Aug 29 2012

20 Days to Organise & Clean your Home Challenge – Pre-challenge Task 4 – Create an evening routine

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Pre challenge task header #4

Today’s pre-challenge task is to create an evening routine to suit you and your family. I have also included two printables:

The Organised Housewife Evening Routine Checklist
Blank Evening Routine Checklist

Evening Routine

My evening routine has never changed over the years, it seems to work well for me. However, remember like I mentioned yesterday create and find a routine that suits you and your family. One thing that I may do differently to a few households would be that I put a load of washing on in the evening and hang it on the line before dark. As I live in QLD the sun shines early and strong, if its hung out the night before (providing it doesn’t rain), it’s usually dry by 10am.

My evening routine

5.15pm – kids have a shower

5.30pm – put on a load of washing

5.35pm – start making dinner

6.00pm – hang washing on line

6.10pm – serve dinner, eat together as a family at the dining table

6.30pm – tidy kitchen, do dishes, put on dishwasher, wipe bench, quick vacuum under chairs

6.45pm – read with kids

7.25pm – straighten up the kids bathroom

7.30pm – kids lights out & relax and chat with hubby

7.45pm – work on blog

8.30pm – relax watching some TV

I don’ t dry my dishes, instead I leave them to dry overnight and I put them away in my morning routine.

I have recently learnt to switch off my computer and iPad at a reasonable hour leaving time to unwind in the evening, I find that if I check emails, facebook or look through pinterest before I go to bed my mind starts thinking and I find it hard to sleep. So now my iPad doesn’t sit on my bedside table, instead I keep it in the recharge station. Here are some ideas on how to retrain your body clock.

I usually go to bed between 10-11pm.

Create your evening routine

Be realistic with your evening routine, don’t fill it with too many chores as the evening is the time to rest and relax.

Perhaps if you don’t have time throughout the day to clean add an additional cleaning task each night to your evening routine (preferably before dinner)
If you are time poor in the mornings consider making lunches the night before
Having your meals planned for the week ahead it will reduce the amount of stress during a busy evening

Please share your evening routine below

If you have an evening routine that’s working for you, please add it to the comments below as it may help somebody else to create their routine

20 Days to Clean & Organise your Home - Downloads

The Organised Housewife Evening Routine List (place in checklist divider)

or create your own list using the Blank Evening Routine list (place in checklist divider)

Kids Evening Routine

These routine charts are available in a range of colours in my shop, also with an option to personalise.

View Shop HERE

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Snip

I don’t really have a routing.. We have supper round about 7 and then the girls need to be in bed by 8 when “me time” starts. When they get home they have a light snack and get straigt into the homework. I will still set it up as we just joined the gym and will have to work an hour of gym time in the evenings as well..
bobbie-lee

I try and have dinner on the table by 6-6.30. Whilst mr showers the mr2 i tidy up the toys and put the dishes in the dishwasher. Mr2 is in bed at 9 (any earlier he wont sleep). Usually all night tasks are done by 8 anyway. I run the dishwasher during the night to unload it in the morning.
Kylie

I’ve just started a new routine which includes doing once a month cooking (or because we only have a small freezer, once a fortnight food preparation!) It makes meals soooo much easier!! Instead of just unpacking & putting away our last grocery shop, I made up some crumbed chicken, hamburger patties, diced onions, carrots,capsicum & zucchini (the hidden veggies in our pasta sauces & hamburgers), marinated steaks, divided up bulk packs of sausages etc. Everything went into meal portions in ziplock bags in the freezer. Now all I have to do is get a packet out to defrost overnight & spend 15-20 mins preparing some salad or veggies in the evening. Plus, it means I only had to use and wash the food processor one day to get those hidden veggies sorted The initial prep took me 2 hours on one morning and gave me enough food for evening meals (&leftover lunches for hubby) for the next 2.5 weeks Plus meal times are much saner now!
- http://www.facebook.com/maryanne.greenhill Maryanne Greenhill
  
  Good on You Kylie! Love it.
http://www.facebook.com/amandajl23 Amanda Jane

Have done this up too

5pm bath & shower time
5:15 dinner prep
5:30 Readers and homework
5:50 Kids clean up TV Room and I start cooking
6:00pm set the dinner table and watch a little TV
6:15 dinner and dessert
6:45 kids brush teeth and I will clean the kitchen
7pm story time and then bed
http://www.ecoempire.org Kat

Evening routine

4/4.30pm – baby wakes & breastfeeds. I use this time to check emails, online shop and organise (using iPhone).

5pm – play with baby

5.30pm – my partner puts the baby in a carrier and takes the dog to the park while I cook dinner (if it’s not already done), tidy the house and finish chores (like bringing in washing off line) then eat dinner and have some “me” time.

6.40pm – partner returns with sleeping baby, we wake him and i help my partner shower with baby, put cloth nappies outside ready to be washed (done by my partner later) then dress baby

7pm – Breastfeed baby in dark nursery

8pm – If my partner hasn’t already done so, we both clean up the kitchen so it’s neat and tidy (I try tomake sure the house is neat and tidy before good to bed) then we’ll spend some time together usually watching tv series we’ve recorded

9.30pm – bed for me!
http://www.facebook.com/keling Sara Collins Westhead

Thanks – did this one too, just the other day!
Kim

5pm Quiet play time- No tv/internet etc,
6pm Bath time
6.30pm Songs/Story time while one of us starts dinner
6.45pm Bottle
7.20pm Dinner for Mum and Dad
8.00pm Baby to bed, Load dishwasher and run, set up bottles for next day, general tidy of the house.
9pm Adult bed time
http://twitter.com/threeblackhens Emma Berry

We already have a night time routine in place: Bath Kids Make Dinner Have dinner as family (around 6pm) Clean up after dinner – dishes/kitchen/dining room/sweep and spot clean floors in kitchen and dining room) General house tidying – pick up everything Read to kids Kids bedtime (around 7.30pm) Put on load of washing to finish in the morning My time. At the same time I clean the kitchen, the kids do their night time jobs: Tidy the toys in the lounge room and bedroom Clean teeth Special time (if they get everything done by 7pm they can do something special – eg a quiet craft activity. Special wee (the last wee of the day)
Sarah

We have a night routine, hubby home from work at 3.15 say hi to the boys. hubby starts dinner between 4 – 4.30 tea at 5, boys shower or bath when finished dinner. I leave for work at 5.40. Boys toilets, teeth and bed by 7. (Boys are 2 and 4), hubby bed by 8.30pm (Starts work between 4am – 7.15). Me home from work between 9.30pm and 2.00am. I clean the kitchen in the morning while the kids eat breaky.
Trina

I have a night time routine I can share. My husband works from 1130pm-830am. So he is asleep til dinner. But I make to sure have the house clean before dinner. Dinner is by 530/6 at the latest. Baths at 7, which includes pajamas and teeth. By 730 kids are ready for bed, which means its TV time (now that school is in session the tv doesnt get turned on til usually this time). The kids cuddle up and they get to watch what they want to watch as long as they are relaxing. 830 is bedtime, which is when we read to them. once asleep, I do the one laundry load for the day. Spend the rest of my time with my husband before he goes to work. Once he leaves, its time for this Momma to go to bed to recharge her batteries. ;o)
Deanne

got my routine down pat
3.00 pick up kids
3:15 give kids afternoon snack
3:30 listen to kids argue over the computer (look at wine in the fridge)
4:00 argue with kids over doing home work/home readers (STARE at the wine in the fridge
4:30 argue with the kids over doing their chores (get a wine glass out and put it on the bench)
5:00 listen to kids argue over whos turn it is on the computer (contemplate if its still too early to fill that wine glass sitting on the bench)
5:30 fight with kids over having showers (check and see if the wine is cold enough)
6:00 have dinner
6:15 argue with kids over eating their vegies (stare at hubby, knowing we will race to the wine to see who gets there first )
6:30 see what the kids are up to, it far too quiet. pull the hands of one child off the other childs neck (check hubby hasnt gotten to the wine first)
7:30 put youngest child to bed and send the other to read for 30 minutes (eye hubby off, check he hasnt beat me)
8:00 put other child to bed
8:01 crash tackle hubby, beat to the wine, open that sucker and drink it tsraight from the bottle LOL
9:30 pass out!

i think that sums up my afternoon/night time routine ;P
- Deanne
  
  this routine can be improved by being more organised and puttiing the wine in the fridge earlier
  - Tash
    
    I think you’ve covered a few mum’s evening routines, love it
  - http://twitter.com/threeblackhens Emma Berry
    
    I’d be putting the wine in the fridge earlier. Or learn to like red. Love it.
    - Kerrie
      
      lol… Or just add ice cubes to the wine
- http://www.facebook.com/karen.reymer Karen Reymer
  
  love it you made me laugh … thats my routine down pat… i might have to copy and paste lol
- MummyJenn
  
  Deanne, this is a classic routine. I’m not sure there is a mum out there who doesn’t share the same routine. lol. I have learnt to chill now (as well as the cold drink in the fridge – I don’t drink wine but a cruiser or malibu is always on hand) and when I ask the kids to do something and they don’t start then they are giving a warning which includes a reminder of the consequence (homework time, don’t want to do your homework, that’s fine you deal with the teacher in the morning because you don’t get another chance to do it). Mind you, its not always pleasant and I’m not always so patient (and that’s when I head to the fridge earlier). But at the end of the day, hubby and I have a good chuckle over the events of the day and a nice cold drink.
- http://www.facebook.com/joe.gadallah Joe N Joanne Gadallah
  
  hahahahaha ok you made my day ……….
- Kathryn
  
  Haha, brilliant.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=538406480 Kelli Stevens
  
  Funny routine. Would probably be us when our children are older, minus the alcohol as we don’t drink. Sub it for Coca-Cola and that’s us, haha.
- Nadia – The Everyday Blessings
  
  Hahahahahahaha!!!!! Love it! And no, 5pm is not too early for wine
- Dee
  
  think that happens a lot of households, pretty similar except replace wine with chocolate
- Kathyv
  
  Lol – sounds reasonable to me.
- Vicky V.
  
  Thanks for a good laugh!! LOL
- http://www.facebook.com/heather.ferguson.9235 Heather Ferguson
  
  Your routine made me laugh. thanks
Alicia

My evening routines are allot harder with various activities with the kds, work and then when they are with their dad….. I would need to do just a rough plan … got me thinking!! But in saying that, we trialled my Miss 6.5 morning routine this morning and she was very excited about it…. might need some tweeking over the next couple of days but she liked it Always a good start!!
Hannah

We’ve got our routine pretty much sorted for the evening…
4:45 – daddy home, coffee for the parents.
5:00 – daddy and baby have time together while mummy gets dinner ready.
5:20 – toys away
5:30 – daddy feeds baby
5:45 – mummy bathes baby (then changes her shirt…very enthusiastic washer!), followed by a massage and a breastfeed. Daddy takes out the garbage/washes up/folds washing (whatever is needed most).
6:15 – daddy reads a story (or two) and puts baby to sleep. Mummy finishes getting dinner ready and does a quick wash-up if possible.
6:30ish – parents eat dinner
7pm onwards – daddy does his schoolwork; mummy cleans up the kitchen and makes lunch for tomorrow.
8:30 – tv on to watch a show and eat dessert.
It’s pretty much freestyle from there…I do a quick lounge-room straighten-up before bed, which is usually by 11pm.
Hannah

Forgot to add – I don’t dry my dishes either…it drives my husband mad!
Karen rambling mum

I’m just starting today, have just printed all the printables so far. Of course, my printer is out of coloured ink! So it doesn’t look as pretty, but I have ordered more ink online. So that’s one job done to help this household be more organised! Will be back to share how we are going!
Paulette

Love your routine Deanne

We have no set night routine. I just can’t find one that works for our family. Baby due in Dec, which I’m sure will throw it all out anyways
A friends cooks or at least preps her dinner at lunchtime, an thinking of trying this. DH doesn’t arrive home until 5.30 & our boys bedtimes are at 7. I’m thinking an afternoon/evening routine would be better than a night? Thanks for all the ideas
Naomi

Mine varies day to day because of kids after school activities, so I only put it together for the days at home…
4.30 Afternoon tea/time with kids
5.00 washing on
5.20 start dinner
6.00 sit down for dinner as family
6.30 clean up leftovers/kitchen/benches/wash dishes/stack dishwasher
7.00 hang washing (VERY slow washer!!)
7.15 washing on
7.30 on couch with hubby (dishwasher goes on after evening cuppa)
Older son goes to bed by 9, so he is a part of our evening too.
Younger 2 sons routine…
6.30 teeth, face, hands, PJ’s
6.45 play/family time
7.00 10 minute tidy up (includes washing going out)
7.10 reading in bed
7.30 lights out.
Heather

5pm- Dinner together at the table
5:30pm-Bath time
6pm-Milk, Play, Read, Brush teeth
7pm- Bed

We have a 3 1/2 year old, 18 month old & 6 week old.

This works well for us
MummyJenn

Once again, no time restraints on my routine. I also don’t have homework & kids time listed on my routine as this is shared between myself, hubby, and the older kids. We stick to their routines and I slot mine around that depending on the daily activities. My morning, afternoon, and evening routines is on one page inserted into a clear plastic binder sleeve which is stuck on the inside of my pantry and I tick off each day as I go.
Britt

I am really enjoying reading others routines to get an idea of how to create a better routine for us. At the moment a routine seems impossible due to Mr8mths not sleeping longer than 45 minutes before we need to resettle him. However our morning routine works well
fiona

ApHi Katrina can’t wait for the challenge to start. Really enjoying seeing other daily routines. Lots of great ideas. Was wondering if you might be able to create a spine for the folder as I have lots of folders the same that sit on my desk. Plus the design is pretty I think it would look great. But only if u can find the time. Love your blog I’ve been a follower for almost 3 years. Always excited to see new posts. Thanks so much.
Tab

My routine is changing all the time, as I’m at uni.
7.00 get home, pull out various containers, water bottles and general rubbish from my bag. I have no idea where most of it comes from, particularly the multiple water bottles
7.10 start dinner, while drinking a cup of tea and reading interesting articles in magazines (which I count as uni work, since its usually related)
8.00 eat at dinner table, TV off, no phones
8.30 fight with my laptop and try to print off what I need for the next day
9.00 try to make out notes which I made during the day, contemplate becoming a doctor (since I have the handwriting)
10.00 pack bag for tomorrow
10.10 face, teeth, PJ’s etc
10.30 asleep with light on and book in my hand
- Tab
  
  oh, and I forgot, at 11.00 half wake when my partner gets home
KristyFey

My mind does the saame thing at night if I look at pintrest… also we added pick up rooms and it workks! I have to give a shout out to my hubs… he is amazing with the night time routine!! (this is why I can check in and relpy right now:)
Kendall

we have a very flexible evening routine as the girls have dancing 4 out of 5 weeknights and we have to work around that. Generally it seems to be a day by day routine as in Monday we do *this*, Tuesday we do *that* etc. Generally the same pattern though just the time changes. We have always followed a fairly loose ‘routine’ as in things happen in basically the same order but we don’t worry about times and if something doesn’t happen when it should that is ok – it all gets done haha. Most of the time it works but I might try a more formal routine and see how it goes
Malinda

this is the same routine we’ve had for 5 years…works with all our kids ages 1, 2, 6
3:45pm – home from school, snacks and playtime
4pm – reading for school kids
5:15/5:30pm – dinner
6pm – bathtime, whilst getting pjs for kids get out their clothes for the next day
6:30pm – dad home, time with dad
7 – 8pm – storytime and bed time, readers now if we had afterschool activities
8pm – tidy kitchen, hubby does dishes, make lunches for the next day, put load of washing on
then relaxing time in front of tv or go for a run
10pm – bedtime
Corlia

4.50 prepare baby’s dinner
5.00 feed bub
5.15 hubby gets home and plays with bub while I start on dinner (unless slowcooker is on)
6.00 adult dinner time while bub plays on playmat
6.20 bathe bub (hubby and I take turns)
6.30 breastfeed and prepare bub for bed
7.00 put bub to bed
7.15 relax, cup of tea, snuggles with hubby and watch tv
9.00 wash dishes, quick clean up of loungeroom, prepare bottle for bub
9.30 bottlefeed bub
10.00 get myself ready for bed -shower, brush teeth etc
10.30 bedtime
Cath

Have started doing a quicky once over clean of the bathroom sink/vanity while the kids are in the bath in the evening – killing two birds with the one stone!
Birdie birdie woof woof

I am new to your blog and am loving it!
Our routine goes like this:
3.15- afternoon tea
3.30- homework/readers etc
4.00- kids play time, mummy cooks din dins
5.00- dinner as family
5.30- wash dished/load dishwasher
6.00- kids bath/shower time. 8yr old 3yr old twins
6.45-quiet reading time in bed/story time
7.00-lights out
I spend 30 mins-1hour tidying up, cleaning bathroom etc
8.00 onwards wine and chill!

Also yor blog inspired me to de clutter my pantry today, I have a sparkly organized pantry now! Thank you.
Nadia – The Everyday Blessings

I blogged about my evening routine. Nice and cruisy, while still getting things done!
http://theeverydayblessings-nadia.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/my-evening-routine.html
http://twitter.com/SexyMomGP Corenne Tavares

Clearly I need to move to Australia! With swimming and gymnastics ending at 6:30 we only get home after 7 each night … very early mornings to very late evenings and only get to eat around 8pm so kids go to be after nine and me no earlier than 11. Can you rather send me a Time Machine or a Time Saving Fairy? Not a printable – I need the real deal!
Alli Brown

Hope you don’t mind but I have been re-creating your printables in publisher cause being a little OCD I like to have them all filled in with type as my writing is way too messy. They are no-where near as cute as yours but I tried to stick to the colours
They are certainly helping get into the routine of the challenge
Our Night routine changes most nights too as hubby and I do tutoring different nights, but I managed to sort it to 3 different routines which are pinned to the fridge and in the folder
Tammy

Does this really belong in Checklists or in Routines?
Have had a routine for the kids morning for most of the year – in general it works well but I am keen to rearrange it to have breakfast before getting dressed. Have also been thinking for a while that we need an afterschool routine. So much easier in the morning though when it is the same every day!
http://www.facebook.com/pippa.waddell Pippa Smith Waddell

We pretty much have a routine, in place but this is just reminding me that I need to stay away from the computer until the kids go to bed ;P I get so much more done and the evening is so much calmer (and the dishes get done!)
Inspired…

Think this will take me a while to work out… afternoon activities…. hubby working all over these hours… routine is hard in this house but desperate to try and get one locked in…
Becc

7pm home from work
7.05 run water and wash dishes, prepare tea
7.30 computer to relax
9.00 feed lambs(if any)
9.15 put on washing(if any) go to bed.
http://www.facebook.com/sarah.macginley Sarah MacGinley

Wow my hubby and I both work full time and have a 3 yr old. Dinner at our place is normally served at about 6.45 for all of us followed by bath for bub then bed for her about half seven but she is terrible at sleeping and requires one of us lie with her until she falls asleep which can take up to an hour by which time if it is my turn I am also normally asleep.
Anita

Got my cleaning kit done folder and printables done,routines sorted and goals set….bring it on katrina thanks to my bestie Rach for sending me katrina webpage love you
Lisa

I am still really struggling with this one!!! with three kids and afternoon activities and a little dancer who is at the studio at all different times it’s really hard to nail down ONE routine for the evening. would love some advice on how to tackle it all. At the moment I have the tasks written down we need to get done, but no timeframe
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  We are out a few evenings each week as well, and I make sure that I have the slow cooker on so dinner is ready when we come home, it’s one less task that needs to be done. If not a slow cooker dinner it’s left overs from the freezer or I cook a double amount the evening before so I just have to reheat. This also eliminates a lot of dirty dishes.
Bubbles74

4.30 Prepare dinner (cook earlier in the day, reheat/pasta/rice/serve/cool to kids temp)
5.00 Dinner (18mo, 3yo & 5yo). I usually eat with the kids.
5.30
6.00 Bath/Shower – toothpaste on toothbrushes & give bathroom a quick wipe
6.20 Dress 18mo
6.25 Breastfeed 18mo, drink of milk for 3 & 5yo
6.30 Brush teeth
6.35 Read with girls
6.50 Toilet run
6.55 Prepare girls for bed. Son goes to the toilet
7.00 Lights out for girls. Reader with son
7.15 Lights out for son
7.20 Clean kitchen, bin, compost & recycling out
7.40 Prepare dinner for tomorrow (chop veg & meat)
8.00 Paperwork
8.10 Daily task (cleaning/project/repairs etc)
9.40 Shower & bed
Jess

Hi Katrina, I am soon returning to work part-time and am thinking about setting up a different evening routine for each night. on the days I am working I will need to leave the house early so want to make sure everything is packed for my kids to go to childcare, meals are prepared ready for when we get home etc. Do you think this is too much? Would be interested in your and your readers views… Thanks!
Deborah K

Evening routine:

5.30pm – do a load of laundry

5.35pm – start making dinner

6.00pm – put laundry in dryer

6.10pm – serve dinner

6.30pm – do dishes, wipe counters, quick vacuum under chairs

6:45pm – showers

7:00pm – tidy baths

7:05pm-

Routine to put away clean clothes

Fold laundry while watching a movie or podcast and put them away.

Problem: when I go to put folded clothes away and they don’t fit in the closets/drawers because my child has shuffled through them.

7:30pm – start dishwasher
Jen

I am trying to implement a night routine and really struggling to suit everyone in our house. Children aged 3-15 and hubby who doesn’t like to eat before 6.30-7.00, then we have after school activities which has my 15 y/o home after 7.30 2 nights of the week. I like to eat as a family as often as we can, and believe this is such an important time to come together each day (the only time we are all home together), I also don’t like to bath the kids until after dinner, so dirty fingers, faces and spills can be washed away before bed. Any ideas how I can create a calm structured evening routine, realising at least 2 nights of the week my 15 y/o will be eating on his own..:(
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