In this blog post, we’ll discuss the five best steps to take when building a routine.
By clicking on this post, you have proven that you are routine ready — AKA, ready to create an awesome routine for yourself! You want to add order to your life by creating a list of habits and practices that will allow you to make the most of your time. It’s exciting to get started, but it can also be downright overwhelming. Whether you’re not sure where to start or you want to make sure you’re on the right track, these five optimum steps below will help you when building a routine of your dreams.
Related: 7 Amazing Benefits of Routine
1. Think about what part of your life needs a routine.
Chances are you already know what part of your life needs routine because you’ve already sought out this blog post. But if you’re unsure, start by asking yourself questions like this: Am I always rushing around in the mornings to get out the door on time? Do I wake up each morning with horrible breath and/or mascara smeared all over your face because I didn’t follow through with getting ready for bed the night before? If there is an area of your life that feels chaotic, that could be a good candidate for some refining. If you feel like all areas of your life could use some help, just imagine which part would feel the best if it all went perfectly and start there.
2. List out every single step of this part of your life as it is now.
You’ve identified a certain area of your life that needs routine and you’re ready to start from scratch. The thing is, it’s very important to be fully aware of what feels wrong about this unstructured part of your day/night before you can improve it. Think about each of the steps, or lack thereof, and write them down. It’s important to be honest with yourself during this assessment. You should also reflect on how you’ve felt when moving through this part in the past. Are you usually stressed? Frustrated? Upset? Accepting any unpleasant emotions will be helpful when the time comes to create your brand new routine.
3. Now for the best part — building a routine of your dreams!
Visualize it — how do you want your homework routine to go? How do you want to feel when you’ve completed your bedtime routine? Write down each ideal step and don’t be afraid to romanticize even the most mundane habits. If you’re not sure what you want to add, head over to Pinterest to soak up some inspiration, or read some more posts on Routine Ready 😉 Be sure to look at your old routine to see which parts still fit and cut the ones that don’t. Taking an overall look at both your new and old routines, see if the new one gets you excited to start following it.
4. Review, review, review.
Taking inspiration from your dream routine, make a final draft. Take into consideration the realities of your situation, such as time constraints, and make adjustments as necessary. When you’re done, take another look at it. If you have a forty-step workout routine on your hands when you already struggle to exercise every day as it is, it might be a good idea to step back and reassess your goals. Remember, the most successful routines are the ones that are easiest for you to follow! You can always come back and add to them later on if you find yourself wanting to add in more steps or habits.
5. Set yourself up for success.
At this point, you’re probably super excited to try out your new routine. Picture this: You’ve just drafted up your ideal morning routine and you can’t wait to start it the next day. You go to bed with all the best intentions, but when your new 5:30am alarm goes off, you immediately hit snooze and fall back asleep. When you finally wake up for real at 7:50am with only 10 minutes to get ready for your day, you’re forced to rush around and beat yourself up for not being able to follow through. Don’t let this be you! I’ve been there too many times.
One of the most important parts of a creating a new routine is making sure that you set yourself up for success. Honestly, it’s half the battle. If your goal is to wake up early and exercise right away, you need to prep for that. The night before, set out your workout gear right near your bed and make sure you go sleep earlier, even if it’s just a little bit more. It takes some extra effort, but trust me —it’s all worth it in the end.
And there you have it! A wonderful routine hand-designed by you. When you move through this new routine, make sure you’re aware of how you’re feeling during the process. The most beautiful thing about building a routine is that it never has to stay the same. We’re humans, not robots! Our needs and wants are constantly changing, so it’s completely fine if you find yourself revisiting your routine and tweaking it along the way.
This blog post was all about building a routine.
Related: 7 Amazing Benefits of Routine
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