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
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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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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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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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.”
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The most important thing we can have ready for the next day is our souls. We can’t operate on an empty tank. Without filling ourselves up with truth and life, we’ll never function to the best of our ability. Reading the Word of God before bed, listening to worship music, and spending time in prayer takes care of our battle-weary souls and refreshes them to start fresh the next day. As women, we tend to take care of everyone else first, but rarely make time for our own souls. We’ll be better wives, moms, friends and daughters if we carve out daily time with the Lord. It’s not selfish—its necessary.
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Being a good steward of our money today helps prevent unnecessary financial stress tomorrow. Expensive impulse buys, straying from your budget, and retail-therapy only brings regrets. Budget room for the occasional treat, but remember, retail-therapy doesn’t cure the problem—it only adds to it. So try on those new shoes, then leave them at the store until you can afford them. One of the best ways to prepare financially for tomorrow is to submit your finances to the Lord today and follow the Biblical principles of tithing.
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Exercising today brings results tomorrow. In fact, if you never take time for your own health, you’ll potentially lose out on a lot of tomorrows. Taking care of our bodies as the temple of the Lord is crucial to our well-being and the well-being of our loved ones. Taking time in the evenings to exercise, even if it’s just a quick floor routine to a Youtube video or using soup cans as hand weights, can help you sleep better and feel better in your jeans the next morning. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV) “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
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One crucial element of preparing for tomorrow is taking care of our hearts today. Going to bed with unresolved issues and anger doesn’t make for a good morning. Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV) “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” It’s important to wrap up as much of the day as you can and get closure on any pending arguments with your spouse or children before you sleep. That way, everyone has a fresh start the next day.
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It’s easy to put off time with others in lieu of the never ending to-do lists. But as believers, we must invest in the people around us. Not only do we benefit from the fellowship as we were created to do, but we’re investing in kingdom relationships that will last for eternity. (The laundry won’t—even though some days it seems like it!) So tonight, go ahead and schedule that lunch date for tomorrow. Book that babysitter so you can date your husband. Make the reconciliation phone call you’ve been avoiding. Get your relationships in priority today so you can enjoy them tomorrow.
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It’s tempting to put off making the right choices today. Sometimes it just feels too hard or too intimidating, or maybe we’re just too exhausted. Yet, making good decisions today affects all of our tomorrows. Whether that’s doing your homework, signing up for a class you always wanted to try, applying for a new job, going on a first date, joining a church, volunteering at a charity, ending a toxic relationship, or trying a new healthy recipe, make good choices today so your tomorrow will thank you.
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Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of fourteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her newlywed hubby, two story-telling young daughters, a collection of Austen novels, and an impressive stash of Pickle Pringles. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored in Christ. When she's not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a white-chocolate mocha. Look for her latest novel with HarperCollins, LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES, and POCKET PRAYERS FOR FRIENDS with Max Lucado. Visit her at http://www.betsystamant.com./