Table of Content
Introduction
Why a daily routine
How to get started
Make a List
Schedule with You
Test Run
Additional Resources It has been almost 2 years since we have been reluctantly tossed our old way of living through the window and welcomed the new mode of living. Amidst this change, gurus and books have consistently emphasized the importance of a daily routine. But why is it so crucial? What benefits can it bring? This blog post aims to delve into these questions, exploring the reasons behind the emphasis on daily routines and the gains they can offer
Habits are powerful and hard to break, therefore it's good to make an active decision to form good habits. As John Maxwell once said "You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine."
Unless you are among the lucky percentile of the human population, extravagant living is not really an option these days. Many Caribbean nationals, like myself, have been forced into a mundane lifestyle. In Jamaica, we have raising cases, vaccine drives, curfews, lockdowns, no-movement, and whatever else ideas the government can find.
If we are not self-aware, we unconsciously form routines that are detrimental to both our mental and physical well being.
To avoid this trap, it is important we make a conscious choice to establish a solid daily routine. As a university student, this is even more crucial. Online or not, no one wants their college memories to be filled with all these lectures and assignments. But on the other hand, we paid too much money to be too relaxed and fail. The balance is won in our day-to-day living. What we do each day, repeatedly.
The best thing about daily routine is that it is all about YOU. You get to decide. Your decision influences your life. So for my first-timers, here are some quick tips to start actively forming a solid daily routine.
Make a list.
Write down all the habits and tasks you want to accomplish each day and week. This doesn't have to be organized. Think of it as a brain dump. As you go throughout your day, write activities that you do often or want to start to do often
Here's my sample list as an example
Listen to ITM podcast
Morning Stretches
Attend classes
Take out garbage
Wash dishes
Re-Watch Chem1810 tutorial
2 episodes of Money Heist
Structure Your Day With Yourself
Who are you? Are you a night/day person? When do you have the most energy? Do time blocks work for me? These are important questions to get going in formatting your routine. Remember it's all about YOU.
For me, I like to use time blocks (with room to spare). For example:
7-8am Get Up and Bathe
8-8:30 Eat breakfast
Sure it won't take me an hour to get up and bathe most times. But on days when my bed is feeling a little extra nice, it may take a while so that hour gives me enough wiggle room.
Test Run
You created your routine. It may be structured for the entire day to the T or more fluid. Whatever works for you. The next step is to test-run it for a week or two. See what activities you struggle with, do you need more time for a task, what other habits do you want to incorporate? Switch out what doesn't work and tighten any loose screws.
Warning: starting a daily routine, new habits, etc. for a beginner takes time. So be patient with yourself and input flexible time frames and tasks. This will also work on your discipline.
I hope my aim of convincing you to establish a daily routine was a success. And that you even went further to follow my tips to create one for yourself. I will leave below some cute templates I found online for you to play around with or if you are like me, you prefer the usual pen and paper.
Continue to Be Liv-tastic. Chao
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