Hey, guys! With the new year officially here, there’s no better time than now to begin incorporating some new, healthy habits into our daily routines and lives. Establishing a solid morning and evening routine are two things at the very top of my 2020 New Year’s resolutions list.
In my opinion, ending each day on a positive note is just as important as starting it off on one. So, recently, I’ve begun adding a few positive habits into my nightly routine, little by little. The results I’ve experienced so far have been extremely beneficial to my overall wellbeing.
Firstly, having a nightly routine has allowed me to gain some perspective and clarity on my day (whether it was a good or bad one) and has helped me to end that day on a positive note. In addition, implementing an evening routine lets me prepare for the following day’s demands. And lastly, it has been extremely beneficial in promoting a better night’s sleep, which is SO important when it comes to recharging our batteries and having optimal energy the next morning.
In this post, I will be outlining my exact evening routine in the hopes that it will inspire you guys to create a nightly routine of your own. I will also be sharing an in-depth review of an amazing new at-home teeth whitening product that I’ve been using by SmileBrilliant (in the “Whiten My Teeth” section below).
P.S. I’ve teamed up with SmileBrilliant to give away one of their at-home
teeth whitening kits (valued at $150!) to one of you guys! Scroll to the bottom of this
post for more information on how you can enter to win.
5:00 pm – EXERCISE
I think it’s safe to assume that we’re all well-aware of the amazing benefits physical activity has on our health, so I won’t bore you with regurgitating the many reasons why it’s of the utmost importance to incorporate exercise into our lives and routines. Long story short, we feel better when we exercise, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Period.
It should come as no surprise then, that physical exercise was something that I had to include in my evening routine. I know many people prefer to exercise in the morning, but I’ve always struggled with morning workouts, so evening workouts it was!
Now, obviously, I don’t exercise every evening, but since adopting my new nightly routine, I’ve been sticking to a minimum of three workouts per week. It’s not much, but it works for me. Do what works best for you.
Typically, I’ll work out at my neighborhood gym, but (if I’m feeling extra lazy) I’ll exercise from home. Lately, I’ve been heading to the gym around 5:00 pm-ish for a 45-minute spin class or 45 minutes on the treadmill. And that is officially how I’ve started kicking off my evening routine!
6:00 pm – FIX A HEALTHY DINNER
Again, I’m sure I don’t have to explain why eating a healthy dinner was a top priority for me and my evening routine. Call me crazy, but I actually quite enjoy the process of cooking an elaborate meal in the evenings. However, eating a healthy dinner doesn’t have to be a time-consuming process, contrary to popular belief.
There are definitely nights when I just don’t feel like making a complicated meal. On those evenings, I’ll forego the mess and effort required to cook an involved dinner and opt for something quick and easy (yet, still healthy), like a salad, a smoothie, or even leftovers. On nights when I workout/go to the gym, simple meals are my “go-to”.
But, like I said, I do often look forward to cooking a more elaborate meal to enjoy with my husband in the evenings. The process of cooking itself has become a fun and relaxing way for me to unwind from my day. Particularly when the process involves a glass of red vino and some of my favorite “chill-vibe” tunes.
7:00 pm – WHITEN MY TEETH
Okay, I’m going to apologize in advance for the lengthiness of this next section, but I’d like to take some time to talk about an amazing new teeth whitening product that I’ve recently begun using in the evenings (and have had amazing results with, I might add).
When it comes to my teeth, saying that they’ve caused me issues throughout my life would be a gigantic understatement. For starters, I’ve had to have five different surgeries to have fourteen teeth pulled (both permanent & baby teeth), because my mouth was too small to house the normal amount of teeth we all come with. Then, in high school, I had to wear braces for over three years because of how ridiculously crooked my teeth were. And for the icing on the cake, I had a tooth stuck in the roof of my mouth for almost 15 years (unbeknownst to me), which eventually had to be pulled down into place, but not without making an entrance. It decided to come in BACKWARDS.
Suffice it to say, when I recently started to notice my teeth turning an unflattering shade of yellow, I wasn’t fazed to be facing yet another issue in that realm. However, I wasn’t prepared to give up my two guilty pleasures which were surely to blame for my stained teeth problem (*cough, cough* – too much coffee and red wine), so I began to seek out possible teeth whitening solutions.
First, I tried whitening strips, which I quickly grew to loathe. Not only did they not stay put on my teeth, but they caused me serious sensitivity issues. Next, I tried an activated charcoal product, but the obnoxious black powdery mess it created, landed that product in the trash can after just two uses. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that even my ultra whitening toothpaste wasn’t going to do the trick, so I began looking into professional teeth whitening treatments at my dentist’s office. At least I was until I learned how much it would cost.
SmileBrilliant’s At-Home Teeth Whitening System:
Enter SmileBrilliant! They could not have reached out to me with their opportunity to try their at-home teeth whitening system at a more perfect time! I finally had a potential solution to my stained teeth problem.
The dental professionals at SmileBrilliant have developed a unique, at-home teeth whitening system that comes with all the necessary supplies their customers need to make their own teeth impressions. Those teeth molds are then mailed to SmileBrilliant’s lab where dental technicians handcraft each individual customer their very own custom-fitted teeth whitening trays., Once made, they’re then mailed back to you to be used for the actual whitening part of the process.
Benefits of SmileBrilliant’s Teeth whitening System:
- Their teeth whitening process is the #1 Dentist-recommended method of teeth whitening currently available.
- Their custom-fitted trays offer complete coverage to ensure every angle of every tooth receives an even application.
- SmileBrilliant’s whitening gel is safe on both enamel and gums, unlike other whitening products which can damage tooth enamel and cause gum irritation.
- SmileBrilliant offers a special whitening system tailored specifically to individuals with sensitive teeth. It includes their de-sensitizing gel which must be applied after each whitening session to minimize and/or eliminate any pain or discomfort experienced.
- Results are noticeable almost immediately, typically after just one session.
- It’s extremely affordable (only $169.00!) and costs 70% less than your average dental office’s whitening procedure(s).
- It can ALL be done in the comfort of your own home.
How To Use It:
SmileBrilliant’s teeth whitening process is unbelievably easy to follow. Below is an abbreviated overview of how it works:
- Make your teeth molds using the putty that comes in your kit.
- Mail your teeth molds into SmileBrilliant’s lab using the prepaid envelope received with your kit.
- SmileBrilliant’s lab technicians will create custom-fitted teeth whitening trays for you, based on your teeth molds.
- Receive your custom-fitted teeth whitening trays back from the lab.
- To begin the actual whitening process, start by placing a thin strip of the whitening gel (contained within the syringes received in your kit), along the outer edge of your upper custom-fitted tray. Repeat with your lower tray, as well.
- Wear your teeth mold trays anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on your specific needs/sensitivity level.
- Remove your teeth mold trays and rinse them out with water.
- Brush your teeth and refrain from eating or drinking for the next 30 minutes.
- Repeat as needed, until your desired teeth shade is achieved.
My Experience and Results:
So, task #3 of my evening routine, involves whitening my teeth. Since my teeth tend to be somewhat sensitive, I don’t whiten every night, but rather every 2-3 nights for about 1.5 – 2 hour sessions each time. Fitting this task of using SmileBrilliant’s at-home teeth whitening kit into my evening routine has been a practically effortless transition. The best part is that it allows me to multitask. I can whiten my teeth while simultaneously moving on to accomplish all the other steps involved in my nighttime routine. And then, I simply remove the trays right before I get into bed for the night.
The reason I prefer to whiten my teeth in the evening (after dinner) as opposed to doing so in the morning, is so that I don’t run the risk of re-staining my teeth by eating or drinking anything during those subsequent post-whitening hours (due to the fact that I’m asleep during those post-whitening hours).The pores on our teeth stay open for up to 24 hours after each whitening session, so it’s important to avoid any stain-inducing foods/liquids during this time.
I don’t know about you guys, but I feel crappy when I’m unhappy about my appearance, which is why I’ve made it a point to incorporate a few habits into my evening routine that don’t just benefit my inner health, but that make me feel good on the outside, as well. Whitening my smile, in order to feel more confident as I move throughout my day, is one such habit.
To see the results I’ve achieved, thus far, from using SmileBrilliant’s teeth whitening system, check out my “before” and “after” photos below. So far, I’ve only used two of the four whitening gel syringes that came with my kit, for a total of 8 whitening sessions.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
7:30 pm – PREPARE FOR TOMORROW
After I’ve put in my custom-fitted whitening trays, I’ll move on to the remaining steps in my evening routine. The next step on my nightly agenda is to prepare certain things for the following day. Things like picking out my outfit for tomorrow, meal-prepping my breakfast or lunch, and organizing my work bag and/or any work-related materials I might need to take with me in the morning, etc., are all beneficial preparation tasks that’re important to ensuring I have a productive next day.
Luckily, I am able to work from home now, so this step isn’t as big of a priority for me as it used to be. I don’t have to engage in these kinds of preparation tasks every night, but they’re still super helpful to carry out on days when I have appointments or engagements that require me to leave the house in the AM.
Taking time to prepare certain things the night before, as opposed to rushing to do them in the morning, can save us precious time and energy, allowing for an easier transition out the door with our positive moods still intact!
8:00 pm – TIDY UP
The reason I decided to incorporate a little “tidying up” time into my evening routine was mainly due to the fact that waking up to a messy house was starting to really wear on me. Being met with a pile of dirty dishes or clothes to fold as soon as I’d rolled out of bed, just wasn’t the most motivating way to start my day, ya know?
Now, let me just clarify that when I say “tidying up”, I definitely do not mean anything remotely close to a full-on cleaning session. Things like mopping the floors and dusting the furniture can be reserved for another time. Instead, a simple 10 – 15 minutes of tidying up any noticeable clutter and putting things away will suffice here.
Here are a few “tidying-up” tasks that I’ve found are helpful to tackle before bedtime:
- Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
- Wipe down kitchen counter-tops.
- Take out the trash.
- Fold and put away clean laundry.
- Tidy up throw blankets, pillows, and/or any toys/objects in the living room.
8:30 pm – TAKE A HOT BUBBLE BATH
Again, this isn’t something that I have time to do nor want to do every single night, but occasionally allowing myself the luxury of relaxing in a hot bubble bath (or Epsom salt bath) while my worries and stresses of the day melt away is the absolute best way to wind down in the evening.
It’s especially nice after a particularly long and stressful day. Taking the time to pamper yourself and simply relax can help to prepare your mind for a restful night’s sleep, which is of the utmost importance to our health.
For the ultimate relaxation/self-pampering sesh, I recommend lighting some of your favorite candles, dimming the overhead lights, and playing some calming/meditative tunes on your phone or Bluetooth speaker.
9:00 pm – APPLY PM SKINCARe Products
For most of us, mornings are already busy enough without the added pressure of feeling like we have to devote at least thirty minutes of our morning to a skincare routine. Everything I read nowadays has me terrified that I might age 10 years if I’m not using a million different skincare products. However, the reality of life is that with everything else we’ve got going on in our mornings, sometimes a full 20-minute skincare routine just isn’t realistic.
That’s why I’ve made a commitment to myself to make my nightly skincare regimen a top priority in my evening routine. At night, I don’t feel like I’m rushed or racing against the clock, so it’s nice to take that extra time to pamper and take care of my skin. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all evening skincare regimen, there are some basic, fundamental steps that we should all be doing.
Here is the basic PM skincare routine that I follow:
- Step 1: Cleanse the face.
- Step 2: Use a toner.
- Step 3: Apply any serums (according to my skin’s specific needs).
- Step 4: Apply an under-eye cream.
- Step 5: Moisturize.
- Step 6: Apply facial oils or masks (for extra hydration).
9:15 pm – REMOVE WHITENING TRAYS & BRUSH TEETH
After completing all of the above steps, it’s finally time for me to remove my SmileBrilliant whitening trays and witness the awesome results I just achieved from that whitening session. After my trays are out, I brush my teeth and continue getting ready for bed.
9:25 pm – DRINK A CUP OF TEA
If I’ve just whitened my teeth for the night, I’ll skip this step, but on night’s when I don’t whiten, I’ve become very dependent on my evening cup of warm, calming tea.
There are so many wonderful health benefits to drinking tea on a daily basis, but, in particular, anytime I’m feeling anxious, stressed out, or just plain don’t feel tired enough to fall asleep yet, having a warm cup of chamomile tea (or some other relaxing blend) helps enormously in relaxing my mind and body and reduces any anxiety. As a result, I’m able to fall asleep faster and will sleep more soundly. And, let’s be honest, we all could do with a little more sleep nowadays.
9:30 pm – PREPARE My SLEEP ENVIRONMENT
The final step before I officially climb into my bed for the night involves preparing my surroundings to achieve optimal rest and sleep. This might differ from person to person, but for me, I have a few requirements that must be met in order to ensure that I get the best night’s sleep possible.
Here are the things I do to prepare my sleep environment to allow for optimal comfort and relaxation as I sleep:
- Put on comfy pajamas.
- Turn on the air, overhead fan, and/or a noise machine (if you use one).
- Close my blinds/curtains (to avoid the sun coming in in the AM).
- Turn off any overhead lighting (switch to my bedside table lamp).
- Spray my pillow with lavender pillow spray (or apply lavender essential oil to my chest/temples for relaxation).
- Apply my Laniege lip sleeping mask.
- Turn on the humidifier (in the winter/dry months).
- Set my alarm (usually I aim for 8 – 9 hours of sleep per night).
9:45 pm – JOURNALING
Once I’ve climbed into bed, my new favorite evening activity is to write in my journal for ten or so minutes before falling asleep. Journaling can be done in a number of different ways that could be beneficial to one’s individual needs. But for me, personally, I’ve found the below two “exercises” to have the most value for me and my life.
Exercise #1:
The first thing I do is to jot down my top goals/”to do’s” for the following day. Specifically, I’ll jot down the top three most important tasks that I absolutely HAVE to accomplish before anything else. This allows me to clear my mind of all the thoughts running through my head regarding “all the things I have to do tomorrow”. With my mind clear, I am able to fall asleep much more quickly and peacefully than I would if I had sat and ruminated on all my tasks for tomorrow.
Exercise #2:
My favorite journaling activity of all, though, is my last “appreciation exercise”. On a fresh page, I’ll write down all the things that happened to me that day that I was grateful for. Then, if I feel like it, I’ll continue to write lists of all the other things in my life that I am grateful for, on any topic or subject that I want to direct good vibes towards. This allows me to end my day on a very positive note, regardless of how that particular day might have transpired. It’s truly been a transformative process for me and my emotional well-being.
And that officially wraps things up!
I hope you guys found this post helpful and will feel inspired to create your own productive nightly routines in order to ensure you are always setting yourself up for a successful tomorrow! It might just change your life for the better, as it has mine.
And, of course, as promised, here are my giveaway deets:
Simply click on this link: www.smilebrilliant.com/g/daysliketoday to visit SmileBrilliant’s website and enter your name and email address into the form on that page for a chance to win your very own (totally free) SmileBrilliant at-home teeth whitening kit! The winner will be randomly selected (and contacted) by SmileBrilliant once at least 25 applicants have entered.
Also, feel free to use the following storewide discount code (entered at checkout) to get 15% off your SmileBrilliant order: daysliketoday15
And, as always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me in the ‘comments’ section below with any questions and/or comments you might have regarding my giveaway with SmileBrilliant, their at-home teeth whitening system, and/or my nightly routine. You can also always reach me via email or Instagram message if that is more convenient! Whatever works best for you guys. Thanks for reading!
XOXO,
Kenzie
Disclaimer: I received a free SmileBrilliant teeth whitening kit in exchange for my
honest review of their product on my blog. All opinions expressed within this post are
entirely my own.
