Healthy, consistent daily routines are the dream of many and the reality of a few.
We all have routines, but what about healthy ones?
According to a Reviews.org study, 88.60% of respondents said they checked their phones within the first 10 minutes of waking up.
To build consistent daily routines that serve, not sabotage us, we need some strategies.
In this article, you’ll learn why you should create a daily routine and common mistakes people make when creating new routines.
We’ll also show how to make a daily routine that works for you with insights from someone who already does it.
Shall we begin?
What Are the Benefits of Creating a Routine?
People with routines have a structured approach to their days.
They have a consistent daily schedule that eliminates guesswork about what to do next. As a result, they spend less time making decisions and more time completing tasks.
Let’s have a look at the key benefits of creating a daily routine.
More productivity
According to a survey by Harvard Business Review, 92% of highly productive people adhere to structured morning routines.
These routines set the tone for the day. They minimize decision fatigue and help people stay productive throughout the workday.
We’ve spoken with George Chasiotis, Managing Director at Minuttia, about the power of building daily routines and how to do it.
He advises that people front-load tasks that require a lot of mental energy in the morning to make the most of their rested brains.
Improved time management
People who plan their days and allocate specific time slots for tasks throughout the day are more likely to manage their time better.
They have a clear daily plan that helps them prioritize work, avoid procrastination, and meet their deadlines.
Better work-life balance
When people plan their days by implementing specific routines, they have a better idea of how they spend their time.
As a result, they can set boundaries between work and personal time to reduce burnout and create a healthy balance.
Also, a balanced routine that includes time for self-care, exercise, and hobbies can improve mental health.
Consistent and predictable routines help people feel more in control of their time and might make them less anxious.
Higher chance of achieving goals
Consistent good habits and structured time blocks keep you focused and motivated. That’s why adding goals to your daily routines increases your likelihood of achieving them.
How to Make a Daily Routine That Works
We are all unique beings, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to building a daily routine.
However, here are some general tips for creating a routine that works for you and that you can stick with.
Get clear on the ‘why’ behind your routine
People try to build routines for many reasons.
It might be that they want to improve their health, earn more money, or be happier.
Regardless of what that reason might be for you, the first step in building a daily routine is to clarify your “why.”
Understanding your motivation helps you stay committed and design a routine that works and supports you.
Whether you aim to boost productivity, improve your health, or create more time for hobbies, knowing your “why” will guide your efforts.
According to George, this all starts with personal identity.
Identify your priorities
A routine that works includes things you care about. Your priorities. Otherwise, you’ll give up before you get started.
For some people, identifying priorities is easy. They know exactly what matters most and can quickly list their top tasks.
For others who juggle between a full-time job, family, and a side hustle, prioritizing might take some time.
Here are some tips that will help you identify your priorities:
- Start by making a comprehensive list of all the tasks and activities that are important in your daily life. Things like work, personal goals, family time, hobbies, or self-care time.
- Next, with immediate responsibilities, long-term goals, and personal values in mind, rank each task and activity in order of importance.
For example, your ranking might look something like this:
- Family time – spending quality time with loved ones.
- Work projects – completing important tasks and meeting deadlines.
- Health and fitness – regular exercise and maintaining a balanced diet.
- Personal development – learning new skills or furthering education.
- Hobbies and relaxation – engaging in activities that bring joy and relaxation.
Several tools out there can also help you identify and manage your priorities. For example:
- Time-tracking apps like Clockify or RescueTime can help you track how you spend your time and spot tasks that take most of your day.
- Priority tools like the Eisenhower Matrix can help you categorize your tasks based on urgency and importance.
- Keeping a bullet journal or using a planner can be useful for reviewing and adjusting priorities.
Create a list of daily tasks
Start your day with high-priority tasks that reflect your values and goals. You’ll be better able to avoid unnecessary distractions and focus on what really matters to you.
For example, if your health is a top priority, allocate specific times in your routine for exercise and meal planning, and avoid daily activities that take away from this time, like excessive social media use.
George advises to keep your to-do list simple at this stage:
You can use our free template to create your own daily routine easier and faster.
Allocate time blocks for each task
According to Cal Newport, author of Deep Work, “A 40-hour time-blocked work week produces the same amount of output as a 60+ hour work week pursued without structure.”
Time blocking is a time management technique people use to divide their day into blocks of time for specific tasks. Instead of working on tasks sporadically or multitasking, you choose to focus on one task at a time.
By blocking tasks or activities in your calendar, you have a visual reminder of what needs to be done. This can improve your chances of actually performing an activity and turning it into a long-term habit.
Here’s what time blocking can look like on a daily basis:
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Check and respond to emails.
- 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Deep work on important projects.
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Team meetings or collaboration.
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch break.
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Continue deep work or tackle secondary projects.
- 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Administrative tasks and planning for the next day.
- 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Exercise or personal health activities.
- 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Family time or personal hobbies.
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Dinner and relaxation.
- 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Reading or self-improvement activities.
- 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Wind down and prepare for bed.
Don’t forget about breaks
Daily routines can greatly improve your quality of life but, like all things, they should be balanced.
That means your routine should include breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. Short breaks can involve quick stretching, walking, meditation, or anything else that restores your energy levels.
Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Routine
We’ve looked at some tips that will help you build a routine that you stick to.
Now, let’s see what you should avoid on this journey.
Not being specific enough
Every routine is a series of habits and actions you take to achieve certain goals. But not enough people make routines specific enough to serve them.
General statements like ‘exercise more’ lack clarity and direction. How can you even measure progress or stay committed to such vague plans?
To create an effective daily routine, you need to be specific.
Instead of saying, ‘Exercise more in the morning,’ get to the specifics of your habit, ‘Go for a 30-minute run every morning’. How does this sound for an actionable plan?
Not preparing in advance
In Atomic Habits, James Clear talks about the importance of focusing on building good systems to support your routines.
One key element of a good system is preparation. How you plan your routine says a lot about whether you will stick to it or not.
We’ve got some tips for how to efficiently prepare your routine in advance:
- Plan, plan, and plan: Specifically outline your routine. Let’s say you want to exercise in the morning. What time do you need to wake up? What will you wear? Where will you exercise? Having awareness and a clear plan gives you a head start with your new routine because you know what to expect.
- Make your environment your friend: If you want to eat healthier or lose weight, don’t stack your kitchen with snacks and sweets. Instead, make healthy food easily accessible and hide the rest. Design your environment so it’s easy to follow healthy routines and hard to access bad old habits.
- Anticipate what might get in your way: What might disrupt your routine? If you want to make a routine of healthy home cooking, might after-work tiredness keep you from doing it? In this case, you can prepare meals in advance or have quick, healthy recipes at hand.
Falling prey to short-term gratification
It’s easy to let short-term pleasure detail your long-term goals. In fact, human brains are wired for survival and short-term gratification.
So, when building new routines, you need to fight your own nature. This sounds hard, and it can be, but it helps to stay focused on the bigger picture and remind yourself WHY you started the routine.
George believes this comes down to internal drive.
Making it too hard
One mistake many people make when starting a new routine is to set overly ambitious goals that are not sustainable.
If you aim too high from the start, you risk feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. Which, more often than not, causes people to abandon routines altogether.
What you want to do instead is to reduce friction between you and your new routine.
The third law of creating routines from Atomic Habits is to make the new habit easy.
Here’s how you can do that:
- Start small: Begin with the smallest possible version of your goal. For example, if your goal is to start going to the gym five times a week, aim to go just once a week. This is a smaller step that is achievable and less intimidating. George agrees on this one: “I would say that you have to start small and not try to do everything at once. Otherwise, you risk overwhelm. So, if you start going to the gym for 2 hours from the beginning, you’ll overwhelm your body and mind, and you’ll not be able to keep this workflow as a routine. Instead, train for 30 minutes or an hour initially, then gradually increase your time in the gym. Starting small is incredibly valuable in building healthy habits and consistent routines.”
- Make the process simple: Let’s keep the gym example. If you plan to work out at the gym in the morning, prepare your workout clothes and equipment as part of your evening routine the day before. The key here is to remove any unnecessary steps that might increase friction and make it harder to stick to your routine.
- Automate where possible: Technology can help you automate parts of your routine. For example, you can use your phone to set daily reminders for your workout time. You can also download fitness apps like MyFitnessPal for workout plans and progress tracking. Some people use calendar apps to schedule their workouts to ensure they allocate time for them.
Discover the best habit tracker apps to help you stick to your new daily routine.
Conclusion
Building a daily routine doesn’t need to be hard.
If you follow the tips and tricks you learned today, you are on the road to success.
Start small, build a system that supports your routine, plan your daily habits diligently, and remember to enjoy the process!
FAQs
This is up to you and your goals, but a key rule of thumb is to stay flexible when it comes to routines. Make a structure for what’s most important for you but leave some time for the unpredictable.
Highly productive people are consistent and stick to their routines. They also focus on high-impact habits that align with their goals. They are great at time management and avoiding distractions and procrastination.
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