We’ve all been there, promising ourselves we’ll wake up at 5 a.m., meditate for an hour, knock out 100 push-ups, and then tackle that to-do and that daily routine we have scheduled like a boss.
But let’s be honest, most days we’re lucky if we manage to roll out of bed before the clock strikes noon and find our way to the coffee maker without tripping. We fail to follow the routine and miserably end up in the same old self-blaming cycle.
After several failures at following a consistent daily routine, you end up feeling discouraged and call yourself lazy.
But what if I tell you, the problem is not your incapability of following a routine, it is not knowing the right way to plan our time and plan daily routine to fit your lifestyle.
As important it is to have a daily routine, it is even important to have one that is special made for you and to satisfy your lifestyle.
We all are not same, we have different lifestyles, it is important that your daily routine aligns with your lifestyle, if not, you will keep trying to do it only when you are motivated enough and finally push it aside on days when you are not motivated.
But worry not, through this post I will teach you how to plan your day and will share tips on how to make a daily schedule for yourself.
Here are 5 Tips to plan your daily routine like a PRO!
1. Set Realistic Goals [No, you do not have wake up at 5 am and still get things done]:
Let’s face it, if you are not a morning person, trying to wake up at 5 am every day is just setting yourself up for failure.
So, the best thing you can do for yourself to have a consistent lifestyle is to start small and set realistic goals that work for, not against you.
Let me break it down further, please take a pen and paper, sit in a quite place and follow below steps:
- Now, make a list of things that you want to achieve, list of things that will lead you in the direction you want in life, write down your goals and the lifestyle you imagine for your future.
- Visualize and write down how you want your future self to lead their life, and what habits do they have?
- Once you have completed this, since we are taking it nice and slow, write today’s date and note down 5 habits you want to form to achieve your goals. 5 things that are crucial for you in your life.
- now set priority to your goals, for example, you might have goals like fitness, learn something for your career, mental health goals, etc. out of these, list them in an order from top to low priority.
- Along with high priority you should also write down some non-negotiables, like focusing on your mental health and physical health and your hygiene.
- Well done, you have successfully narrowed your goals. Now, we will see how you can create a routine that will help you achieve these goals.
If you find it difficult to do it on paper you can use a any available template on canva.
2. Create a Daily Schedule:
Once you have set your goals, it is time to make effort to include them in your daily routine and be consistent.
- Write down your current routine
Even if 7 hr per day in your current routine is watching Netflix or scrolling Instagram, it is fine, just note it down, make a table in the paper and write how you spend your day, which activities you perform, if you are a student or working professional, block the particular hours in your day.
- From your current routine you have noted down in the paper, identify patterns or activities that consume lot of your time but are not pushing you towards success or progress.
- Beside the activity write down how many hours of your day it is consuming.
- Ask yourself, if you keep spending these your day In the same way, will you regret in the future for not working hard on your goals?
- If your answer is yes, then out of each activity that is not contributing to your betterment, you have noted down number of hours, right? Divide it by half.
Yes, by half, remember start slow, we do not want you to fall back into the old patterns now, do we?
- Replace half of the time by allocating it to list of items that you want to achieve.
Remember, you start as slow as spending 20 min a day, and by trying 15 min early each day, to form a neat consistent routine, we want to focus on making it your habit.
Now make a routine where you complete your most priority goals in the first half of your day, it can be either in the morning or evening, anytime of the day you are comfortable with.
And accommodate minor tasks that take just 10-20 min in between your work schedule, it will help you with time management also.
3. Prioritize Self-Care [Yes, that means Netflix Time]:
While you are planning for your routine and being productive, never forget that success and consistency and luxury is all nothing but a shell, if you are not fulfilled from within.
The most Self-loving things you can do is to allow yourself to rest when needed, taking a couple hours to yourself without obsessing over future, past or anything is the true luxury, and I want you to experience it.
Make time for activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul [even if that means binge watching your show or going to park and do nothing but sit under a tree, anything that will make you live in present and feel grateful.]
Following a consistent routine and prioritizing self care not only made be better person on whole but also helped me overcome my fear of living alone .
Remember your routine is not only about improving, but enjoying the moment too, only then, it will last longer.
4.User Your Time Wisely [no more procrastination]:
You have crafted your perfect daily routine; it is time to get started with your day and follow the path you worked hard to build to achieve your goals and dream lifestyle. But you can do it after just 10 min minutes right, yes, we will do it at 8:30 exactly. Oops, it is 8:32 already, oh no, I do not have any option but to do it from 9.
If this is how you keep talking to yourself and delaying the tasks, you have to stop NOW.
Procrastination – been there, done that, nothing good comes out of it except for the immense guilt of wasting time and wasted potential.
Here are somethings that helped me stop procrastinating and complete my tasks as planned.
Use the Pomodoro Technique:
work for 25 minutes and take a break for 5 min and then repeat it again, for every hour it can take up to 10-15 min of break.
This way, you will not be burnt out by continuous work, you will have your high focus for 25 min or short periods of time.
And, breaks are essential, by any means, do not push yourselves to a point where you will break, your brain and body will thank you for few little harmless breaks and also you will be back much stronger.
5.Make Time for Something New:
One thing that helped me be consistent and exited is leaving at least 30 min or 1 hr empty for a day or couple days once, so, that it gives me opportunity to try new things.
We human beings are not made to sit and obey, we are made to learn and evolve, so let yourself do that.
Leave some time out to learn something and new who know you might end discovering you passion and purpose in life or you will end up having a list of things you tried but did not work out for you.
But you get to look back and feel proud of the effort you have put and the things you have tried and the experiences you have been blessed with.
Conclusion:
Planning a routine that keeps you productive is all about finding a balance that works for you. Don’t be too hard on yourself and remember to make time for things that bring you joy.
Create a routine that makes you feel good [not just productive]!
