Review what you accomplished today, then make a to-do list for tomorrow. Don’t make these lists too close to bedtime.

Look Back, Look Ahead

Waking up to a messy household isn’t the way to start the day. Tidy up the kitchen, your bedroom, your workspace, and everything else within eyesight before you hit the sack for a clearer path in the morning.

Clean It Up

According to the <a href="https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/men-women-and-sleep">National Sleep Foundation</a>, the ideal temperature for shut-eye is around 65 degrees. The cooler you are, the sleepier you become, so turn down the thermostat.

Cool It

Shut off your brain and stop working. The tasks will still be there tomorrow—plus some more, because work can, and should, wait.

Step Away from the Spreadsheet

Get in some light reading before bedtime.Good old-fashioned print is preferable to an iPad or Kindle. The light from the screen of your <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/14/bedtime-rituals_n_6309564.html">tablet or phone is blue-spectrum light</a> … it tells the brain to stop secreting melatonin [a natural sleep-inducing biochemical].

Relax with a Book

At least two hours before bedtime, cut off the booze, food, and stimulants (not just coffee and soda, but also sugary desserts and even fruits). Digestion and sleep don’t mix well.

Cut Off the Alcohol (and Snacks)

Plan and lay out tomorrow’s clothing ensemble tonight, and you’ll have one less thing to worry about. If your first outfit of the day is gym clothes for a morning workout, even better.

Dress for No Stress

Even if you don't consider yourself a productive person, you still have some type of morning routine to kick off the workday. If it's a daily mad sprint to the train stop with coffee in one hand and a breakfast burrito in the other, there's probably still at least some forethought (breakfast burritos don't just happen).

Look Back, Look Ahead

Similar ideas to Look Back, Look Ahead

Planning ahead

Using The Same List Until It’s Done

Basic Steps For Using a To-Do List