How to Be a Productive Night Owl

If you get more done at night, there’s no need to fight your body’s natural clock. Staying up late can end your day on a positive note, help you get more done, and give you a sense of accomplishment.

This is Day 2 of our 31 Ways to Get More Done series. To read all the posts in order, visit the introduction post to see the outline for the whole series.Some say that staying up late is a great way to get more done. It gives you those extra hours to get everything accomplished. It may be the only time your house is quiet and you can get your priorities done after you’ve taken care of everyone else’s needs.

How to Be a Productive Night Owl

Have a plan. It’s easy to sit down, relax, and start watching TV. Before you know it, it’s your bedtime and you haven’t accomplished anything. Make a list of what you’d like to accomplish and stick to it. You may want to dedicate 15, 20, or 30 minutes to give it a trial run.

Make it a habit. Set a goal of getting one task done or spending a set amount of time on a project for 21-30 days to form the habit.

Prep for tomorrow. Get everything you’ll need for tomorrow ready tonight. Planning the night before will make your morning go much smoother, quicker, and happier.

What Can You Get Done After the Kids Are in Bed?

We all know that whatever you plan to do is what usually gets done.

• Read the Bible
• Exercise
• Work on a project
• Write
• Take a bubble bath
• Enjoy a book, tv show, or other leisure
• Grocery shopping
• Chores
• Prep for tomorrow

It will recharge and refresh you, when you get to choose how your day ends. If I feel like I’ve attended to everyone else’s needs that day and had to come home and go straight to bed – I feel defeated. There’s definitely a dark cloud over my day.

It stands to reason that if I can control how I end my day, then I’m bound to sleep with a smile on my face.

Additional Resources on How to Be a Productive Night Owl (affiliate links):

• Brain Rules (Updated and Expanded): 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School
• Chronotypes: The Construction of Time
• Internal Time: Chronotypes, Social Jet Lag, and Why You’re So Tired

Other Ways Mom Can Take Care of Herself:

• Pamper Yourself for Less Than $20
• Take Some ‘Me Time’ without Sacrificing ‘Mom’ Time
• Shortcuts to Finding Time for Yourself

Original Photo Credit via Creative Commons License Archangel12

Do you get more done at night?

Read other posts in the 31 Ways to Get More Done series.