How to Have a Great Morning and Night Routine (Girls)

Co-authored by Lucy Yeh

Last Updated: August 2, 2024 Approved

Do you find that your days are chaotic and you can’t get off on the right foot or end in a peaceful way? Studies have shown that people who follow a daily routine are more likely to feel prepared and less stress about the day.^{[1]
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Research source} By establishing a regular and predictable morning and evening routine, you can have a wonderful and easygoing day.^{[2]
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Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Creating a Morning Routine

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1
Wake up to cheerful music. Getting out of bed is often the hardest part of the day. Set your alarm to your favorite song. It will help you feel happy, and help you begin your day.^{[3]
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- Figure out your wake up time based on what time you need to get to school or work and how long your routine may take. For example, if you have to be at work or school at 8 and it takes you an hour to get ready and a ½ hour to commute, you need to wake up no later than 6:30 am. Build in a cushion in case you run late.
- Avoid using an alarm that plays loud and banging music or that has annoying high-pitched noises.
- Open your eyes and let them get used to the light.
- Sit up and then slowly get out of bed.
- Try some light stretching or yoga to get your blood flowing.^{[4]
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  Harvard Medical School
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- Reader Poll: We asked 1070 wikiHow readers who've established a morning routine, and 54% of them agreed that the best way to do so is by setting an alarm. [Take Poll] Music often makes a great alarm!
2
Eat breakfast daily. Studies show that breakfast is an important meal because it gives you the energy and nutrients to get through your day. Eat a healthy breakfast every day to minimize the risk of having a mid-morning slump or low blood sugar, which can make you cranky.^{[5]
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- Have 2-3 foods and include at least one item from the following groups: bread and grain, milk and milk products, and fruits or vegetables. For example, you could have a slice of toast, a cup of yogurt, a banana and cereal for a healthy breakfast.
- Keep portable options like breakfast bars and fruit like apples and bananas for times when you’re running late.
- Consider setting out breakfast items the night before. This can help streamline your routine.
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Take a shower. After a night of sleep and maybe sweating, not only can a shower clean you, but it may also help you wake up better. An evening shower, on the other hand, can help you decrease your stress level and sleep peacefully.
- Use warm water between 36 and 40 degrees Celcius (or 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit) so that you don’t scald yourself.^{[6]
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  Research source} Check the temperature with a thermometer or stick your hand and foot in the water stream for a second.
- Use a cleanser or soap that is gentle and has a neutral pH.^{[7]
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  DermNet NZ
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- You may want to consider brushing your teeth in the shower to conserve water.
- Dry yourself off completely.
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Apply skincare products and deodorant. Once you’ve lightly patted your skin dry, you can apply skin products as you need them. They will keep your skin soft and may help control any acne you have. Deodorant keeps you smelling fresh and keeps body odor at bay.
- Use a separate moisturizer for your face and body. The skin on your face is thinner and can be prone to breakouts. Make sure to use a product formulated for your skin type.^{[8]
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- Apply any treatment creams for acne or other conditions before your moisturizer.
- Consider warming the moisturizer between your hands or fingers before application. This may help it absorb more quickly.
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Put on “your face.” If you wear any makeup, put it on your face once your moisturizer has soaked into your skin. Once you’ve finished your makeup you can do your hair.
- Streamline your makeup routine so it is as light as possible. This can save you time and help you look natural.
- Consider keeping your hairstyle as simple as possible, to help you save time. If you want to try something more elaborate, do a style that you can get easily overnight. For example, if you want waves or curls, you can either put your hair in a bun or braid it before you go to bed. After your shower, take it out and let your curls fall.
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Get dressed. Put on your clothing and accessories for the day once you’ve got your makeup on and hair done. Getting your outfit together the night before can help save time and prevent a stressful situation where you don’t know what to wear.
- Make sure your clothes are ironed or free of wrinkles. One easy way to release wrinkles is by hanging your clothes in the bathroom while you shower. The steam can help get rid of minor bumps and wrinkles.
- Consider taking layers in case you go outside. For example, you might want to take a cute cardigan or jacket if you go out for drinks after class or work.
- Put on any jewelry you’d like to wear.
- Spray a nice, light perfume on yourself. It may help people remember you because studies have shown that scent is closely tied to memory.^{[9]
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Gather items for your day. If you are going to school or work, collect anything you need for the day. This might include a lunch, pens, your phone, or books.
- Keep a list on the refrigerator or other place you can see so you know what you need every day. You can also keep notes in your phone.
- Consider putting out most of your belongings the evening before so you don’t forget anything or cause yourself undue stress.
Before you head out the door to tackle the day, give yourself one last check. This can help you see if your clothing doesn’t match, your hair is out of place, or you’ve forgotten any items you need for the day.

Part 2

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Settling In at Night

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1
Finish remaining work. If you have any work from school or your job to do once you get home, finish it a few hours before you go to bed. This can help you relax and make it easier to get into your evening routine and fall asleep.
- Get as much done at work or in school as possible so you can enjoy a more relaxed evening.
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Prepare for the next day. Get your stuff together for the next day as much as possible. This can minimize your risk of being late and also help you have a stress-free morning, which will help you start the day out right.^{[10]
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- Set out the clothing you want to wear or a couple of options. Make sure the clothes are ironed if necessary.
- Pack your lunch or any snacks you’ll have.
- Get breakfast items, such as bowls, foods, and glasses, ready. You may also want to set your coffee machine alarm so you have warm coffee when you get up.
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Create a cozy bedroom. Get your room ready for bed a couple of hours before you plan to go to sleep. A cozy environment helps you fall asleep quickly stay asleep through the night.^{[11]
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- Set the temperature between 60-75 degrees and open a window or run a fan to keep the air circulating.
- Remove electronics from your room, which can stimulate and stress you.^{[12]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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- Block out any sources of light. If you need a nightlight, consider a non-stimulating color such as red.
- Fluff up your mattress, pillows, and sheets so it feels like a cloud.^{[13]
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Stick to a fixed bedtime. Aim to go to bed at about the same time every night. This helps regulate your body clock and can help you to have a more restful night.^{[14]
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- Set your bed time so that you can get 7-9 hours of sleep a night and so you have time to shift into bedtime mode. For example, if you need to get up at 6:30am, you would need to be in bed by 11:30pm at the latest.
- Start shifting into bedtime mode about 2-3 hours before your set bedtime.
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Shift into bedtime mode. After a long day, your body needs time to relax and slow down. Give yourself at least an hour before your bedtime to help you relax and fall asleep more easily.^{[15]
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- Avoid electronics or devices if you can because they may stimulate your brain, making it hard to relax and fall asleep.^{[16]
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- Dim lights in your room to signal your brain and body it’s slowly time for sleep.
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Establish a bedtime ritual. As your shift into bedtime mode, follow a pre-bed ritual. Try activities to relax and prepare you for bed.^{[17]
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- Remove your makeup and wash your face with warm water.
- Choose entertainment that you can do in dimmed light like reading or stroking your pet.
- Drink warm milk or herbal tea, like peppermint, lavender or chamomile to relax yourself.
- Take a warm bath to further relax you and help you get drowsy.
- Give yourself a massage. There is some evidence that massaging essential oils on to your feet or temples may help you relax and sleep. Make sure to brush your teeth thoroughly for at least 2 minutes.
- Set your alarm.
Unplug before bed. "This article helped me very much. My routine before was not very good. I was always late for school, and I never wanted to do anything but sleep. I had a habit of playing on my phone after bedtime, and was always tired from that. This article suggested reading instead, and now I always feel good about waking up in the morning and going to sleep at night." - Rebecca R.

Eliminate sugar in the morning. "This helped me a lot. Each tip was so easy to understand. In particular, I learned to stop eating sugar in my morning routine. I think everybody should take this advice." - Tshiamo M.

Practice time management both morning and night. "In the past couple of months I decided to lead a more organized life, but I had a difficult time getting things together. I was always tired no matter what time I went to bed, and I didn't know how to fix that. But after reading this article, I have a much clearer view of how should I do things when waking up or before bed. This also gave me tips on how to manage my time in the mornings and evenings." - Uradora5 (wikiHow Community Member)

We want to hear from you! Advice from our readers makes our articles better. If you have a story you’d like to share, tell us here.
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Tense your muscles in bed. Using a relaxation drill of tensing your muscles can help relax you. This can rid you of any lingering stress as well as help you fall and stay asleep.^{[18]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- Tense each of your muscle groups tightly for five seconds starting with your feet and working towards your head. Release muscles after five seconds and take a deep breath before starting the next group.^{[19]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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Stay in bed. If you are overstimulated or not tired, get into bed at a set time every night. Getting into a cozy bed and bedroom environment can help you relax and fall asleep.^{[20]
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- Get up if you can’t fall asleep within 20 minutes. Try doing something relaxing like reading in dimmed light or listening to white noise. Get back into bed after 20 minutes, and repeat the pattern until you fall asleep.^{[21]
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Example Morning Routine

Sample Example Morning Routine

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Question

What's the best morning routine for success?

Lucy Yeh
Career & Life Coach
Lucy Yeh is a Human Resources Director, Recruiter, and Certified Life Coach (CLC) with over 20 years of experience. With a training background with Coaching for Life and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at InsightLA, Lucy has worked with professionals of all levels to improve the quality of their careers, personal/professional relationships, self marketing, and life balance.

Lucy Yeh

Career & Life Coach

Expert Answer

Try this routine: Make your bed. Scrape your tongue and brush your teeth. Drink plenty of water before drinking coffee. Eat fresh foods like fruit, veggies, herbs, and greens. Move your body! Try stretches like yoga or a full workout. Engage your mind and be in the moment. Plan your day even if the plan is not to have a plan. Straighten your house before leaving so that you're happy to come home. Bring a snack with you because you never know what can happen.

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Tips

Consider pulling your hair back from your face at bedtime. This may help keep your skin clear.

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Put your alarm clock on the other side of the room from your bed. This can force you to get out of bed to turn it off, which makes snoozing much less tempting.

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If you take a lunch consider packing it the night before and putting it in the fridge so that it stays cool and is ready in the morning just in case you don't have time to make it in the morning.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Always keep your room clean so you don't have to go digging for what you want. This can help you feel prepared for the day, and it ensures you won't be late for school or work because you can't find something.
Try a mindful stretch in the morning and at night! One of my favorite stretches is to raise both arms as high as I can, and then bend over and touch my toes for a minute.
If your roommate (or family member) stays up later than you, ask them to wear headphones or reduce the sound of the TV.
In the morning, avoid scrolling on your phone, watching TV, or any other distracting activities.
I like to splash cold water on your face to help me wake up in the morning.

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