Do you ever wake up to a sink full of dishes, no plan for dinner, and a morning that feels like it's already behind before it's begun? You're not alone. For those of us who struggle with clutter and chaos, mornings can feel like an uphill battle—but what if a simple 15-minute routine the night before could change everything?

In this episode, Kathi and Roger Lipp dive into the concept of the "closing shift"—a short, intentional nighttime routine designed to set you up for success the next day. This isn't about deep cleaning or overhauling your entire home. It's about crisis prevention: doing a few small things tonight so tomorrow doesn't spiral into chaos.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

The Five Closing Shift Tasks

Kathi shares five go-to tasks for an effective closing shift. You don't need to do all five—just pick three that fit your life:

Making It Fun: Dopamine-Friendly Tweaks

Let's be honest—there's no natural dopamine hit in the closing shift. Nobody claps when you wipe down counters at 9 PM. But Kathi and Roger share creative ways to make it more rewarding:

Key Takeaways

This is not cleaning—this is crisis prevention. The closing shift isn't about having a perfect home. It's about being kind to your future self, saving money (no drive-through coffee!), and starting tomorrow from a place of calm instead of chaos.

Remember: If your system only works when you're at 100%, it's not a system—it's a fantasy. Build routines that work even on your tired days, and give yourself grace when you need to restart.