If your days are filled with stress, chaos, and disorganization, you’ll benefit from creating a daily routine. Routines don’t have to be restrictive and monotonous – they can be easy and comfortable, and in fact, those are the routines that work best. A daily schedule is only good if you follow it, and if it’s too rigid, you’ll ignore it after a while. The key to building an effective daily routine is creating one that works with you and specifically addresses your needs. It shouldn’t be too vague or rigid, but structure is important.
A good routine will help you move through the day with more ease, comfort, and flow. Here’s how you can create that for yourself.
- Build a morning routine that works for you
Some people like waking up at 4:00 a.m., while others need to sleep for a few more hours. Just because other people start their day early doesn’t mean you need to do the same. Forcing yourself to get up too early won’t automatically make you more productive – it will just make you more tired.
When you build your daily routine, make it work for you. Your morning will set the tone for your whole day, so avoid jumping right into emails and scrolling on social media before you’ve had a chance to spend some time in peace.
The worst morning routine is one where you rush around frantically trying to get ready for the day because you’re already late for work. This will put your body into fight or flight mode and keep your stress levels high.
Starting your day with intention will establish a positive tone for the rest of the day. It can be as simple as drinking a glass of water, doing gentle stretches, or taking a brisk walk around the block.
- Pay attention to your clothing
Your routine begins with waking up in the morning and getting dressed. Whatever you put on is what you’ll be wearing for the day, and if you aren’t comfortable, it can be a huge distraction from the rest of your routine. For instance, if you’re wearing uncomfortable shoes, you might struggle to focus on your daily work tasks.
Support yourself by making it a point to dress as comfortably as possible. For example, compression socks are one of the easiest (and most overlooked) comfort upgrades. They can ease achy, tired feet by encouraging better circulation and preventing swelling. And when your feet feel good all day, you’re more likely to stay on task and not be tempted to give up on your responsibilities.
- Identify your non-negotiables
Certain activities or habits that support your health should be permanent fixtures on your daily calendar. Things like exercise, creative time, and rest are crucial for your well-being. But don’t just pencil them in – treat them like they’re carved in stone and don’t constantly move them around to make other people happy. Protect your time like your life depends on it.
- Schedule buffers between your tasks
Scheduling your tasks is the key to productivity, but don’t schedule them too closely or you might fall behind. For example, if you schedule two tasks back-to-back, and your first task runs over by 15 minutes, you’ll be 15 minutes behind on your next task. Putting a buffer of 15-30 minutes between each task will give you extra time to finish important activities, manage unexpected breakdowns, and handle meetings or phone calls that go over time.
- Schedule downtime into your day
While it’s important to schedule your tasks, it also helps to schedule downtime into your day so you don’t skip it. When downtime becomes a built-in part of your daily routine, you won’t accidentally overwork yourself without taking a break. You’ll also have a predictable break schedule, which means if anyone asks you to do something at a certain time, you can check your schedule and avoid sacrificing a much-needed break.
- Make meals part of your day
It might sound silly to think about scheduling your meals, but if you don’t have meal breaks on your daily schedule, there’s a good chance you’ll forget to eat. By the time you remember food exists, you could be knee-deep in an important task you can’t pause.
Schedule a lunch break for midday and have snacks on hand so you can take a quick ten minutes to eat in the afternoon if needed.
Your routine should be your own
While a jam-packed routine can make you feel superhuman, it’s important to be realistic about what works for you. An effective routine doesn’t have you checking off as many tasks as possible; it’s one that supports your daily goals without dropping you at the end of the day. The goal isn’t to get more done – it’s to maintain your wellbeing while doing what matters.
