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The night routine can be different for everyone. One of my productive things to do before bed is to have a pamper session – whether it is to apply a sheet mask or have a nice bath.
Instead of watching a series and sitting on the couch doing nothing, here are 12 productive things to do before bed.
Get Up To Date With The News
I have been spending a lot of my time in front of the laptop for the past three years. I usually watch motivational videos or watch badminton games on Youtube after work. There are many “uneducated” shows on TV that can make you entertain and feel silly at the same time.
Even before the outbreak of the pandemic, there is a lot of negative aka toxic news for mental health, especially for children. So, I keep up with the news by following local or international news on social media without having to turn on the TV.
Keeping up to date with whatโs happening in the world is so important if you want to have a greater understanding of why things work the way they do, be able to converse about a wide range of topics with other people and also not sound ignorant!
Plan Your Week
Another productive thing to do before bed is to plan out your week or your next day’s task. Iโm a huge avid fan of writing down my to-do list and things that I need to prioritize so that I feel more organized and productive with my time.ย ย
If you often feel anxious and overwhelmed by all of the things you have to get done, you absolutely should plan your day or week because it will help you immensely!
I use both a physical planner and a digital planner to write down my to-do list. It can help me visualize my goals and also help me out the smaller baby steps I need to get there – without the feeling of overwhelm.
Spend Time With Your Family And Pets
Do you feel like you never have enough time with your family and pets?
I walk my dog twice a day and itโs nice to go outside, especially when I spend the day working at home.
Take time out of your day before bed to spend time with your loved ones. That means being totally present, putting away the phone, and not thinking about work.
Declutter Your Home
I tend to accumulate things in my home (especially my room) without thinking about them until I find out I have no more space! I had a lot of things on my work desk, mostly stationary. I managed to organize them and make more space after buying some organizers. Everything looks lovely now!
Start decluttering your home now so you can free up space and live with less stuff. You can start with your closet by picking out any clothes that you no longer wear and donating them or selling them. Then move on to other areas of your house such as the kitchen and storage room.
Fill Out A Coloring Book
Well, you know that coloring books arenโt just for kids, right?
There are a ton of adult coloring books out there that can help you release stress and add tranquility to your day. These are a great addition to your self-care habits if you want to enjoy some quiet time and recharge.
Learn Another Language
Another great productive thing to do during the hours before bed to improve your skills is to learn another language. I plan to start learning Japanese soon and improve my English!
Being able to speak many languages can be very beneficial to your career and can open up many doors for you, including being able to work in multiple countries or working freelance as a translator. So if youโve been waiting to learn another language, donโt delay!

Update Your Resume
Once youโve gained new skills and experiences at work or outside of work, spend some downtime updating your resume. Itโs a good way to keep track of what youโve accomplished so far so you donโt forget.
As a blogger, I update my media kit every month. It can also help improve your self-esteem and self-confidence and youโll be ready to go when you are looking for a new position as you advance in your career.
Write In A Journal & Self-Reflect
Actually, Iโm not a fan of journals because it’s still difficult for me to put all my feelings into writing. But I learn little by little to write every day. I feel great after that!
Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal is a great way to self-reflect and seek enlightenment. Somehow, youโll feel more positive if you do this regularly.
Have A Pamper Session
We all need to pamper ourselves from time to time. So take time out of your busy day to have some quality me-time. One idea you can do is to pamper your skin by applying a detoxifying face mask and then a moisturizing mask afterward. You can also have a nice bath and exfoliate your body. Itโs totally up to you what you want to do!ย
Create A Bucket List
Before bedtime, thereโs no better time to create a bucket list of things you want to get accomplished in the future.
Do you want to visit your favorite place? Visit Eiffel Tower (thatโs me)? See the Northern Lights?
Write all of these things down that you want to do so you have fun things to look forward to in the future!
Solve A Puzzle
Itโs important to keep your brain active and solving puzzles is a great way to keep your mind thinking. You can spend time doing word puzzles, jigsaw puzzles 1000 pieces, puzzle games on your computer, and more!
Apply To Jobs
If youโre at the stage right now where youโre looking to advance in your career, take some time out of your night to apply for jobs. Even if you apply to just one or two jobs at night, it all adds up.
And if youโre not right now in the market to look for a new job, itโs good to be proactive and see what is currently out there as you never know when a job that you might be interested in pops up!
There are a ton of productive things to do before bed other than watching TV. You can also plan your meal for the week, meditate or do yoga, do your laundry, read a book, take an online course, and more!
What productive things do you like to do before bed? Let me know in the comments.

These are all great ideas! I usually do my Korean lesson before bed, have a pamper session and then pass the evening reading. I still have to implement it and organise myself, but these are great ideas! I will add decluttering and organising the week! x
Thank you for reading, Cristina ๐
There are a lot of good suggestions here. Certainly better ones than looking at another screen. I read to my kids at night then go to bed and talk to my wife (if sheโs not already asleep).
Awesome ๐ Thank you for stopping by x
Wow…… these are so many things. I usually read a book and drink a cup of tea before bed time.
Awesome! Thank you for stopping by ๐
These are some really good points and ideas to do before bed! xx
Thank you Della ๐
I think my brain would be buzzing if I attempted to do a few of these before bed haha! I like to have a serious wind-down before I go to sleep. So it’s all about a good skincare routine, jazz music, meditation, and reading until my mind is ready to knock out hehe. But I do like the idea of a coloring book – I’ve been wanting to get into those again recently!
Haha yes! It’s a different routine for everyone ๐ I also need to read or watch something until I feel sleepy lol – thanks Steph x
Some good tips! My hubby and I often have good talks before bed, sometimes we just read. He journals sometimes, and I ought do that too. Thanks for sharing these ideas.
Aww so nice to hear that ๐ Thank you for reading x
Great suggestions Merry! I always read and snuggle with my cat right before going to sleep, but I really like the idea of journalling before bed. Thanks for sharing these fabulous ideas!!
Thank you so much Tiffany ๐
All excellent ideas, Merry! I love watching funny shows before bed and stretching my body as well! It settles me down for a pleasant sleep. Thanks for sharing xx
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Ah me too – sometimes I need to watch something till I feel sleepy haha thanks for reading Lynn ๐
Great list! I like to plan for the next day and journal before going to bed! It clears up my mind for a good sleep.
Great list! I always like to plan for my day/week and get anything that I need to ready for the next day! And I always like to make sure my things are organised on my desk area too. Thanks for sharing xx
These are great ideas & I definitely love having a pamper night as it’s nice to relax & take care of myself after a long day. Before bed I like preparing things for the morning as I have to take my daughter to school then head to my Danish classes