Do you ever feel like there are two versions of you?
There’s Morning You that’s totally committed to a healthy lifestyle. The you that makes a smoothie for breakfast, packs a salad for lunch, takes the stairs instead of the elevator, fills up your water bottle several times a day (from the furthest possible water cooler), and takes the dog for a longer-than-necessary walk before grilling fish and vegetables dinner.
And then there’s Evening You. The you that starts rummaging through the snack cupboard as soon as the dinner dishes are done. The you that just wants to relax in front of the tube with a bag of pretzels or bowl of ice cream. The you that wants another glass of wine, thank you very much, instead of a stupid cup of herbal tea.
The you that doesn’t care about eating healthy or losing weight. (Morning You can get back to that tomorrow…)
But it’s hard for Morning You to make much progress when Evening You basically undoes every good choice you’ve made in the first part of the day.
Here is a way to get Evening You more on board with the program
The Evening Ritual
You’ve heard of Morning Rituals but an Evening Ritual can be just as powerful.
A morning ritual helps you start the day on the right foot. It might be a few minutes spent journaling or meditating, exercising, reading, or listening to a motivating podcast. And that sends you into the day with a lot of positive momentum, making it easier to make good choices.
By the end of the day, that morning clarify and focus may feel very far away. You’re worn down and frazzled by the day’s challenges and motivation starts to slip. But you can refresh your intentions by taking a few moments at the end of the day or beginning of the evening to check back in with yourself and your goals.
Your evening ritual doesn’t have to be long or elaborate. It might be a ten minute session on your yoga mat, a few minutes reading something that inspires you, or even just sitting quietly, closing your eyes, and taking some deep breaths. Acknowledge the day’s successes. Let go of the day’s frustrations. Remind yourself what’s important. You’ll go into the evening feeling much more relaxed and in touch with what you want for yourself and from your evening.
(And tomorrow, Morning You will thank you.)
What sort of evening ritual can you create for yourself? Where and when will it take place? What will it include? How will it conclude? Feel free to email us your thoughts, we’d love to hear them!