Little habits can produce big results!
To be honest, some days are a little mundane, others are hectic, and then there are those days that just involve a bunch of things I could never plan for (and I’m definitely a planner!). We all know the pain of never having enough hours in the day, so adding a bunch of time-consuming pieces to somehow “make things easier” doesn’t really make sense. That’s why I wanted to share the power of using small pockets of time that are simple and effective for actually making a difference in your tomorrow.
I’m talking about habits that take less than 10 minutes to complete so it doesn’t require you totally revamping your schedule to accommodate, but will save you much more time tomorrow. Sign me up!
Just as I’m sharing little habits that are quick and easy to do, this post is going to follow suit so it’s a speedy, but helpful read for you today!
Clear the Sink in the Evening
Washing any remaining dishes or putting them into your dishwasher will prevent that instant regret (and anxiety for some of us!) you’ll feel tomorrow morning if you were to leave them there. I’ve done this a million times, but I always notice the difference when I get up in the morning to a clean sink!
Choose Tomorrow’s Outfit Tonight
Could you use more time in the morning? Picking out what you’ll wear the night before is a great way to give yourself a little extra time. Also, if you go to the gym before/after work or school, be sure to pick out those items too!
Prepare Your Morning Coffee
My favorite part of the day is coffee time and my favorite time to drink my coffee is first thing in the morning.
If you’re like me, then you can get a head start on your morning cup of coffee by preparing your coffee pot the night before. Depending upon the setting on your machine, you can either preprogram it for a certain time the next day or just have everything ready to press start when you get up.
Write Down a To-Do List
Maybe my second favorite time of day is my planner time. 😉 I always say it keeps me sane and it’s true!
It is so worth it to take just a few minutes the night before to take a look at your schedule for tomorrow and jot anything down that you know needs done. Some of you may plan farther ahead and already have things wrote down for tomorrow, but there are times where new things pop up and take priority for the following day – so be sure to at least check in with your planner before heading to bed.
Charge Your Electronics
There’s nothing worse than waking up to your phone almost on death’s door and you have places to be, things to do, and you need your phone! Set up a time each afternoon or evening to fully charge your phone, iPad, or other electronic devices so you’ll have everything ready to plop into your bag and head out the door tomorrow morning.
Unplug for Better Sleep
Screen time during bedtime isn’t exactly the best way to get a good night’s rest. The light that emits from your phone can make you stay awake longer and it can hurt your eyes too if it’s the only light on in the room. Instead, use an hour before you go to bed to unplug and do some journaling, reading, or you could use some of this time to plan for the next day like I mentioned above!
Meal Plan
How often do you spend throughout the week wondering what’s for lunch or dinner?
One way to combat the time spent questioning what you’ll eat is to meal plan. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel here. Think of easy, simple meals that you and your family already love and start jotting down when you fix them and keep those in a rotation every few weeks or so. If you need some inspiration, there are a ton of great food blogs out there you can find easily on Pinterest to gather ideas that suit you and your family’s preferences.
I know the cooking/prep part takes more than ten minutes, but I recommend choosing a day or two that works best for you and make a few meals at a time. It really makes a difference!
Pack Your Must-Have Items Ahead of Time
Keeping your essentials all in one space makes life a whole lot easier during busy mornings. Packing your work bag, purse, or kids’ backpacks/lunches to ensure you have everything you’ll need for the next day to grab-and-go is so helpful.
That’s a wrap on some of the little habits you can begin today that will make a big difference in your tomorrow, sweet friends! Do you currently practice any of these each day? I would love to hear your thoughts and what habits save you a lot of time preparing for the next day!
By the way, it would make my heart so happy if you pinned this post if you enjoyed it. Thank YOU always!!
These are all great! I feel like all of my daily outfits are the same these days… ha, ha! A t-shirt and leggings… plus a long sleeved light zipper jacket if the house is cool! I’m so boring!! I do like to set out my outfit the night before tho if I have some cool plans and it really does help to set out my running stuff the night before!! Prepping coffee is def. a must!!! I need to get better about meal planning. I was doing so good and I’ve fallen off the wagon once again.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Thank you so so much, Carrie! Haha, you are not boring and I’m the exact same way. I love my cozy leggings and a comfy top, and I stay chilled in my office so I usually have a jacket/cardigan on! You’ve been doing great with your meal planning and it’ll get less crazy soon to where you can do it more again. 🙂
Yes! These are all helpful tips!!
Jennifer
https://curatedbyjennifer.com
Thank you Jennifer, I am so happy you found these helpful!!
I love all these suggestions to make your day run smoother! Waking up to a clean sink is amazing. Lol! Writing down a to-do list is a big one for me.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Aww, thanks Kathrine, so happy you loved these!! Haha, it truly is a feeling like none other. I regret it every single time I let it go, even if it’s just a couple of dishes. Glad we both enjoy our to-do lists!
I love this post. i always list my to-do list during the weekend for the new week. and also meal prep. it makes getting ready for the day much easier.
Annie,
https://www.anniesfooddiary.com/
So happy you loved this one, Annie! 🙂 That is such a great idea putting your list together over the weekend and your meal prep too – you are doing fantastic! Always love seeing your meal/drink ideas on your blog!
This is so great! I like the idea of preparing my coffee the night before. That would be such a joy to wake up to. Going to try it!
Have a great weekend Ashley!
http://www.fashionradi.com
Aww, thank you tons Radi, you are too kind!! I hope setting up your coffee the night before helps, I truly think it makes a big difference! 🙂 Hope you had a fantastic weekend, my friend!
These are all really great tips to make your life easier, Ashley. Clearing the sink is a big one for me as is writing my to-do list.
Julia x
https://www.thevelvetrunway.com/
Thank you so so much Julia, I am so happy you enjoyed these tips and those are definitely at the top of my list too!
You know I love to meal plan! It helps so much! I wish I could be better about laying my outfit out. That would save so much time in the morning!
Yes, you always share the best meal plans, I get a ton of ideas from them! I totally understand, I don’t always do that either, but it does help on days when I know I have a ton to do and need to jet out of the door super early.
What a great idea for a post! Unplugging definitely helps with sleep and I joke that I make lists about my lists, lol
Aww, thank you Andrea!! Haha, I love that so much! It’s in our blood, isn’t it?!
I try to do all of these things! It really makes a big difference to have everything clean, organzied and ready in the morning!
Jill – Doused in Pink
I agree friend, I really feel like having things ready to go, or at least as much as possible, for the next day just takes a lot of anxiety out of it – especially on super busy days. Thanks so much!!
Great tips Ashley! For me to do lists work best! It gives me less stress if I can stripe things of!
Thanks so much, Nancy! Yes, I can completely relate and there’s something about ticking off to-do’s!
You always share the best tips. Thank you for being a wonderful person who is faithful and brings me hope in the darkness. I love you friend.
http://www.rsrue.blogspot.com
You’re the best Regine, thank you so so much and you are such a blessing to me! Love you right back!!
These are all great ways to stay on top of things! I do every single one of these! Although, sometimes I do a quick screen check before bed, but I try to not to scroll too much. I usually prefer to read. Hope you’re having a great day so far!
I love that Lindsay, and you are such a productive person, you always inspire me with your lists! I totally understand on the screen note, I struggle with that at times too because I like to see if I missed anything or especially if we’re having icky weather and it updates, haha! Hope you’re having a wonderful week! 🙂
These are all really great tips! Choosing your outfit the night before makes everything so much easier when getting ready! Thanks for sharing!
https://melissakacar.com
Thank you tons, Melissa!! I’m so happy you enjoyed the post and like picking your outfit out ahead of time too, that is definitely a time saver!
These are great tips. I actually do these, and always prep my clothes the night before during work week, my mum always taught me that. Meal prepping is also my favourite. We usually do it on Sundays. <2
Madison
FASHION TALES
I pinned your post. What a wonderful post! I love how you’ve highlighted simple, actionable habits that can truly make a difference in our daily lives. It’s so true that sometimes the little things—like clearing the sink or prepping coffee the night before can help reduce stress and set us up for a smoother day ahead. Your tips are easy to follow and encourage a sense of calm and control, even on the busiest days. I can’t wait to implement some of these myself!
Thank you for sharing such practical advice, and I look forward to reading more from you in the future!
Here’s a little something I think you might enjoy: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2025/04/best-way-to-style-denim-on-denim-pointed-heels.html