In April, I wrote a story about morning people. I spoke with 39 women—all of whom wake up at or before 6 A.M. every single day—about what they do during those wee morning hours, when the rest of us are hitting the snooze button and sleeping the day away.
But I didn’t think to ask them about their bedtimes—at least not until my editor told me to. She reminded me that anyone who’s waking up super early is probably going to bed super early, too. (And if they aren’t, they’re probably not getting enough sleep. Remember, the National Sleep Foundation recommends that you get a full seven to nine hours of sleep every single night. And there are definitely consequences to skimping on that restorative rest.)
Before I published that first morning person article, I went back to all 39 women I’d spoken to and asked them for their bedtimes. They ranged from 8 P.M. to 12 A.M., usually falling somewhere in between. But my curiosity was piqued—how much, exactly, were these morning people fitting into their evening routines? (In other words, how did they do it? Because I know I can’t get to bed by 8, like, ever, let alone regularly.) Did they have time to accomplish much after work, or were they just eating dinner and hitting the hay? And how much next-day prep were they doing at night to ensure their early mornings ran totally smoothly (stuff like setting up the coffee maker or selecting outfits)?
To find the answers, I went back to them yet again. Here, 41 morning people share their evening routines. Some of these people contributed to my first morning people round-up, and some of them are brand new contributors. Either way, they’re here to clue you in on what an average night looks like for them. For your early-rising edification, here are the nightly routines that make their mornings possible, sorted from earliest to latest wake-up time.
Wake-up time: 4 A.M.
Bedtime: 8 P.M. on the dot
Job: Life coach
Evening routine:
- 5:00 P.M.: Wrap up work
- 6:00 P.M.: Dinner
- 7:00 P.M.: Meditate and journal
- 7:30 P.M.: Create a to-do list for tomorrow
- 7:45 P.M.: Review my vision board
Wake-up time: 4 A.M.
Bedtime: 9 P.M.
Job: Digital marketer
Evening routine:
- 6:00 P.M.: Wrap up work and cook dinner
- 6:30 P.M.: Eat dinner
- 7:00 P.M.: Read or watch Netflix
- 8:00 P.M.: Have a small snack and head to my room to wind down
- 8:30 P.M.: Get ready for bed
- 9:00 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 4 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 9:30 and 10:30 P.M.
Job: Residential roofing manager
Evening routine:
- 6:00 P.M.: Leave work
- 6:15 P.M.: Work out
- 8:15 P.M.: Head home
- 8:30 P.M.: Drink a protein shake and take a shower
- 9:00 P.M.: Spend some time relaxing and checking social media
- 10:00 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 4 A.M.
Bedtime: 10 P.M.
Job: Wellness and lifestyle consultant
Evening routine:
- 5:00 P.M.: Get home and check my mail
- 5:15 P.M.: Change clothes
- 5:30 P.M.: Make dinner
- 6:00 P.M.: Eat dinner and clean the kitchen
- 6:30 P.M.: Take a walk
- 7:00 P.M.: Catch up on email and social media
- 7:30 P.M.: Work on my business and blog
- 8:30 P.M.: Read and drink some tea
- 8:45 P.M.: Journal and prepare for tomorrow
- 9:30 P.M.: Get ready for bed, diffuse lavender oil, charge my phone, and pray
- 10:00 P.M.: Go to sleep
Wake-up time: Between 4 and 4:30 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 9 and 10 P.M.
Job: Public relations and social media consultant
Evening routine:
- 6:00 P.M.: Have dinner while watching TV or reading
- 7:00 P.M.: Sit outside with a glass of wine and work on the New York Times crossword puzzle
- 8:00 P.M.: Head inside and get ready for bed
- 8:30 P.M.: Prep for tomorrow, light a candle, and either read or work on the crossword puzzle until I fall asleep
Wake-up time: Between 4 and 4:30 A.M.
Bedtime: 9:30 P.M
Job: Corporate communications director
Evening routine:
- 6:15 P.M.: Get home from work, change clothes, and unpack my lunch
- 6:30 P.M.: Eat dinner with my family and do the dishes
- 7:00 P.M.: Take my kids to sports practice or work on my side hustle
- 8:30 P.M.: Prep lunch and lay out my clothes for tomorrow
- 9:00 P.M.: Check social media, answer emails, and get ready for bed
- 9:30 P.M.: Go to sleep
Wake-up time: Between 4 and 5 A.M.
Bedtime: 11 P.M.
Job: Full-time college student and style blogger
Evening routine:
- 6:00 P.M.: Attend extracurricular meetings
- 8:30 P.M.: Snack
- 8:45 P.M.: Make a to-do list for tomorrow and tie up any loose ends from today
- 9:30 P.M.: Take off my makeup and take a hot shower
- 10:15 P.M.: Run through my nightly skin- and hair-care routine
- 10:30 P.M.: Check and update social media
- 11:00 P.M.: Put on classical music, put away my electronics, and go to sleep
Wake-up time: Between 4:15 and 4:30 A.M.
Bedtime: In bed between 9 and 9:30 P.M.; asleep by 10 P.M.
Job: Publicist
Evening routine:
- 6:30 P.M.: Listen to a podcast on my way home from work
- 7:00 P.M.: Take my dog on a walk, get in some exercise
- 7:30 P.M.: Make dinner and watch Shark Tank
- 9:00 P.M.: Shower, diffuse some lavender oil, and get in bed
- 10:00 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: Between 4:15 and 5 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 9 and 10 P.M.
Job: Author and business owner
Evening routine:
- 7:00 P.M.: Cook and eat dinner with my husband and children
- 8:00 P.M.: Shower, put on pajamas, and watch two episodes of TV with my family
- 9:00 P.M.: Tuck my kids in, head to my room, light a candle, turn on my oil diffuser, browse social media, think about tomorrow
- 10:00 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 4:30 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 8:30 and 9 P.M.
Job: Attorney
Evening routine:
- 5:00 P.M.: Bike home from work
- 5:30 P.M.: Walk my dogs
- 6:00 P.M.: Cook and eat dinner
- 7:00 P.M.: Work on my side hustle
- 8:00 P.M.: Let out the dogs, brush my teeth, get in bed, and read
- 8:30 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: Between 4:30 and 5 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 9 and 10 P.M.
Job: Nonprofit employee
Evening routine:
- 6:30 P.M.: Get off work and head home
- 7:15 P.M.: Eat dinner with my fiancé
- 8:00 P.M.: Change into pajamas and get ready for bed
- 8:30 P.M.: Prepare for tomorrow and set my alarm
- 9:00 P.M.: Head to bed and read until I fall asleep
Wake-up time: 4:30 A.M.
Bedtime: 10:15 P.M.
Job: Attorney, public speaker, and city councilwoman
Evening routine:
- 5:00 P.M.: Pick up my kids
- 6:00 P.M.: Make dinner
- 6:30 P.M.: Eat dinner
- 7:00 P.M.: Get my kids ready for bed
- 9:00 P.M.: Read or watch TV
- 10:00 P.M.: Watch the news
- 10:15 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: Between 4:30 and 5 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 10:30 and 11 P.M.
Job: Blogger
Evening routine:
- 4:30 P.M.: Start cooking dinner
- 5:00 P.M.: Eat dinner
- 5:30 P.M.: Take my son to sports practice
- 7:00 P.M.: Pick my son up
- 7:30 P.M.: Give my younger child a bath and snack before bedtime
- 8:00 P.M.: Sew stuff for Etsy clients, edit photos, check my email, update social media, and spend time with my son
- 11:00 P.M.: Get ready for bed and go to sleep
Wake-up time: Around 4:45 A.M.
Bedtime: In bed by 10 P.M.; asleep by 10:30 P.M.
Job: Marketing and political consultant
Evening routine:
- 6:30 P.M.: Get off work
- 7:00 P.M.: Cook dinner
- 7:30 P.M.: Eat dinner and spend time with my husband
- 8:30 P.M.: Get a head start on tomorrow’s work
- 9:00 P.M.: Catch up on emails, phone calls, and texts
- 9:30 P.M.: Get ready for bed and watch some Netflix
- 10:00 P.M.: Read
- 10:30 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 4:45 A.M.
Bedtime: 9:30 P.M.
Job: Public relations director
Evening routine:
- 5:30 P.M.: Work out
- 6:30 P.M.: Shower
- 7:00 P.M.: Eat dinner
- 8:00 P.M.: Get ready for tomorrow (lay out clothes, pack a lunch, etc.)
- 8:30 P.M.: Have some tea and either read or watch TV until I fall asleep
Wake-up time: 4:45 A.M.
Bedtime: 10 P.M.
Job: Senior director of sales systems
Evening routine:
- 6:00 P.M.: Make and eat dinner
- 6:30 P.M.: Play with my kids
- 7:30 P.M.: Put my kids to bed
- 8:00 P.M.: Work on my side projects
- 9:30 P.M.: Get ready for bed, update my habit tracker app, and read until I fall asleep
Wake-up time: 4:45 A.M.
Bedtime: 10:30 P.M.
Job: Public relations manager and startup founder
Evening routine:
- 5:30 P.M.: Leave the office
- 6:00 P.M.: Take calls, write proposals, and respond to emails regarding my business
- 9:00 P.M.: Prep for tomorrow (lay out my clothes, pack my lunch, write a to-do list)
- 9:30 P.M.: Journal
- 10:30 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: Between 4:45 and 5 A.M.
Bedtime: 9:30 P.M.
Job: CEO, author, and consultant
Evening routine:
- 6:00 P.M.: Watch TV and eat dinner
- 8:00 P.M.: Sip some tea
- 8:15 P.M.: Set up coffee maker to auto-start at 4:40 A.M.
- 8:30 P.M.: Brush my teeth, floss, wash my face, and change into pajamas
- 8:45 P.M.: Get in bed with a new cup of tea
- 9:00 P.M.: Journal
- 9:30 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 5 A.M. or earlier
Bedtime: 8 P.M.
Job: Freelance writer and editor
Evening routine:
- 5:00 P.M.: Walk away from the computer to take a bath and start prepping dinner
- 5:30 P.M.: Watch the news
- 6:00 P.M.: Finish making dinner
- 6:30 P.M.: Eat dinner and relax in the bedroom while my partner does the dishes
- 6:45 P.M.: Read until I fall asleep
Wake-up time: 5 A.M. at the latest
Bedtime: Between 10 and 11 P.M.
Job: Publicist
Evening routine:
- 5:30 P.M.: Leave the office
- 6:00 P.M.: Pick up one of my dogs from daycare
- 6:30 P.M.: Get home and check the mail
- 6:45 P.M.: Make dinner
- 7:30 P.M.: Eat dinner
- 8:00 P.M.: Walk my dogs
- 9:00 P.M.: Run through my nightly beauty routine and set out tomorrow’s outfit
- 9:30 P.M.: Check my email
- 9:45 P.M.: Read or watch Netflix until I fall asleep
Wake-up time: 5 A.M
Bedtime: 9 P.M.
Job: Public relations and marketing agency founder
Evening routine:
- 4:30 P.M.: Wrap up my work
- 5:15 P.M.: Tidy the house and make dinner
- 6:00 P.M.: Eat dinner
- 6:45 P.M.: Work out
- 8:30 P.M.: Make a to-do list for tomorrow and skim my emails
- 8:45 P.M.: Shower and head to bed
Wake-up time: 5 A.M.
Bedtime: No later than 9:30 P.M.
Job: Publicist
Evening routine:
- 5:00 P.M.: Make and eat dinner with my husband
- 6:00 P.M.: Knock out some work
- 7:30 P.M.: Take a relaxing drive around the neighborhood
- 8:00 P.M.: Watch Netflix
- 9:00 P.M.: Get in bed and read
- 9:30 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 5 A.M
Bedtime: In bed by 9:30 P.M.; asleep by 10 P.M.
Job: Licensed therapist and life coach
Evening routine:
- 6:00 P.M.: Make a to-do list for tomorrow and clean my desk before leaving work
- 6:30 P.M.: Get home
- 6:45 P.M.: Make dinner and catch up with my housemates
- 7:00 P.M.: Eat dinner
- 8:00 P.M.: Spend some quiet time away from technology meditating or walking around
- 9:00 P.M.: Chance into my pajamas and go through my nightly skin-care routine
- 9:30 P.M.: Get into bed and read
- 9:45 P.M.: Meditate and say a few prayers
- 10:00 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 5 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 9:30 and 10 P.M.
Job: Public relations specialist
Evening routine:
- 5:00 P.M.: Leave work and head to the gym
- 6:45 P.M.: Get home and shower
- 7:00 P.M.: Eat dinner, clean the dishes, and do some laundry
- 8:10 P.M.: Put on a face mask and sip some tea
- 8:20 P.M.: Go through my planner, make a to-do list, and check my email
- 8:30 P.M.: Watch an episode of my favorite TV show or read a book
- 9:30 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 5 A.M.
Bedtime: No later than 10 P.M.
Job: Public relations manager
Evening routine:
- 5:00 P.M.: Get off work and do yoga
- 6:00 P.M.: Shower
- 6:30 P.M.: Cook dinner, light some candles, play some jazz, and have a glass of wine
- 7:30 P.M.: Eat dinner with my boyfriend if he’s over; if not, eat while watching TV
- 8:30 P.M.: Walk my dog
- 9:00 P.M.: Get ready for bed
- 9:30 P.M.: Read a magazine or watch the Food Network
- 10:00 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 5 A.M. on the dot
Bedtime: 10 P.M.
Job: Startup founder
Evening routine:
- 6:00 P.M.: Commute home from work with my husband and my dogs
- 7:00 P.M.: Eat dinner with my kids
- 8:00 P.M.: Help my kids with their homework
- 8:30 P.M.: Scan my email to make sure there’s nothing urgent
- 9:00 P.M.: Watch TV or read
- 10:00 P.M.: Head to bed
Wake-up time: 5 A.M.
Bedtime: 10 P.M.
Job: News anchor
Evening routine:
- 5:30 P.M.: Work out
- 6:30 P.M.: Head home
- 7:30 P.M.: Make dinner
- 8:00 P.M.: Get a head start on tomorrow’s work
- 9:00 P.M.: Read until I fall asleep
Wake-up time: 5 A.M.
Bedtime: 10:30 P.M.
Job: CEO
Evening routine:
- 5:30 P.M.: Drop off my kids at various activities
- 6:00 P.M.: Run errands
- 7:00 P.M.: Pick up my kids
- 7:15 P.M.: Stop by my parents’ house
- 8:00 P.M.: Make dinner and help my kids with homework
- 9:00 P.M.: Get ready for bed and check my email
- 9:30 P.M.: Put my kids to bed
- 9:35 P.M.: Check my email again and make a to-do list for tomorrow
- 9:45 P.M.: Get ready for tomorrow (set out clothes, pack my bags, make lunch, etc.)
- 10:00 P.M.: Check my email again
- 10:15 P.M.: Read
- 10:30 P.M.: Try to get to sleep
Wake-up time: 5 A.M.
Bedtime: 10:30 P.M.
Job: Business owner
Evening routine:
- 5:30 P.M.: Wrap up work
- 6:00 P.M.: Walk my dogs
- 6:30 P.M.: Watch the news while cooking dinner
- 7:00 P.M.: Eat dinner with my husband
- 8:00 P.M.: Watch TV
- 9:30 P.M.: Do the dishes
- 10:00 P.M.: Walk my dogs with my husband
- 10:30 P.M.: Lights out
Wake-up time: 5 A.M.
Bedtime: 11 P.M.
Job: Fashion adviser
Evening routine:
- 7:00 P.M.: Leave work
- 7:30 P.M.: Change clothes, check the mail, and make dinner
- 8:00 P.M.: Eat dinner while checking email
- 8:30 P.M.: Do the dishes
- 8:45 P.M.: Prep for tomorrow
- 9:15 P.M.: Review my day
- 9:30 P.M.: Get ready for bed
- 10:00 P.M.: Catch up on any TV I’ve missed
- 11:00 P.M.: Head to bed
Wake-up time: Between 5 and 5:45 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 8:45 and 10:30 P.M.
Job: Professional organizer
Evening routine:
- 5:00 P.M.: Get off work
- 5:15 P.M.: Check in with my business partner
- 5:30 P.M.: Head home
- 6:00 P.M.: Figure out dinner
- 6:30 P.M.: Eat dinner and watch TV
- 7:00 P.M.: Check email, respond to clients, and do other work
- 7:45 P.M.: Get ready for bed and either watch TV or read to unwind
- 8:45 P.M.: Get into bed
Wake-up time: 5:30 A.M.
Bedtime: 9:30 P.M.
Job: Startup cofounder
Evening routine:
- 5:30 P.M.: Finish work
- 6:00 P.M.: Make and eat dinner
- 7:00 P.M.: Watch a documentary, go for a walk, or enjoy a glass of wine
- 8:15 P.M.: Prepare for tomorrow (write a to-do list and check my email)
- 8:45 P.M.: Go through my nightly beauty routine
- 9:00 P.M.: Head to bed and read
- 9:30 P.M.: Connect with my partner and go to sleep
Wake-up time: 5:30 A.M.
Bedtime: 10 P.M.
Job: Deputy director of website management
Evening routine:
- 5:30 P.M.: Head home from work
- 6:15 P.M.: Walk the dog and change clothes
- 7:00 P.M.: Make dinner and catch up with my family
- 8:45 P.M.: Put away leftovers and prep my lunch for tomorrow
- 9:00 P.M.: Walk around the neighborhood with my dog
- 9:15 P.M.: Get ready for bed
- 9:20 P.M.: Stretch
- 9:30 P.M.: Read, online shop, or catch up on the news
- 10:00 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 5:30 A.M. or earlier
Bedtime: 10:30 P.M. or earlier
Job: Personal trainer
Evening routine:
- 5:00 P.M.: Make and eat dinner with my kids
- 6:00 P.M.: Make sure my kids do their homework
- 7:30 P.M.: Shower and do story time with my kids
- 8:30 P.M.: Tuck my kids into bed
- 9:30 P.M.: Spend some time catching up with my husband
- 10:30 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 5:30 A.M. or earlier
Bedtime: 10:30 P.M. or earlier
Job: Assistant vice president at a media relations firm
Evening routine:
- 5:30 P.M.: Pick my kids up from activities
- 6:00 P.M.: Make dinner
- 6:30 P.M.: Eat dinner and clean up
- 7:15 P.M.: Read with my kids
- 8:15 P.M.: Put my kids to bed
- 8:30 P.M.: Wash my face, brush my teeth, and lay out tomorrow’s outfit
- 8:45 P.M.: Read
- 9:00 P.M.: Watch TV
- 10:00 P.M.: Go to sleep
Wake-up time: 5:30 A.M.
Bedtime: 11 P.M. at the latest
Job: Actor
Evening routine:
- 7:00 P.M.: Eat dinner
- 7:45 P.M.: Walk in the park with my husband and my dog
- 9:00 P.M.: Have a glass of wine or coconut water
- 10:00 P.M.: Stretch, read, and meditate
- 11:00 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: Between 5:30 and 6 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 9:30 and 10 P.M.
Job: Owner and founder of a public relations company
Evening routine:
- 7:00 P.M.: Leave work
- 7:30 P.M.: Cook dinner
- 8:30 P.M.: Watch some TV
- 9:00 P.M.: Take my dog for a walk
- 9:30 P.M.: Get in bed
Wake-up time: Between 5:30 and 6 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 10:30 and 11 P.M.
Job: Occupational therapist
Evening routine:
- 6:00 P.M.: Head home from work
- 6:45 P.M.: Walk my dog
- 7:30 P.M.: Make dinner
- 8:00 P.M.: Work out
- 9:00 P.M.: Eat dinner
- 9:45 P.M.: Check my email and do some work
- 10:30 P.M.: Read until I fall asleep
Wake-up time: 5:50 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 10 and 10:30 P.M.
Job: Publicist
Evening routine:
- 6:00 P.M.: Leave the office
- 6:30 P.M.: Head to the gym and work out
- 7:45 P.M.: Walk home
- 8:15 P.M.: Make dinner, meal prep for tomorrow, make sure the coffee maker is ready for the morning
- 9:00 P.M.: Shower, do my nightly skin-care routine
- 9:30 P.M.: Take melatonin
- 9:45 P.M.: Watch Netflix on my phone
- 10:00 P.M.: Sleep
Wake-up time: 6 A.M.
Bedtime: In bed by 9 P.M.; asleep by 10:30 P.M.
Job: Digital marketing executive
Evening routine:
- 5:35 P.M.: Work out
- 6:00 P.M.: Shower
- 6:30 P.M.: Watch TV and check social media
- 9:00 P.M.: Feed my pets, head to bed, and watch TV until I fall asleep
Wake-up time: 6 A.M.
Bedtime: Between 10 and 11 P.M.
Job: Counselor
Evening routine:
- 6:00 P.M.: Make and eat dinner, then clean up
- 7:00 P.M.: Help my kids with their homework, and get them ready for tomorrow
- 8:00 P.M.: Read with my kids until they fall asleep
- 9:00 P.M.: Watch Netflix with my husband
- 10:00 P.M.: Read until I fall asleep
