Do you feel overwhelmed most of the time with everyday tasks, and no structure or plan to keep you on track with your goals? Creating & being consistent with a routine can be an awesome way to help you gain control of your everyday tasks, boost productivity, and ease stress.
One thing is certain: there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to crafting a daily routine. Instead, it’s a reflection of your individuality, your passions, and how you live your life. However, in this post, we will explore different ways of creating a personalized routine that aligns with your interests and what makes you tick generally.
Self-Examination
This step is essential in crafting your desired routine as it helps you determine your ‘why’. Important questions to note are:
- What are the goals and priorities I look forward to achieving in the long run with this routine?
- What time of the day do I feel most productive and energetic; What time of the day am I running on low-energy and what less strenuous tasks can I do?
- What activities do I enjoy doing the most; What activities do I struggle with?
- Do I struggle with any time-wasting habit that hinders my productivity? If yes, what can I do about it?
- How do I motivate myself to stick to my routine on days when I don’t feel like doing anything; How do I reward myself on days when I am consistent?
Setting Clear Goals
Just like the popular quote by Tony Robbins that says “Setting Goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible”, you need to attach a goal to your ‘why’. For example, if your goal is to be more physically active – you could set a goal to go to the gym five times a week. You could also set sub-goals by doing a mix of cardio and strength training exercises during the week.
In essence, whether it’s to make time for fitness or self-care, your routine should align with your ‘why’ and objectives, as this would give you a sense of purpose and direction.
Time Management & Time Tracking
Honestly, the point of allocating time for your routine tasks and tracking them is to ensure that you are consistent with them, hence you need to be realistic with how much time you are willing to allocate towards your goals (emphasis on being realistic). I love the variety on this side, so I’d be hooking you up on physical and digital time management options.
Planners, Notebooks and Calendars
Project Management sites like Notion, Trello, etc.
Google Calendar
Timer etc.
You might want to explore Zapier’s insightful article on time-blocking, and for my girlies interested in keeping tabs on their time, Forbes also has an informative article on time tracking.
Smart Small and Flexible
When creating a routine, it is very important to start small and track your progress from there. Having too many tasks to do at once can be overwhelming and most likely lead to burnout. From starting with a few tasks, it is also pertinent to factor in flexibility to be adaptable and be forgiving of yourself if unforeseen circumstances should arise.
Prioritize Self-Care
You can already tell by now from the previous posts that I am an advocate for prioritizing self-care and this is generally because, in the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, it’s so easy to get lost in it and forget about self-care. It doesn’t have to be something huge every time – it could be simple activities such as:
- Having mindful mornings – having a cup of your favorite tea or a few minutes of meditation before starting your tasks for the day.
- Taking care of your health by eating healthy as this would not only fuel your body but also improve your mental health.
- Taking breaks during the day to do your favorite activity – pamper yourself
- Practicing Digital Detox frequently.
- Having a good night’s sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours is an all-rounder for mental, emotional, and physical stability.
- Checking in with your emotions regularly.
- Make time to reflect and adjust
- By making time to incorporate self-care into your daily routine, you will be in the best mood to handle the tasks of each day.
Be Patient with Yourself
“Rome wasn’t built in a day”
John Heywood’s
To add to the quote above, perfection is a myth. When trying to create a routine that works perfectly for you, always remember that things might not always go as planned which is why I emphasized being flexible with your time and tasks. Being kind and patient with yourself means taking it easy on yourself even when things don’t go perfectly. It’s okay to give yourself a break sometimes as it can be really helpful.
Remember, your routine is meant to make your life better, not more complicated.
I hope you find these tips to create a routine that works for you useful and if you have been doing any of these, let me know which and how that’s working for you. If you have more tips, please leave them in the comment section below.
Until next time,
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