I’m sure we can all agree that coming home from a long day at work just to heat up some leftover pizza and pass out doesn’t exactly get us motivated to take on the next day. Setting up the following day by having an effective evening routine will completely transform your life. Going through your day with confidence knowing that you’re prepared, comfortable and rested will make you ten times more productive throughout the week. Okay, so I haven’t actually measured this in any tangible way but speaking from experience I can tell you that my life got a whole lot better once I start sticking to a routine. Here are 8 things I do every night before I go to sleep that make me feel productive, pampered and ready to take on the next day.

My Evening Routine

NIGHT SHOWERS FOR THE WIN

As someone who use to be a dedicated morning showerer (not a word) I can say with complete confidence that showering at night is so much better. First of all, it gives you so much more time to get ready in the morning. Second of all, it’s pretty foul to sleep on your sheets every night after a long day at work. Just saying. Another great bonus that I found was that my skin cleared up within a week. I’m not even kidding. I’ve never had clearer skin and it’s definitely thanks to my night time showers. I use my Clarisonic in the shower and it’s so thorough that it really gets all of my makeup off and gives my skin a deep clean. This means I’m not sleeping with any makeup residue or excess oils sitting on top of my skin and clogging up my pores. If you need to feel more awake in the morning splash some cold water on your face and get a latte.

FACE MASKS ARE MY JAM

Speaking of skin care, face masks are probably hands down one of my favorite creations on Earth. I put one on almost every night after I get out of the shower and when I wake up my skin is always looking clear, smooth and bright. I use different ones every night depending on which one I used the night before or what my skin needs. I try to rotate my mattifying and pore clearing masks with my hydrating and nourishing ones to keep my skin balanced. Face masks are also so relaxing. Is there anything better than treating yourself to a face mask, Thai takeout and a glass of red wine?  I think not. Here are a few of my favorites linked below so you can get your mask on too!

GLASS (OR TWO) OF WINE

This is definitely optional but it sure does make me excited to get home at the end of the day. I think allowing yourself to indulge in a small treat in the evening is great for the soul. If wine isn’t your thing then maybe make yourself a hot cup of tea or a small snack. I like to have a glass of wine while I check my emails, watch Youtube videos or check out my favorite blog’s newest posts. You work hard and you deserve to do something nice to yourself. Allowing yourself to have some time to completely unwind and relax will give your brain a rest and will ultimately help you sleep better. It puts you in a state of relaxation so you’re not keeping yourself up at night stressing over whatever happened during the day. Add in some popcorn and you’re basically Olivia Pope (in my dreams!).

WHITEN MY TEETH

As an avid coffee and wine drinker this one is pretty critical for me. For a long time I would use Crest White Strips but I hated how they would slide off of my teeth and got the goopy gel everywhere. They also caused my teeth a lot of sensitivity so I wasn’t exactly a fan. When Smile Brilliant reached out to me and offered to let me try their whitening system I was definitely curious because I had never heard of anything like it before. Essentially you create molds of your teeth, send them in and they create plastic molds for you to reuse. This sounds like a lot of work but it literally took me ten minutes to make the molds and I got them back in the mail within a few days. After that it’s so easy and mess free that I doubt I’ll ever use whitening strips again. After keeping the trays on for about an hour I rinse the whitening gel off and put the desensitizing gel into my trays. This is probably my favorite part because this gel stops my teeth from experiencing any sensitivity. I’m a pretty big baby when it comes to pain or general discomfort so this was a game changer for me. I was also so pumped to see that my teeth were getting whiter almost immediately. After only a week my teeth were noticeably whiter. Can’t beat that!

I typically put these in while I’m going through the rest of my night routine and take them out right before I get into bed. Super easy and of course, I’m a huge fan of anything that keeps those coffee stains at bay (sexy, I know). Check out their website here to get your customized whitening system based on your lifestyle.

I also am so excited because one winner will receive a FREE T3 Sensitive Kit! Woo! This kit is usually $139 so it’s a pretty sweet prize. The winner will be announced in two weeks. You can enter here!

Also, the first 30 readers to use my coupon code will get 10% off their trays. Also a pretty sweet deal. The code is shesmilesallday10.

PLAN FOR THE DAY

I am obsessed with planning (as you can probably tell) so sitting down to go over the next day’s agenda is something I love to do. I love feeling prepared and in control of my week so I use this time to prep for any upcoming events. If I have a dinner I’ll figure out which outfit I’ll want to change into after work. If I have a shoot I’ll text my photographer to confirm the time and place. This sets you up to make sure everything you want to accomplish the next day is top of mind and a priority.

PREP MY OUTFIT

Like I mentioned above I like to pick out what I’m going to wear the next day before I go to sleep. This saves me so much more time in the morning and I know that whatever I’m wearing will be something I feel good in, instead of rushing to throw something on and feeling off all day. Not only do I pick out my outfit, shoes and accessories but I also steam any pieces that need it. Maybe I’m alone in this, but nothing makes me feel sloppier than a wrinkly blouse.

MEDITATE FOR 5 MINUTES

I like to spend some time reflecting on my day and thinking about what I’m grateful for. Even if I had a bad day this always makes me feel so much more relaxed and appreciative. I like to write down what I’m grateful for in my journal and then mediate right after so I can really sit in a state of gratitude.  Sometimes no matter how much gratitude we exude there can still be stressful triggers that clog up our brain. Meditation allows you to release that stress and anxiety and make room for thoughts and feelings that will support your happiness. It’s been a big game changer for me and has made my tougher days so much easier to take because I can get the clarity I need to face any obstacles head on. I personally really benefit from guided meditation so I use a free app called Simple Habit that I love. There are several different guided meditations available based on your mood, location and time frame.

INDULGE IN A GOOD BOOK

I like to end my night catching up on some reading but I think doing anything that relaxes you and allows your brain to focus on something that isn’t related to your life can be really beneficial. Reading also always makes me super sleepy so it’s the perfect way to wind down for the night. I’ve been reading the new version of Girl Code by Cara Alwill Leyba (so good) and am excited to start Made For Love by Alissa Nutting once I’m finished. Reading is one of those simple pleasures that I shove to the side because I always feel like there’s a million more productive things I could be doing but it feels so nice to just indulge in 30 minutes of me time.

What does your evening routine look like? Tell me in the comments!

If you want to combat those coffee and red wine stains too (hand up emoji on repeat) then check out the exclusive coupon code below so you can save on your kit. I know this system will be a total life saver for you too! This post is in collaboration with Smile Brilliant. They sent me their whitening system to try before I agreed to write a review or promote their products. I am extremely clear with all partners that I can only share products that I use, love and am passionate about.

The link for the giveaway is here and the first 30 readers who use my coupon code will get 10% off their trays. Use shesmilesallday10.

Xoxo,

She