Why are daily routines important?
Daily routines have more benefits than many people may realize.
In fact, keeping a system of daily routines is one of the most common practices among highly successful people. Want to know why?…
Daily routines provide structure. Successful people are highly productive because they don’t sweat the small stuff. They don’t allow minor details or distractions to interfere with their regularly scheduled programming.
Their strict schedules are dictated by the daily routines they’ve set in place and their availability isn’t determined by distractions or events that randomly spring up.
Highly productive people also don’t waste time wondering what they’re going to do next.
Each slot of their day is allocated for specific tasks. House chores, cooking, working on their business, and family time have all been planned beforehand.
The predictability of their daily schedule puts them at ease. Furthermore, decreasing their likelihood of experiencing anxiety and high stress levels.
There’s no more worrying if Wednesday or Friday will be laundry day, what to cook for dinner, what to wear for work, or whose turn it will be to wash dishes with a routine in place.
Hyperfocus and creativity
We all have routines embedded into our day. They may not be as impactful or productive as we’d like them to be but for what it’s worth, they’re there.
Getting up and going to work, dropping the kids off at school, having dinner set on the table by seven and being in bed by nine – these are all daily routines.
We can, however, utilize them more effectively.
Recently, I went into depth about the morning routine that changed my life and detailed the many benefits of having one in my previous post. But we should also have afternoon and evening routines, too.
The latter half of our day should not be filled with uncertainty. Calendar blocking is a technique I often use to make room for important tasks to be completed, which allows me to zero in on larger projects.
When I return home from work I’m no longer concerned with day-to-day chores, but items that will either push the needle in my side business or help me nurture the meaningful relationships in my life.
Repeating routines until they are conducted out of habit frees up mental space for us to make critical decisions and enhances our ability to hone specialized skills while engaging in more stimulating, creative activities.
Less overwhelm
So, are you ready to rid yourself of stress when it comes to choosing between important and unworthy tasks?
Limited options on how to go about our day can be a good thing. Routines only become mundane when you aren’t using the time outside of them efficiently.
When I began limiting myself to working on three major tasks per day, my overwhelm decreased drastically. I no longer multi-task but single-task instead. Learn more about why I decided to make the switch here!
Selecting specific themes for each weekday is a new strategy I’ve been using as of late and I love it.
With multiple projects and platforms to manage, it’s pretty easy to get overwhelmed as a side hustle pro.
Monday through Friday I know whether I’m going to focus on my Youtube channel, create content for social media, design graphics, or write.
I wake up every morning knowing what to expect, which enables me to be more productive in shorter amounts of time as a result.
Building out a system of routines provides a framework to prioritize and balance what matters most in your life, not just your to-do list!
Paying bills and taking your children to extracurricular activities are important but don’t forget to dedicate time to your goals and dreams too.
Mornings should be used to set the tone for your day, but it shouldn’t be the only time you lend to yourself. Get in the habit of planning ahead for a simple, healthy well balanced life.
Interested in creating a new system of daily routines? Download a copy of the daily routine printable to help you get started today!
I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.
Routines are important. However, in my case, no matter how hard I try to stick to a routine, there is always something unexpected that throws me off course.
Good info on keeping a routine. It’s definitely needed for getting the most out of your day.
I particularly love daily routines, it helps me be organized and make the most of my time!
I’m so bad with multitasking. It’s gotten to the point now where it’s no longer really multitasking, but rather not being able to focus on one thing. I’ve started to plan some routines into my day, and it’s really been helping!
With the pandemic and school ending, it’s been important for me to find things to do every day. I don’t necessarily have a routine but I do make a list of chores/activities that I want to get done and it’s been so helpful.
So true. I try to give some structure to my days but it’s been hard lately with all the nonsense in the world lol. I definitely allocate time to my side and main job respectively.
This post is so timely esp. now that most of us are working from home and juggling different tasks and responsibilities all at once. How do you manage to stay on track in your routine when something unexpected happens? That’s where I’m having trouble most.
Routines are so important. One thing I have been trying to work on during this pandemic. There is no normal routine anymore.
Love your blog post. It was very informative. Great piece! I love the chores and activities section!
I really like the idea of having 3 major things to complete for that day. I think we tend to overwhelm ourselves and don’t leave ourselves time to really enjoy life because we’re too busy trying to do 50,000 things per day. Getting 3-5 major things done per day sounds great to me.
I need to have a routine otherwise I find myself feeling lost. My usual routine is getting up, coffee and then sitting at my desk to start my work. As long as I get something done before 13.00 I’m on track!
Hehe….I hope the likes of COVID-19 and it’s cousins were factored!
I’ve found that I am much more productive in a day when I have a routine. They’re very helpful in keeping you on track.
That is such a great printable! I know I always have better days when I have my schedule in place. It helps keep me moving in the right direction so I don’t get distracted all day.
Daily routines are important especially this pandemic. We cant even go out because of Covid. Thank you for sharing this routines.
I definitely think having a routine (or at least a rough template) has helped me stay more productive. I always do the same blogging tasks in the morning!
I am not a hyper schedule type of person, but I do like my ducks in a row. And I also no longer multitask. I try to stay focused on one thing at a time so I can get it done quicker and better. But I work at home and my kids are here with me, so sometimes it doesn’t always work out that way!
I have been wrote routines since pandemic. Like baking, looking for more work online and workout.
Routines and consistency are a great way to be productive. I have to say that I am not the best at sticking with a routine, but it would definitely help me to be organized.
Structure and routine is really important! I like the idea of tackling three major tasks each day to avoid overwhelm.
I find routines and schedule very productive. Energy is making me glow and work better. I overall fell great when I know what and when to do without much thinking. It also makes less regular days shine brighter
Thanks for all these tips. I especially appreciated the chores section hehe.and the printable for daily routines.
I’m not sure I could be this organised, but I do try to plan a few things I want to get done each day to help reduce stress and enable me to keep on top of things.
I agree with you that a routine is the best thing ever. Since I implemented mine it seems like I got more time on my hands.
I’ve done time blocking for a while on my google calendar. It’s amazing at keeping me focused and on track, Great tips!
I like setting schedules and goals. I’m very OC as a person so I also use checklists so I won’t forget anything.
I have a routine at work. If I deviate from it I feel unrestful.
Your points are really good. Some ways a routine can help include: Better stress levels lead to improved mental health, more time to relax and less anxiety. … Your sleep schedule and bedtime habits affect your mental sharpness, performance, emotional well-being and energy level.
We’re experiencing a growth phase within our community we’ve been building and it does feel overwhelming. Thanks for the tips to manage our own expectations and processes.
This is a great and timely post. Routines are so important. On days when I don’t follow a routine, I find that I become disorganized, less creative, and overwhelmed as opposed to when I do.
Pre covid, I had a routine, but now that we’re indoors, I’ve struggled to maintain one…but I try and get through items on my list for the week.