10 Things You Can Do before Bed to Make Tomorrow Easier

Scarlett O’Hara is famous for her line “After all, tomorrow is another day!” But I’d rather err on the side opposite the notorious Southern Belle, which leans more toward “don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today.”

It’s important not to over-crowd our days and allow time for rest and play. But what many don’t realize is that a little preparation today can make tomorrow flow more smoothly—physically, emotionally and spiritually. A few extra steps can take the stress out of tomorrow when it comes to chores, work, and even relationships.

Here are 10 Things You Can Do Before Bed to Make Tomorrow Easier

1. Meal Prep

This stress-prevention step can be time-consuming, but it makes mornings run more smoothly. If you’re anything like me and have a husband to send off to work, two kids to send to school, and your own lunch to bring, this is crucial. Meal prepping comes in handy, especially if you’re trying to eat healthy and avoid impulsive food choices when caught unprepared. My husband and I cook our lunches and pack them the night before—even our daily fruit smoothies. In the mornings, I grab my box out of the fridge and voila! Done. While it can get aggravating taking those extra 20 minutes at night when I’m already tired from the day, it’s worth it the next morning when I’m rushing around.

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2. Mind Prep

Preparing our minds for the day starts the night before with a good night’s sleep. We can’t be mentally alert for the day if we stayed up late or slept poorly. Sometimes, a bad night’s sleep is unavoidable, but there are a few tricks to helping keep those Z’s coming. Studies show that avoiding your phone or electronics before bed, especially if you’re scrolling social media, can better your sleep. Put the phone down, pick up a novel or your Bible, and re-set your mind for the next day. Picking up a new pillow at the store, purchasing a soothing noise machine, or adjusting the temperature of your home can also help you sleep soundly. Taking these steps at night might make the coffee just a little less necessary in the morning.

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3. House Prep

There’s two types of people: Those who play first and work later, and those who work first and play later. It’s tempting to come home from the day and crash, and ignore the reality of housework. But when you go ahead and get them done, it’s one less thing hanging over you the next day. If at some point before bed you run a load of laundry and make sure the sink is clear of dishes, you’ll be thanking yourself tomorrow. It’s better to do a few small things every evening than have it pile up on you (literally and figuratively!) later.

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4. Joy Prep

We all struggle with worry—it’s unfortunately very common. What’s less common is taking action steps to cast our anxieties upon the Lord, as the Bible commands, and keep our peace and joy in Christ. We can do this in the evenings by letting go of the burdens of the day, surrendering them over to the Lord, and waking up to new mercies the next morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”