and my favorite: less stress.

Here’s what students can include in their evening routines:

1. Pack the Backpack – Make sure books, homework, signed forms, and supplies are in place. You know the panic, right? “Where’s my folder?! I’m getting a triple F that will put me in summer quarantine that will make me miss my one chance at happiness!” Do this and that panic’s gone.
2. Prepare Tomorrow’s Outfit – I can’t overstate what a lifesaver this one’s been for me so many times. What’s better than planning tomorrow’s clothes the night before? It builds independence – an independent learner, an independent doer. Remember to check the weather ahead of time too; that part’s essential. As the saying goes: there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.
3. Fix Lunch & Snacks – You’re probably familiar with this one. Have it ready to go in the fridge and involve your children. They are more likely to eat and enjoy food that they chose and helped prepare. This adds responsibility and saves time.
4. Review the Schedule for the Next Day – Briefly go over any upcoming quizzes, extracurricular events, or special items you need to account for, like clothes for PE or instruments. This item builds planning skills.
5. Set an Alarm for Bedtime – It is easy to let the time get away from you. Incorporate the time that it generally takes to get ready for bed. This one is helpful for both older students and younger, helping older students take charge of winding down and younger students keep a predictable routine.
6. Charge Devices (if applicable) – This one’s particularly helpful for older students, often the ones using laptops or tablets for school. For better sleep, consider placing them outside the bedroom.
7. Use a Calming Routine to Wind Down – Read, listen to music, journal, whatever works for you. Make it relaxing and, ideally, screenless. It reinforces the habit of mentally resetting and reflecting on the day.

Students: Now that you have a potential evening routine list, you can personalize, edit, and make a habit out of it. Use a visual checklist. Put it on either your bedroom door (I do this for my martial arts curriculum) or your fridge and review one item on the list before you open the door.

Parents: You can gamify the evening routine list in several ways with a star system or sticker chart, a timed challenge, or anything else that might come to mind. Let your child personalize the checklist and their approach so they can build ownership. You can be a model by following your own checklist. Kids will follow examples far more closely and often than they follow instructions.

A real-life example: Last fall, I worked with a fourth grader. Let’s call him Ian. He and his parents told me that he would often start his mornings overwhelmed and panicking, in an unsteady rush to find his homework and get ready for the day, racing against a clock which consistently beats him. One nighttime checklist later and suddenly, it’s a mission-based game. Packing his bag? Laying out his clothes? No problem. It became part of the mission. It became the game. Two weeks later (I kept track while reporting his progress to his parents) and mornings became smoother, preparation saw tremendous improvement, and his parents confirmed that the daily chaos was no more.

Click here to see a student’s advice on evening routines for high school students.

In summary, mornings don’t need to be battles, nor should they be. They can and should be easy and empowering. This article is a call for all parents to give this checklist a one-week try. Just one week and watch the magic happen, see the difference. Start tonight for your child’s tomorrow.

By Kristopher Heaton, premier tutor and academic coach with Tutoring For Success

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