How to Build a Daily Routine You’ll Actually Stick To

When people talk about the benefits of having a good daily routine, it can feel almost magical: increased productivity, reduced stress, feeling great about life and yourself… Who doesn’t want something like that? But figuring out how to create a daily routine schedule that works for you might feel a bit overwhelming… but it doesn’t have to!

That’s why, in today’s post, I’m sharing a simple three-step system to help you create a personalized daily routine checklist that works for you, your goals, and your lifestyle. I will also share my top tips on how to stay consistent with your daily routine!

This one is a biggie, so pin it or bookmark it so you can always come back later!

What Would Be A Good Daily Routine?

A good daily routine is more than just a schedule; it’s a personalized roadmap to a more fulfilling life through daily rituals. It should align with your priorities and goals, promote productivity and well-being, and be flexible enough to adapt to unexpected changes–because life happens! So, accounting for it when starting new habits like a daily routine will take the pressure off when, inevitably, something doesn’t go according to the plan.

When crafting your ideal daily routine, consider these elements:

• Productivity: A well-structured routine can boost focus, concentration, motivation, and efficiency.
• Well-being: A balanced routine can improve physical, emotional, and mental health.
• Flexibility: Be open to adjust your routine as needed to accommodate life’s unexpected twists and turns.

By incorporating these elements, you can create a daily routine that helps you feel energized, focused, and happy!

As we dive into a few ideas on how to write a daily routine, please keep in mind that the best routine is one that works for you! So feel free to use the next ideas as inspiration to experiment, adjust, and find what feels right.

How To Make a Daily Routine For Yourself?

Ready to create a daily routine that works for you? Let’s dive into a simple, three-step process to help you design a personalized daily routine schedule!

Step 1: Get Clear About Your Priorities And Goals 

Before jumping into the specifics of your daily schedule, allow yourself to get clear about your priorities and goals. Ask yourself these questions to get started: 

• What tasks or activities are non-negotiables and need to be accomplished every day? 
• Are there any long-term goals I want to work towards?
• What is one thing that, if accomplished every day, would make me feel like I “won” the day?

Answering these will help you clarify your priorities and goals and better align your daily routine and to-do list with what matters. They will be like your building blocks for everything else.

As I’ve shared at the start, it’s important to notice that life happens and priorities change. When that time comes, your daily routine should adapt.

But for now, focus on listing your daily responsibilities, including work, school, household chores, and personal activities.

After that, consider any other additional tasks or new habits you want to add to your daily routine to help you reach the goals you wrote about. 

It may be becoming consistent with physical activity, meditation, or practicing a hobby. Please add them to this list because sprinkling your daily schedule with activities that bring you joy and fulfillment is one of the secrets to staying consistent with the routine you are creating!

I know that most of us feel like we don’t have enough time or mental energy already, so the idea of adding something more to these tight 24 hours may feel overwhelming. But before writing that off, allow yourself to consider finally trying something you’ve been wanting to!

Recently, I re-designed my daily routine and added enrolling in a personal-style class and learning a new language to the list of things I wanted to incorporate into my daily (or at least weekly) routine. And I’m so happy I did!

Once I mapped my twenty-four hours, I could find hidden pockets of time and add these new activities without being overwhelmed. Apparently, I’ve always had the time! I just needed to rearrange some things to see it!

Step 2: Make Things Flexible From The Start

Now that you understand what matters and what you want to focus on let’s create a daily schedule that fits all of that nicely and will help you stay consistent!

First, assign specific blocks of time for each daily task and activity you listed in the first step. During my daily routine redesign, I grabbed a piece of paper and drew twenty-four squares, one for each hour of the day.

Then, I blocked the hours I’d be sleeping, allowing me to have sixteen open blocks of time that could be used for all those tasks I’ve listed.

Before you assign tasks to blocks, make sure to consider a few factors: 

• When do you get your peak energy levels? 
• When do you usually get the lowest energy levels? 
• How many of these commitments are out of the house? 
• For the “out-of-the-house” activities, how much time do you need to allocate for driving, public transportation, changing outfits, etc.? 
• What are potential obstacles that may come up throughout the day? 

Although I’m all about being productive, it’s essential to incorporate flexibility into your daily routine by giving yourself some wiggle room between time blocks. 

Unexpected changes and opportunities will happen, and they might mess up your gorgeous schedule. And that’s OK! It’s called living life, so don’t feel bad.

Yes, we create a daily routine to be more productive, but this shouldn’t be the only goal. It should also be about your well-being and overall happiness. So, too much restrictiveness will only make you feel trapped and bored in the long haul. And that’s a recipe for disaster (aka procrastination!).

Besides, it’s crucial to be honest about how many hours you have in the day versus how many things you want to do (my squares method will help you with that!).

Maybe some tasks like going to the gym are not an everyday thing but a three-times-a-week thing, for example. You can always establish a base daily schedule and add a few activities on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. 

Real-Life Examples Of How To Make The Most Of 24 Hours

As another example of my routine haul, I also wanted to start Yoga classes but didn’t want to leave my strength training for them. So I’ve decided that on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I will be at the gym from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I will use the same block of time to hit Yoga.  I have the same amount of time as before, but now they both fit my routine! It’s all about allowing yourself to see things from a fresh perspective.

Beyond that, don’t neglect the power of separating 15, 30-minute blocks for smaller tasks (or take bigger tasks in smaller chunks). I work on a few passion projects daily because I have a 30-minute block reserved before leaving my work desk. I also assigned 15 minutes daily for house chores catch-up, which has been a game changer!

Step 3: Experiment, Learn, Adjust… Repeat!

Building on my last point, creating the perfect daily routine will require trial and error. So don’t be afraid to try different combinations of schedules and routines until you find what works best for you. If things feel a little weird today, you can always try a new approach the following day!

Take mental (or physical, if that’s your thing!) notes on how you feel throughout the day, paying extra attention to whether your current routine is helping you achieve your goals and maintain a sense of balance and joy.

Your daily routine should be capable of adapting and growing with you over time. Be open to receiving feedback from your energy levels, emotional well-being (or lack thereof), and even your partner, friends, or close family members. 

Once figured out, a great daily routine schedule should feel like a well-oiled machine that makes everything else easier, giving your day rhythm and flow. 

It may take a few tries to get there, but oh, it’s so worth the journey! 

How To Make A Daily Routine For Yourself: Examples

Now that you have the three simple steps to create your daily routine schedule let’s look at some daily routine examples to help you fully integrate everything we discussed!

For this portion of the blog post, I’m using the example of women in three different seasons and lifestyles: 

• Working with no kids
• Working with kids
• Stay-at-home mom 

Daily Schedule For Work-Life Balance

Morning

• 6:00 am: Wake up, morning skincare routine, get ready for work 
• 6:30 am: Breakfast, review schedule and goals for the day
• 7:00 am: Commute to work (if not working from home) 

Workday

• 8:00 am – 5:00 pm: Work hours, including breaks and lunch. 

Evening

6:00 pm: Commute from work to gym 

6:30 pm: Yoga class

7:30 pm: Dinner prep

8:00 pm: Dinner with family or friends

9:00 pm: Slow down activities (reading, watching a show…)

10:00 pm: Evening skincare routine and prepare for bedtime

10:30 pm: Go to bed

Working Mom’s Daily Schedule

Morning

• 6:00 am: Wake up, personal morning routine, breakfast prep for the family
• 7:00 am: Get kids ready for daycare and drop them off 
• 8:00 am: Work commute (if not working from home)

Workday

• 9:00 am – 5:00 pm: Work hours, including breaks, lunch, and checking in with the family

Evening

• 6:00 pm: Pick up kids from daycare
• 6:30 pm: Family dinner and quality time together
• 7:30 pm: Help kids with homework or general family activities
• 8:30 pm: Kid’s bedtime routine
• 9:00 pm: Personal time
• 10:30 pm: Go to bed 

Stay-At-Home Mom Schedule

Morning

• 6:30 am: Wake up, personal morning routine
• 7:00 am: Breakfast for the family prep
• 8:00 am: Get kids ready for the day & morning playtime

Daytime

• 9:00 am: Household chores
• 10:30 am: Outdoor playtime or activities with the kids
• 12:00 pm: Lunch prep and family mealtime
• 1:00 pm: Naptime for kids
• 2:00 pm: Time for hobbies or errands
• 4:00 pm: Afternoon snack 

Evening

• 6:00 pm: Dinner prep and family mealtime 
• 7:00 pm: Family activities or relaxation time
• 8:00 pm: Kid’s bedtime routine
• 9:00 pm: Wind down activities for parents (reading, watching a show…)
• 11:00 pm: Skincare and bedtime

Please remember that these are just examples based on the 3-step framework we shared before. Please use them as a starting point and adjust them based on individual needs, schedules, and priorities.

Best Daily Routine For Success: My Final Thoughts 

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to daily routines.

Everyone has different goals, non-negotiables, energy levels, and priorities. Even when finding an initial daily routine schedule that might work for you, it will still need to be adjusted through trial and error until it fits you and your everyday life. 

Because of that, it’s important to approach the process of creating a daily routine with an open mind and curiosity. You got this, my dear! 

Do you already have a daily routine schedule? If so, what is your favorite part about it?

Let me know in the comments!

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