How to Make a Daily Routine You Can Stick To
Establishing a daily routine can significantly improve productivity and well-being. A well-structured routine helps individuals manage their time better, reduces stress and increases focus on important tasks. While it can feel overwhelming to create one, starting with small, manageable steps can lead to lasting habits.
Have you tried routines laid out by time management gurus, cleaning experts and organization specialists? Did they work for you or did you move on to another routine within weeks? Here’s the problem with these routines….they’re someone else’s routine. Many people struggle to find a rhythm that fits their lifestyle, but the key lies in personalizing the routine to match your individual needs and goals. This blog post will guide you through the essential steps of making a daily routine that works for you, keeping in mind that every routine needs to balance consistency and flexibility as your life changes.
Understanding the Importance of a Daily Routine
Establishing a daily routine can literally change your life. It helps in managing time better and improving overall well-being, which often leads to other positive changes like better relationships and being an absolute rock star at your job. Your daily routine is the beginning of a domino effect so let’s make that domino effect a positive one!
Benefits of a Daily Routine
A daily routine offers several important benefits. First, it helps reduce stress by creating predictability. When individuals know what to expect each day, they can plan effectively and feel more grounded.
Additionally, routines promote healthy habits. Setting specific times for meals, exercise, and relaxation can lead to better physical and mental health. Several studies have shown that having regular schedules can lower anxiety levels and boost mood.
Routines also improve productivity. When tasks are scheduled, you can focus better. You are less likely to procrastinate, resulting in a feeling of accomplishment as you check off completed tasks.
Potential Challenges
While routines offer many benefits, they can also present challenges. For some, the rigidity of a set schedule may feel restrictive. They might struggle with boredom or lose motivation if they feel trapped in a routine.
Unexpected events, such as a family emergency or illness, can disrupt routines. Adapting to these changes may require additional effort and flexibility.
Another challenge can arise from over-scheduling. Trying to fit too many activities into one day may lead to feelings of overwhelm. It is important to strike a balance between structure and spontaneity.
Being aware of these challenges allows you to plan more effectively and stay committed to your routines. In fact, I see some of them as a positive! For instance, if you’re totally overwhelmed after looking at your newly created routine and schedule, you’re probably over-scheduled or you’ve picked daily tasks that are not right for the season of life you’re in. And just because your neighbor, friend or some social media influencer can (seem to) do it all, doesn’t mean that’s the right path for you. Keep in mind as you’re going through the process of creating your own routine, that you’re making this routine for the real you, in real life and not the fantasy you, in your fantasy life.
Creating a Personalized Daily Routine
A personalized daily routine is essential for productivity and well-being. By understanding goals, structuring time, and selecting key activities, you can absolutely create a routine that works for you and helps you create a balanced life.
Ask Yourself These Questions
- What areas of my home or life are often out of control?
- What is one thing if done regularly could potentially change my life?
- What is my energy level and mental capacity?
By answering these questions, you’ll get some valuable information you can use to build your very own, unique, just-for-you routine. Keep in mind that you will have different answers to these questions at different times in your life. By being very honest with yourself while answering these questions, you’ll increase your odds of sticking with it!
Let’s Get Started
1. What are your out of control areas?
Start with three areas. They can be the most important things on your list, your high value areas, or they can be the things that you will find easiest to do and have success with. You know you best! These three things will be the cornerstone of your new routine.
Some examples from my own life: my house can get messy quickly, need to get a handle on some health issues, I never know what we’re having for dinner. I could go on, but these are the main ones I think about every single day. You might be more concerned with finances, your messy home office (I may or may not also have this issue) or parenting issues. You pick your own areas that need some work.
Now take your three things and figure out how best to address them. For me, I knew I had to start exercising more often so I made a plan to walk on my treadmill first thing in the morning, before my shower and tea. Then I figured out which tasks around my house would keep it reasonably clean daily: make my bed, unload the dishwasher in the morning, do a load of laundry, vacuum the rug in my living room and entry area and wipe down my bathroom in the morning after I get ready.
And finally, I decided that I just don’t have the capacity for a complicated meal plan right now so I decided to order from Home Chef some weeks and for the rest of the time, I made a list of 10 meals I can cook easily, know how to make without looking at a recipe, and using groceries I already regularly buy at the store. Easiest meal plan ever! Can you outsource something on your list, delegate to someone else, or put an easy repeatable system in place for the time being?
My routine has shaped up to look like this:
| Daily Routine | Time |
| Walk for 30 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Unload dishwasher | 3 minutes |
| Start load of laundry | 2 minutes |
| Vacuum rugs in living room and entry | 7 minutes |
| Wipe down bathroom and swish toilet | 8 minutes |
| Make bed | 3 minutes |
If I did my math correctly (no guarantee on that), in under an hour, I have done something important to improve my health and have our home well under control to start the day. I didn’t make it overly complicated and neither should you. You can always fine tune it later.
Now it’s your turn! Try to come up with a reasonable morning (or afternoon or evening, you do you!) routine that you can do that won’t be overwhelming or too time consuming. Basically it’s just a list of things you can and will do daily.
2. What’s one thing that could change your life?
My one life-changing thing was to start getting up at 6 a.m. and give myself enough time to accomplish my morning routine. This habit has changed my life for the better in so many ways! Without making this a habit, my morning routine would likely not happen everyday and I know me….exercise would be the first thing to go.
What is your one thing? Do you want to spend more time with a loved one? Start seeing a therapist to work through a tough time? Go back to school? Learn how to cook from scratch? Start an exercise program? Choose your one thing and do something right now to make it happen. For me, I set my alarm to go off everyday (except Saturday) at 6 a.m. and I told myself I’m not allowed to hit the snooze button, even if my husband snored in my face all night and I was exhausted.
I don’t sleep well or easily so I was surprised to figure out that getting up everyday at 6 also was helping me to improve my sleep (and it only took 55 years folks!!). Within a couple of weeks I was actually starting to love getting up early!
3. What is your energy level and mental capacity?
This question is actually the most important one of all. If your energy level is too low to do your new routine, it will just feel overwhelming right off the bat. What can you do? Start your new routine dealing with only one task or issue, add more as you form good habits or your energy improves.
Do you simply not have the mental capacity to deal with one of the issues you’ve chosen to work on? Switch it out for a different one, perhaps something easier to work on right now. Don’t be afraid to change it up as needed, I mean the whole purpose is to create a routine that works for you!
I have fine tuned my routine over the years, added new things, removed things I no longer cared about or needed to do. Your routine will change over the years. If you have a young family, your schedule may look very different than when the kids are grown and no longer at home.
Implementing Your Daily Routine
Creating a daily routine is just the first step. The real challenge lies in putting it into action and ensuring it works for your individual needs. Flexibility and making adjustments are critical to successfully implementing your new daily routine.
Staying Flexible
Flexibility is essential when implementing a daily routine. Rigidly sticking to a plan can lead to frustration. It’s crucial to allow room for changes based on daily circumstances or unexpected events.
For instance, if a meeting runs late, you can adjust your schedule. Breaking larger tasks into smaller ones can also help. This way, if time runs short, you can still make progress.
Consider using a planner or a digital calendar. These tools can help reorganize tasks quickly and effectively, along with setting reminders. Doing so allows for adaptability while still working towards goals. I’m a paper planner kind of a gal. I’ve never even tried to become a digital planner kind of a person….I know me and there is just something magical about writing it down.
Making Adjustments
Routine implementation is an ongoing process that may require adjustments. This is not a reflection of success or failure on your part, it’s just discovering what works for you and what doesn’t! Regularly reviewing your routine allows for adaptation to changing needs or circumstances.
If a certain time of day is consistently challenging for one of your routines, it might be time to switch tasks around. For example, moving high-concentration tasks to when you feel most alert can enhance efficiency.
Dealing With Disruptions
Life can be unpredictable, and disruptions can occur. It’s important to stay flexible when these issues arise. Don’t let a change in schedule that you have no control over sabotage your routine. Adapt as best you can and continue to move forward imperfectly, knowing that everything you do accomplish is still a step in the right direction.
Prioritizing tasks can help manage unexpected changes. For instance, if something urgent comes up, you can focus on the most critical tasks first and reschedule others. Handling interruptions with a positive attitude keeps the routine aligned with personal goals.
If fatigue sets in, taking short breaks can restore energy and focus. When plans change, acknowledging the shift and adapting is essential for preventing frustration.
Put Your New Daily Routine Into Practice Now
Try it out, tweak it as necessary, and feel accomplished!
