Here are five steps to help you make a daily routine for yourself, even if you’ve never had one. Creating a daily routine seems daunting at first. But you will soon reap the rewards when your productivity soars, morning meltdowns are reduced, and you find you actually have pockets of free time. Even better? Nothing is written in stone. As things in your life change, you can always tweak your daily routine, following the same steps you used to create your initial routine to help you form new and productive habits. If you feel like it’s too hard to remember all the tasks in one sitting, carry around a notebook to take notes throughout the day. No task is too small—if you want to work “brush teeth” into your daily routine, put it on the list.
Mornings: Mornings are often about getting out the door, which can be its own challenge. Group all your early tasks, such as feeding and walking pets, preparing breakfast, or putting dinner in the slow cooker. For the rest of the morning, consider tasks you’ll want to do while you’re still fresh. And think about tasks that you tend to dread or procrastinate. Schedule them for the morning, so they’re not looming over you all day. Midday: This is a tricky time of day because your energy levels—and perhaps the caffeine from your morning coffee—have likely dissipated. However, this means you might be primed to do the boring, routine stuff that doesn’t take a lot of brainpower. Use midday time for tasks like answering emails, setting appointments, and running errands. If you are based at home during the day, use this time for routine cleaning, such as emptying and loading the dishwasher or scrubbing the bathroom. Evening: Evenings work best when they’re used for planning and preparation for the next day. Lay out your clothes, pack lunches, and declutter the spaces that tend to be drop zones, such as mail piles.
6 a.m.: Wake up, shower6:30: Breakfast, brush teeth7: Leave the house7:15: Drop off kids at school7:30: Arrive at the office
That’s a very detailed daily routine example for an adult. But some people might prefer that level of detail—at least until they get the hang of the routine. For instance, you might have a doctor’s appointment during time you usually set aside for work. Or your evening time when you normally prepare the next day’s lunch might be taken up by a social gathering. Scheduling free time into your daily routine will help to keep things flowing smoothly in spite of atypical events. You’ll be able to shift around tasks and still get everything done without feeling pressed for time. Commit to the routine for at least 30 days. And tweak any scheduling that isn’t working on a case-by-case basis. Once your tasks are slotted into the right spots, you should find sticking to your daily routine to be easier than you ever thought.
