Quoting Mike Murdock, “The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.”
Ever since childhood, we develop habits. Some change with time, while others remain with us. Washing your face every day after waking up, is a habit. Making your bed is a habit. Drinking your coffee is a habit. But, when the sequence of these activities remains remains the same, it turns into a routine.
A combination of little habits put together, make up a person’s routine.
It embeds in the subconscious part of our mind and thus becomes a part of our daily life. Routines can either be destructive or constructive, depending on the activities included.
Basic importance of routine
Firstly, having a routine provides stability to us. Knowing what you are doing, how long it shall take, what task comes next – all this brings a certain peace of mind.
Next, they pave the way to complete subsequent tasks during the day. When you consciously repeat the routine over and over, it becomes easy to pay more attention to the different, changing activities you do (whether it is personal, professional, or social).
Lastly, following a routine promotes good health and self-care. You shall, inevitably, develop and nurture habits into your routine, which help you in the long run.
How to build a routine
Forming a routine takes time. It isn’t something you just develop overnight. There must be a reason for your routine – a reason that made your routine the way it is now. Leading its way from the conscious to the subconscious of your mind, it is something that helps shape you, over time. Thus, once a good routine is formed, most people do not break it for a major part of their lives.
- To begin with, you must determine what it is exactly, that you need to accomplish. By that, we mean, you must figure out what your long-term goal is. For example, if your goal is productivity, you must include activities in your routine that can help clear your mind, and hence, improve your daily productivity. This is the most crucial step, because your goals may change once you have achieved the previous one. Then, you may need to adjust activities in your routine too.
- Break your routine down into small steps. If you are an overthinker, this is especially for you – break it down into little segments. This way, you are not overwhelmed by even the thought of doing “so much”. Segmenting it, makes it seem achievable.
- Start with lesser amounts of time, and gradually increase it. Say, you are setting a routine for your evenings. You want to unwind after a long day at work (goal). Find activities that take your mind off the happenings during the day – read, cook, maybe play an instrument. Anything that requires hand-eye coordination. The first day might bring in distractions. The second day, try adding a few more minutes to the activity. Try giving it a decent amount of time by the end of a week.
- Reward your consistency. Let’s say you are learning a new skill and you devote a couple of hours after dinner, every day to studying and practicing it. Though it has become a part of your routine, it is alright to pause occasionally and do something else. Your rewards my vary according to your choice, but it is necessary that you remain your biggest cheerleader.
- Lastly, keep track of what you are doing. This allows you to control the time for each activity and check your progress. It determines how far you have come towards achieving your goal. Many successful people maintain a journal to do so. Think of it like a daily to-do list, in which you keep checking the boxes at regular intervals. Keeping track helps you move forward.
How to apply it to various aspects of your life
Forming personal routines allows a certain flow into your professional life and relationships, too. Once you have a set personal routine, it gives you time to dedicate to every aspect of your life.
Consistency is key. We cannot emphasise enough, the importance of consistency and discipline. It gives us a particular sense of satisfaction, which in turn, lowers stress.
This article in The New York Times may help you manage stress better.
Consistency generates good ethics. When you stick to your routine even on days you don’t feel a 100%, it trains your mind to push forward similarly at work and social life. Small steps, which we discussed above, lead to larger goals in every part of your life.
Your routine blends into your day and eventually becomes a part of you. It allows you to structure your day to include personal, professional, and social commitments.
How it impacts success
- Since you learn how to break down larger, complex goals into smaller steps, you can better apply it to your other problems too. This makes you an efficient problem solver. Not only can you identify the causes and effects but find solutions too.
- Routines ensure that your tasks don’t pile up. This frees your minds and grants you time for yourself.
- Inevitably, your efficiency increases. You know how to get something done within a fixed timeframe.
- Your mindset is changed – you shall notice a boost in confidence once you start achieving your little steps. And the discipline will guide a positive transformation in your personality.
- Most importantly, routine gives you a chance at some “ME” time. When you are no longer rushing from one activity to another, you have some time for yourself. Utilise it for anything that pleases you (like a reward) – music, reading, writing, meditation, pursuing a hobby, or a little nap. Some “ME” time rejuvenates your spirits and keeps you happy.
Break your day down into parts
- Morning Routine – this is ideally the routine you do entirely for yourself; personal growth
- Work Routine – creating a routine at work allows you to stay ahead of your tasks
- Evening Routine – this is the part of the day which you can dedicate to fulfilling your family and social obligations
- Night Routine – “ME” time; learn a new skill, read, write, music, etc.
#21daychallenge
Let us try a 21-day challenge, wherein we shall create, set, and stick to a routine.
- Set a goal
- Pick one part of the day
- Form a routine in Week 1 – trial and error to form a balance
- Increase time of self-care activities by a few more minutes in Week 2
- Reward yourself at the end of Week 3
Let us know in the comments about your #21daychallenge and share the magical power of routine with other readers.