Do you feel like you’re always struggling to create routines that works for you? Do you have trouble sticking with your new routines and habits, even though they were supposed to make your life better?
We all know how difficult it can be to create a routine that really works for us. Habits are powerful, but they’re not easy to form especially good habits / healthy habits as our daily rituals! We all know that creating new habits can be a challenge, and it will take a lot of mental willpower to stick with it in the beginning. But if we create a habit that works for us, it can be really beneficial in our lives. In this article, I am going to share with you how to create daily routines that works for you.
What is a routine and why do we need it
A routine is a pattern of behavior that someone follows regularly and comes as a second nature that requires no thinking. Routine helps us make sense of our world and feel more in control. It also helps us get things done efficiently because it takes less mental energy and less stress to complete tasks when you know how they should be done.
For example, in the morning on a work day, I usually brush my teeth, do affirmation, meditate, brisk walk, shower and make coffee before leaving to work. I’ve completed all these daily tasks with little effort! This makes me feel good about myself and my energy levels are great with this regular routine.
Benefits of routines
Routines provide a sense of order. They can help us feel more in control by providing a predictable framework to our day.
By completing tasks at regular intervals, we use less mental energy and save more cognitive resources for other tasks that require more thought. This often results in being able to complete more tasks with less effort throughout the day.
Routines also have benefits that go beyond their actual ability to reduce mental fatigue. For example, good routines often helps us feel like we’ve accomplished something because it provides a structure for our day. We have a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction when we check off the list at the end of the day or week. By practicing routines regularly, they become habits which can help us in our everyday life.
We know what to expect and how to respond to a situation, which results in better decision making.
Another way they benefit us is by reducing stress. By knowing we have specific things we need to do at certain times of the day, week or month can reduce our overall stress level because it provides a structure for our lives.
How do I create daily routines that works for me?
Creating a routine/habit takes time and hard work, so you should be patient with yourself while trying to create one. It can be done over time as long as you understand why it’s important to have an organized schedule and are willing to adjust when something doesn’t work like you originally anticipated it would.
You can create a routine by making a list of the goals that you want to achieve every day, or repurposing an existing habit into something that fits your needs.
Pick Tasks
First step is to pick three activities that are important for you to accomplish every day, such as exercise, eating healthy, or reading a book. If you are having a hard time to choose activities, try to keep things simple at first.
It is important to ensure that you don’t overwhelm yourself with many task included in your routine, as this is not only unrealistic to maintain but it also diminishes motivation and leads to a sense of failure. If you have the space, adding an extra task or two might be successful as well; however, if you struggle with maintaining your routine do not add more activities just yet.
Create environment
The next step is to create an environment that encourages the desired routine to be completed each day. If you want to exercise as part of your morning ritual, ensure that your bedroom is well ventilated and provides enough light as this will make you feel more energetic and awake when waking up. It might also help if you have a cup of coffee or tea ready for after your workout so you can reward yourself for a job done and make it easier to stick with the routine.
When you have set an activity in your routine to be done at a specific time of day, make sure that you are in the right place or environment for doing so. Imagine yourself reading a book while sitting in front of your TV—it would be a lot harder than if you were reading comfortably on a couch.
Avoid Distractions
Also, have all the equipment you need within your reach so there is no distraction or an excuse not to do what you planned. For example, placing your gym clothes next to your bed in the night, will make it easy for you to grab the first thing the next morning. By eliminating unnecessary distractions you will focus on the tasks at hand instead of taking your attention away from them making it easier for you to follow a routine and creating a habit.
If at any time during your day you notice that something is distracting or preventing you from completing one of your tasks, this is a sign that you need to make changes in your environment in order for the routine to work.
Once you have created an environment where you feel comfortable, it will be easier to stick with the tasks and follow it as a habit.
Add structure (and Reminders)
Once you have your goals / habits / routines, schedule them into your day or week by having set aside time or a fixed schedule to create regular schedule with appropriate intervals between them. It is important to be realistic and make sure the tasks aren’t too challenging for you to complete. For example, run in morning, eat breakfast, shower, go to work. This will allow for efficient time management and help you prioritize well throughout the day.
You can also put reminders (or even alarm clock) of what needs to be accomplished where you will see them throughout the day (i.e., write down on a sticky note what needs done today and place it on your bathroom mirror). This may include setting an alarm on your phone so that ensure that don’t forget to complete each task or having to buy some items like fresh vegetables ahead of time so that they’re ready when you need them
Track and Review
You need to track and review how well this new routine works for the next 30 days. How did it feel? Did you schedule your tasks at activities at times that make sense? Do you need to adjust things? Tweak anything that is not working on a case-by-case basis and assess again after 30 days to see how your new routine is working for you.
Create more strong routines
Now, that you have successfully have a solid daily routine, go ahead and create more day routine to automate your life. I have a morning routine, afternoon routine, evening routine, work routine, household routines, weekly routine and the list will just go on. But you have to remember one important thing, best routine is the routine comprising tasks that is easiest to follow. Do not skip any of the steps that is shared above, as it will hinder you from achieving your set goals or habits.
Conclusion
Finally, when creating your routine don’t worry about being perfect from the start—be flexible! Even a small change like drinking a glass of water goes a long way as part of your healthy daily routines. If something doesn’t work out right away, try again or tweak it until it feels right. It’s important to keep practicing so that your habit becomes part of your lifestyle.
Also, evaluate your thoughts and feelings about the tasks that you’re trying to include in your routine. If you feel that exercise doesn’t feel like something that fits into your life right now because you are feeling tired or stressed out, then exclude that from your life for now and you can come back and add on later.
Good luck!!!
P.S.: Of course, if you have your own advice, feel free to share! 😉