How To Create A Daily Routine That Sticks – 7 Simple Tips

Use these 7 productive steps to create a daily routine that works best for you and makes you look forward to getting things done.

When I first started this blog, I knew I wanted to help my readers create a daily routine that is suitable for their lifestyle.

I am someone who loves experimenting with her schedules.

My drawers are full of colorful notepads, daily planners, and to-do lists that I love sprawling on my bed when I’m working on a new routine.

This is a task that never gets boring or tiring for my being; it’s one of the things I can probably do in my sleep (okay, that’s an exaggeration, but let’s assume it’s true.)

Mind you, scheduling wasn’t always this fun for me.

A few years back, I thought I was living the life because my routine was tight and stayed the same for months.

I didn’t realize I hadn’t built that routine on my own; I was just going along the motions of life and letting other people’s schedules mold my own.

When I finally gave myself permission to take charge of my schedule, a new problem arose – I was good at laying out solid plans, but couldn’t seem to stick to them if I had no external obligations to follow through.

But thanks to my obsession with all things related to scheduling, I was able to find some simple ways to make my routines stick. 🙂

Before I share my secrets on how to create a daily routine, let’s look at the golden benefits of having a routine that works for you.

The Importance Of Having A Routine

A routine is important to create balance and structure in life.

Without a schedule to follow, we become wanderers who don’t quite know what to do with their time.

It’s fun to be in flow with the universe, but routines can help you be in command of your own waves.

Here is what a simple daily routine can do for you:

• Keeps you stress-free
• Gives you full control over your day
• Reduces chances of procrastination
• Sharpens your time-management skills
• Increases your focus and attention
• Improves your mental health

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In this post, I share some simple ideas to create a daily routine that works for you.

You’ll also find some helpful tips on how to make your routine stick while keeping things light and stress-free for yourself.

Let’s dive in.

How To Create A Daily Routine

1. Assess Your Current Routine

A quick self-introspection session will help you determine why you’re looking to create a daily routine.

When you’re setting out to make any changes, your reasons for wanting those changes should be crystal clear.

This lays down a solid foundation upon which you can build a strong routine.

These self-assessment questions might help:

• What are the things you want to change about your life?
• What aspects of your current routine do you want to let go of?
• What are the things you’d like to keep the same?
• Are there any toxic habits you might be indulging in?

I usually figure out the answers to these questions in the form of a journal entry. You can create a list of habits you’d like to quit.

Just be sure to adopt a non-judgment perspective; it won’t do you much good to see your current life in a bad light.

Always remember that self-improvement is about making things better. It never asks you to put yourself down.

So when you set out to change your routine, be kind to yourself, let go of your past mistakes, and appreciate every little progress you’ve made so far.

2. Make A List Of Things You Want In Your New Routine

After you’re done analyzing your current life, it should be easy to visualize all the things you’d like to add to your new routine.

Here are some daily goals that are highly acclaimed by all the wellness practitioners;

• Wake up early
• Nurture a positive morning routine
• Eat all your meals on time
• Follow a proper skin-care routine
• Exercise every day for the ultimate body wellness
• Do yoga twice a week
• Practice at least 10 minutes of meditation
• Read at least one page of a book
• Go to bed on time

Try to keep your list simple and realistic. You’ll have a chance to update it later on when you’re looking to upgrade your routine.

In the beginning, it’s best to keep things light and easy for yourself.

Similar Post: 10 Important Things To Do At The Beginning Of Every Month

3. Create A Rough Schedule

You already have a list of habits you’d like to include in your new routine.

Now you just need to alott time periods to these habits and arrange them in an order by making a schedule.

If you like the concept of time-blocking, you can create a solid schedule using Google Calendars. I do this occasionally when I am in the mood to stay organized.

But lately, I’ve been enjoying keeping things flexible, so a rough schedule does the job for me.

For anyone who’s been struggling to be on a routine, I’d recommend mapping out a flexible schedule in the beginning.

If you jump straight to blocking all your time slots, you might end up feeling overwhelmed.

For a better idea, have a look at my current schedule:

• Wake up on time for my 5am morning routine
• Have breakfast by 9 am
• Work till the afternoon, with short breaks in between
• Have lunch by 2 pm
• Work till 5 pm
• 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation
• Workout at 6 pm, followed by a shower and skincare
• Dinner by 8:30 pm
• Self-care night routine till 9:30 pm
• Go to bed by 10 pm

I keep updating my scheduling from time to time, but this is pretty much how my days look like. By keeping things flexible, I’m able to stay relaxed and be more mindful of my time.

4. Build One Habit At A Time

If you try to go after all your desired habits at once, you make the job of creating a routine harder.

It’s a mistake I see many people make, which results in their habits not sticking for long.

I know you want to have a productive morning routine, work out every single day, and start meditating to improve your mental health.

But if you attempt to build these habits in a single day, you’ll most probably fail.

Realize that your mind is a complex entity. It is capable of attaining great things, but it won’t be okay with you dumping unrealistic goals on it all at once.

To create a routine that you can stick to for a long time, start with one habit that you find the easiest, then work on it for the next few days.

For example, when I was building my morning routine, I first focused on consuming a protein-rich breakfast. I had just this one task in the beginning, so I found it easier to stick to it.

Within a few days, I was able to add other morning habits like journaling, waking up on time, and doing yoga.

This method has contributed majorly to my structured way of life, and so I can vouch for it from personal experience.

A Post I Highly Recommend: 10 Insanely Simple Daily Habits To Improve Your Life

5. Use A Notebook For Daily Planning

If you want to cultivate a routine mindset, it’s best to put your intentions into words.

Simply creating a schedule and sticking it to your cupboard isn’t enough. Though that’s a brilliant idea too and works well for people who have a consistent routine.

But from what I’ve observed so far, every day is a new day.

You might have the same schedule, but there are bound to be tasks that need to be modified. Not to mention your chores may vary day-to-day.

This is why I recommend keeping a notebook in which you can plan your daily routine.

Start your mornings by writing down your routine in a notebook.

Create a to-do list of activities that need to be done by the end of the day, like getting a haircut, buying groceries, cleaning your room, etc.

You also have the option to plan your meals in advance and be in control of your diet.

Tick off the tasks as you go about your day, and keep your notebook close so that you have the option to modify your routine at any point during the day.

Using a planner will make you more mindful, make the task of scheduling exciting, and help you beat procrastination.

6. Make Time For Rest

In school, I took pride in having a hectic routine that kept me on my toes 24/7.

I thought being productive equaled ‘being busy all the time.’ This mindset gave me a fast-paced life and messed up my mental health.

There is an appeal to the idea of running around with your hands full of impending tasks.

It almost makes you feel like a girl boss, but honestly, this isn’t a healthy way to cultivate a good routine.

The days of finding success through hustling are behind us.

We’re in an age where wellness demands to be prioritized, and the easiest way to do this is to give yourself plenty of rest during the day.

This won’t make you unproductive. In fact, taking regular breaks is recommended to boost your performance and keep your mind active.

Before moving to a different task for the day, take a few moments to bring your awareness to the present.

If you feel exhausted, hit pause and indulge in self-care without any guilt. There should be plenty of time to sit, relax, and breathe.

This will help you practice mindfulness and appreciate the beauty of slow living.

Related Post: 11 Important Signs You Need A Mental Break In Life

7. Be Patient

Most of us find it hard to create a daily routine and actually stick to it in the long term. That’s because it takes time and effort to create new habits.

When you’re starting out with your routine, expect to have slip-ups and low motivation on some days.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. So, be ready to put in your time, effort, and dedication while creating a routine.

Self-discipline helps, but more than that, it’s important to be patient and take things one day at a time.

Here’s how you can make your routine stick while being patient:

• Keep adapting according to the new demands of your life
• Don’t hesitate to delete what’s not working for you
• Keep your daily planner in your sight
• If need be, modify your plans
• Don’t stress yourself over your routine – it never helps
• Set small, achievable, and realistic goals
• Reward yourself for challenging tasks done right

Routines Give Your Life Structure

You don’t have to be overly strict with your routines; it’s completely okay to have a slow and simple schedule.

How you spend your time should be in alignment with your goals, dreams, and vision. This is the true purpose of having a routine.

To create a routine that works for you:

• Assess your current routine
• Make a list of things you want in your new routine
• Create a rough schedule
• Build one habit at a time
• Use a notebook for daily planning
• Make time for rest
• Be patient

These are the 7 tips that have never failed me in my personal routine planning.

Pick up the tips that make sense to you, and don’t hesitate to discard the ones that don’t make sense to you.

If there’s anything I can help you with, reach out to me through the comment box. Queries, suggestions, and feedback are always welcome.