My Ideal Evening Routine (That almost never happens)
06.23.2026
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So, you are looking for nighttime inspiration? I hate to tell you, so am I. This is just one of those authentic posts I’ve mentioned before. No faking over here, it’s real and not always Pinterest-worthy. Enough of the pity talk, let me walk you through my wind-down time that I’ve only ever had the pleasure of enjoying 2, okay, maybe 3 times.
No judgment or shame over here, I know you’re expecting my 9-5 and then I come home and cook…You’d be mistaken. I’m a sophomore in college with horrible inattentive ADHD (Including but not limited to poor time management, rejection sensitivity dysphoria, anxiety, feelings of overwhelm, and more!) If I worked a job, even part-time, I know I’d flunk out of school, and I don’t plan on working at McDonald’s for the rest of my life. In summary, you won’t find a full-time working woman or a homeschooling mom of 8, but you will see the messy struggles I do have.
Here’s how MY evening would start:
6:00 PM: Finish classes for the day, take a light stroll, then head back to my off-campus apartment.
Reality: Drag myself through the end of the day, desperate to get home, skipping the walk.
6:15 PM: Cook a nourishing, health-conscious supper with my groceries, which I handpicked.
Reality: Sit down for “a moment” to decompress. All of a sudden, I’ve been playing my crossword game for an hour, scrolling Pinterest for a half hour, switching to YouTube for dopamine hits, and now it’s dark outside. I’m now too tired to cook all the fresh groceries I had ready, so I decide to microwave a cup of very processed, powdered mac and cheese.
8:00 PM: Eat til I’m full, clear my plate, then get set to wash my dishes. I wipe down the countertops and vacuum to be clean in the morning.
Reality: Pick at my food like a bird (start at one time, eat, get full, wait, then graze like a cow as my stomach digests…I’ve been working on that food for over an hour). Dishes go in the sink to “soak,” and the vacuum cleaner judges me as I turn away.
8:30 PM: Change into my pjs, shower first if I need it, and make a cup of peppermint tea to soothe my overfilled stomach.
Reality: I put on men’s underwear (Champion), an oversized t-shirt, decide to put off that shower til the morning, and grab a can of Dr. Pepper from the fridge. I am no sleeping siren or muse. There’s no sexy after dark.
9:00 PM: Open my laptop to view my assignments for this week. I schedule my time so I can complete each task before the date it’s due, even finishing some now.
Reality: I log into my school account, stare at the work and the due dates, tell myself “I have time,” then complete everything between the hours of 10 and 11:59 PM on Sunday (when everything is due).
9:45 PM: I get ready for bed in my tidy, cute bathroom. I wash my face, brush my teeth, floss, and then apply my skincare.
Reality: I pee, possibly forget to flush, and skip the face washing since my counter is so cluttered with my makeup and other miscellaneous items that I know I’ll knock them over and make a mess. I skip brushing my teeth because I think to myself: What if I get the munchies later?
10:00 PM: Climbing into my fresh, made-up bed, I take my medications and supplements (bag where I keep all my meds handy) with a cool glass of water. I plug in my devices for the night, put in my retainers, and pray to the good Lord.
Reality: I get into my unmade bed after taking my pills with that same Dr. Pepper from earlier. I forget to plug in my devices, so in class the next day, I have to charge my computer, and be careful with phone usage since it’s only at 18%. As for prayer…I usually forget to pray, or I trail off and fall asleep, or forget what I was saying mid-sentence. Thank you, Lord, for your sweet mercy on my pathetic heart.
10:30 PM: I fall asleep to get the ideal hours of deep rest and look forward to the next day.
Reality: I toss and turn, too hot, while my feet are like ice. I suddenly remember all my embarrassing moments and all of the reasons I’ve had panic attacks, and start psyching myself out. I frequently wake up in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep. In the morning, I’m exhausted, and I need either a coffee, a prayer, and/or a shock from a defibrillator.
I hope this finds a good place in your heart so that, even knowing I’m a woman with no romantic relationship, no job (besides being a full-time college student), and no kids, you won’t feel so alone.
Here are some nighttime items I have stewing in my Amazon cart waiting patiently for the right time to buy:
Night, night, and sweet dreams!
Xoxo,
Red
“28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” —Matt. 11:28-30 (KJV)
