Mastering the Art of Routine
Welcome to your journey towards a more structured and fulfilling life! Are you overwhelmed with too much to do and too little time? You're not alone. In today's fast-paced world, our lives and schedules are packed with activities and to-do lists. The key to staying on track is creating a routine. From children to seniors, routines play a crucial role in how well we function. While many view routines as dull or rigid, there are numerous benefits to having a personalized routine. In this blog, we'll explore practical steps and tips to help you build a daily routine that optimizes your mind, body, and spirit, ultimately leading to a more productive and stress-free life.
Starting fresh
The benefits of routine
Feeling overwhelmed with too much to do and too little time? You're not alone! Our lives and schedules are often jam-packed with activities and to-do lists. The key to staying on track is creating a routine. From children to seniors, routines play a crucial role in our overall functioning. While routines might seem dull or rigid, they offer numerous benefits when tailored to fit your lifestyle.
Firstly, having a routine increases our efficiency, which is vital for anyone with a busy schedule. By designing a structured routine, we eliminate the need to plan our activities each morning, saving precious time. Structure provides a framework for our lives and daily activities, reducing the time spent on planning, decision-making, and preparation.
Moreover, routines help build healthy habits and break bad ones. Repetition is essential for developing good habits. Following a set routine enables us to cultivate practices that align with our goals and aspirations, gradually replacing poor habits with better ones.
To kick off your new routines, start by writing down a few goals. Begin with a long-term list and then break it down into short-term goals to help prioritize your daily tasks.
Find your inspiration from others
“Out of routine comes inspiration” -Mark Kostabi
There are many ways to create routines throughout your day, and successful entrepreneurs often attribute their success to well-structured daily routines.
Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square and co-founder of Twitter, relies on routine to balance his dual roles. He credits his success to being disciplined and practiced. His routine revolves around daily themes, such as company management on Mondays and growth, marketing, and communications on Wednesdays. Even his weekends are themed for relaxation, leisure, and preparation for the upcoming week.
Benjamin Franklin also followed a strict daily routine, allocating specific times for sleep, meals, and work.
Political figures like Winston Churchill and Barack Obama had demanding schedules that required stringent planning. Both men prioritized family meals, often rising early to catch up on news and working late into the night.
As you can see, routines are a common thread among successful individuals. While you may not have meetings with prominent heads of state, managing tasks like getting the kids to school, meeting personal deadlines, and finding time for social activities are equally important.
Whether you want to theme your days like Jack Dorsey, schedule your day by the hour like Benjamin Franklin, or prioritize specific events like Barack Obama, the key is creating a routine that works for you.
If you need further help determining which method will work best for your lifestyle, feel free to reach out!
You can have it all
The only possible way to have it ALL is with structure
Margot Hattingh said, “The only possible way to have it ALL is with structure and the discipline to keep to it, to make it a routine.”
To create your own personalized routine, start by making a list of everything you need to accomplish daily, both at home and at work. This list isn't a to-do list but a comprehensive rundown of your daily activities and tasks.
Next, determine if you’re an early bird or a night owl. Early birds tend to be most productive before lunchtime, while night owls often hit their stride in the evenings. It's important to recognize your natural rhythm and group tasks according to when you're most productive.
Now, get specific with your schedule. Based on your list, create a detailed plan that suits your style. For some, this might mean an hour-by-hour breakdown, while others might prefer dividing the day into broader segments like morning, midday, and evening. Tailor the schedule to your preferences.
It's crucial to build in some flexibility. Unexpected tasks will inevitably arise, such as a dentist appointment. Designate flexible time slots in your schedule for these unplanned activities, and keep your most productive times reserved for your essential daily tasks.
Once you have a framework for your routine, give it a try. Start with a week and make adjustments as you go. After 30 days, evaluate how your routine is working. Pay attention to how it makes you feel. If you find yourself more stressed, make further adjustments. The purpose of a routine is to make life easier and to help you be more productive.
Become your best self
Optimize Your Mind, Body, and Spirit
Are you ready to build a daily routine that optimizes your mind, body, and spirit? Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Once you establish a healthy routine, you'll realize how draining it used to be without one. By neglecting activities that make you feel better, you deprive yourself of energy and well-being. Habits like exercising, meditating, and creating gratitude lists are easily brushed aside but essential for energizing you throughout a long day of tasks.
Tiredness often results from not achieving goals. Tasks take longer when you lack energy, and anything at the bottom of your to-do list gets pushed to tomorrow, if done at all. Here are tips for optimizing your mind, body, and spirit to achieve your goals with a healthy daily routine.
To optimize your mind, start each day with a positive mantra. This sets your intention for the day. Spend a few moments visualizing your success. Jack Canfield, co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, suggests practicing visualization for 10 minutes daily to harness the power of your subconscious mind.
Optimizing your body involves taking care of it. Practice deep breathing exercises like 'power ratio breathing' or 1:4:2 breath: inhale for 1 second, hold for 4, then exhale for 2. A healthy diet and regular exercise are crucial. Incorporate foods like fish, nuts, seeds, avocado, and berries into your daily diet. Find an exercise you enjoy, whether it's a walk in the park or a 7-minute workout challenge, and make it part of your routine.
Meditation is an excellent way to optimize your spirit. It helps you live in the moment rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Practicing gratitude is another great way to uplift your spirit. Spend a few minutes each day writing about things you're grateful for.
No matter how you choose to optimize your mind, body, and spirit, ensure it becomes a part of your daily routine!
start your day right
Rise and shine!
By starting your morning off healthy, you're more likely to continue making healthy choices throughout the day. One right decision often leads to another, and the same goes for bad choices. To set yourself up for a successful day, consider incorporating these expert-recommended habits into your morning routine:
Before even getting out of bed, take a few deep, intentional breaths.
Start your shower with cold water to wake you up and energize you.
Kick off your morning with a glass of lemon water.
Nourish your body with a plant-based breakfast, such as bananas and almonds or avocados.
Complete a series of five-rep exercises like push-ups and crunches.
Set aside 10 minutes for meditation or journaling.
If you have little ones to get off to school, try completing these tasks before they wake up. This will give you some quiet time to yourself before the hectic morning begins.
When you're feeling discouraged or in a slump, remember that actions breed motivation, not the other way around. By maintaining positive actions, you'll find the motivation to continue making positive choices.
You should be at the center of your routine
The best routine is the one that's perfectly tailored to you
When creating a new routine, start by examining your current one. Track your activities for a week without making changes. Simply jot down what you do throughout the day and how long each activity takes. Don't analyze your days too deeply; this exercise is just to give you a general idea of where improvements can be made.
Once you've completed your list for the week, sort activities by their meaning. Assign '+' and '-' symbols to indicate the activities that are most meaningful to your life's purpose or those you find to be a waste of time. This will help you see whether your daily actions align with your ideals.
Every successful routine incorporates four essential aspects:
Biological Needs
Ensure you allocate time for essential activities like showering, sleeping, and eating.
Meaning
From your list of activities, select the ones that hold the most meaning and rank them in order of importance. You might create a 'meaning hierarchy' that looks something like this:
Work on my business
Pursue knowledge (study/read/absorb)
Create art
Reward/Pleasure
Make time for rewarding activities, but as a general rule, ensure that no pleasurable activity is unearned.
Social
Everyone needs time to socialize, even introverts. Determine how much social time you need and list activities like going to the cinema, a bar, a friend’s house, or a restaurant. These activities don't need to be planned out in advance, but make sure your routine allows space for your ideal number of social engagements.
For more tips on daily routines, check out Lifehack's guide on powerful daily routines, which includes routines for:
Good health and more energy
An organized life
More productive work
A stronger relationship
Time for bed
Evening Habits to Make You More Productive
According to Mason Currey, “One's daily routine is a series of choices. In the right hands, it can be a finely calibrated mechanism for taking advantage of a range of limited resources.” A successful day often starts the night before, and there are numerous techniques to ensure you have a healthy nighttime routine. Your evening should focus on relaxation to set you up for a productive next day.
Here are 10 evening habits to make you more productive, as suggested by revealyourbest.com:
Avoid Randomness: Steer clear of excitement or stress that might disrupt your sleep.
Eliminate Negativity: Negative emotions can affect your overall well-being.
Do What You Love: Engaging in activities you love helps your brain relax.
Plan the Next Day: Planning ahead boosts productivity and frees up time in the morning.
Read Goals: Keep a list of goals by your bed to read each night.
Reflect: Find something from your day to be grateful for.
Set Things Out for the Morning: Prepare your attire and organize your belongings for the next day.
Family Time: Make space in your routine for quality time with loved ones.
Personal Conviction: Program your thoughts with a personal declaration.
Visualization: Clearly imagine your perfect routine and how it should unfold.
By incorporating these habits into your nighttime routine, you'll set yourself up for a more productive and fulfilling day.
Even more benefits!
Time to get to work
Now that we’ve explored methods for creating the right routine, let’s look at even more benefits of sticking with one!
You’ve probably heard the adage, "practice makes perfect." Habits enable us to become more proficient and develop skills through regular repetition. If one of your goals is to draw like a seasoned artist, creating a routine that includes 30 minutes of drawing each day will help you achieve that.
Following a routine reduces the need for determination and willpower. Think about how little willpower it takes to brush your teeth in the morning. For most of us, it’s an automatic habit. Imagine if going to the gym could be this simple!
Did you know that adhering to a routine can help build self-confidence? This is crucial, as a lack of confidence often deters people from making positive changes in their lives.
Another great aspect of having a routine is saving money! If you know you’ll need fresh fruits and veggies every morning to juice, you can purchase your produce in bulk.
The number one benefit of building a routine is stress reduction. Too much stress is harmful to health. When you have a routine that works, you can eliminate specific stressors from your life. For example, rather than starting your day frantically searching the house for your keys, shoes, etc., you’ll know exactly where everything is.
Now that you know the benefits and have the tools, it’s time to get to work! Let me know if you need further assistance in creating a routine to suit your lifestyle.
Now that you have the tools and understanding of how to create an effective routine, it’s time to put them into practice. Remember, a well-crafted routine can lead to numerous benefits, including increased proficiency in skills, reduced reliance on willpower, boosted self-confidence, financial savings, and, most importantly, stress reduction. By making intentional choices and incorporating meaningful activities into your day, you can transform your life. Whether you aim to draw like a seasoned artist, become more organized, or simply enjoy a stress-free morning, the right routine can help you achieve your goals. Embrace the power of routine and watch how it enhances your overall well-being!
If you're not feeling your best, we are here to support you. Let's schedule a time to chat and explore how we can collaborate on a plan to help you feel better. Your well-being is important, and together, we can work towards finding strategies and solutions that align with your needs and goals.
