It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of routines. What you might not know is that I’m naturally a very lazy person. Routines really help me stay on top of things in my home and not waste my time! I usually have an hour or so between the time I get home from work and when I need to start supper. My afternoon routine helps me to make the most of that time slot in my day, where I’d likely end up playing with the cats and snacking instead of getting things done!
My afternoon routine varies depending on the day, but here are the things I typically do in that hour before supper!
- Put away everything I brought home with me – my lunch, paperwork, mail or items from the store.
- Empty the dish drainer or dishwasher. It’s much easier to tackle supper cleanup when those things are empty!
- Choose my outfit for the next day. I iron anything that is wrinkled, then lay out my entire outfit from clothes to jewelry and shoes.
- Complete one chore – usually it’s either vacuuming or folding a load of laundry.
When I shared my evening routine last year, choosing an outfit was part of that list of tasks. I’ve moved it to the afternoon because I often try on what I’m going to wear the next day, and it makes more sense to do that while I’m changing clothes anyway! Routines are never set in stone. Sometimes I’ll find that a task works better in a different part of the day and wonder why I didn’t do it that way in the first place! 🙂
Do you have an afternoon routine? Is there an awkward part of your day that could use some order?
Come Home For Comfort 
I love seeing a glimpse into your organized life! It makes me think I can do that too. Thanks so much for sharing Whitney!
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You absolutely can do it! If I can, anyone can! 🙂
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Oh great idea laying out your clothes the night before! That’s a huge time saver, and a great idea to do it in the afternoon while you’re changing anyway. Smart! I find if I keep moving when I walk in the door I can tackle chores more easily. If I tell myself “I’ll just sit down for a minute” that minute turns into an hour VERY quickly!
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Yes – movement is a big one!
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I do the same things each evening before bed. I love staying on ahead of the game when waking in the morning.
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Oh yes! It makes such a difference!
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So smart to have a routine. I really need to come up with something that works well for summer time.
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Yes, it seems like the times that aren’t as jam-packed busy benefit just as much from routine as the busy ones!
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Love this post! That time between when 4-7 when I get home from work is my most unproductive time! I feel like I am so tired from work that all I want to do is plop down on the couch, scroll through my phone, and eat junk food. NOT good. I’ve found that it’s helpful not to sit down – once I do, it’s over! I like your routine; I think I’ll give it a try this afternoon!
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I hope it helps you! It’s so tempting to just chill and snack all afternoon, isn’t it?!
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That’s so smart! I’m sure it makes getting ready the next day so much easier when you’ve already gotten your outfit ready. I need to be better about ironing… I do have an iron, but it’s hard to iron if you don’t have an ironing board. Can we still be friends now that I’ve admitted that!?!? haha The trickiest part of my day is from 4:30-7:30 so I’ve tried to be a little more intentional with my time giving us fun to dos, preparing dinner together and cleaning up. It’s gone better the last few days, but could still use some work.
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Ha! At least you have an iron – if you didn’t have one of those we’d have to talk. LOL!
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Huh, so interesting that you pick your next day’s outfit that early! You’re so organized! I like to do it in the morning because I usually don’t like my choice if I do it the day before. Haha!!
I agree on doing chores when you get home. I feel like it just gets it out of the way so I can “play” in the evening after supper and enjoy myself without an undone chore hanging over my head.
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I only do that on days when I’m working outside the home the next day. I don’t always pick out my clothes for Sunday the night before, because I’ve found I change my mind often on Sunday mornings. 🙂
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That’s a great idea to pick clothes out when you’re changing into comfy clothes!
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Right?! It feels so good to have that out of the way, too.
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Very helpful! I always have about an hour after I get off work before having to fix dinner too. I usually play with the dogs or snack too while I go through my mail. This is motivation to create an afternoon routine, don’t know why I never thought of that before. Thx!
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who tends toward snacking and playing with the pets! 🙂
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