How To Create A Daily Routine

Published December 9, 2017 | By shirleytwofeathers

From The Spruce, we have this article that details 5 steps to creating a daily routine that works for you. It’s a bit too controlling for my taste, but it does have some ideas that I might be able to use. Enjoy!

This is all about figuring out what you need to get done and the best times to tackle each task. It’s a little bit art and a little bit science. The science is figuring out what you need to get done; the art is figuring out when to do it.

1. Brain Dump Time

The first step is to gather information on what you need to get done daily. Don’t worry about how you organize this list; this is a brain dump, not a to-do list. take 30 minutes with a legal pad and jot down everything you do each day (and everything you miss but should be doing). Better yet, carry around a small notebook and make notes all day long.

Capture all of the tasks you need to get done in a day. If you already have a routine, you can divide these into the following:

Tasks you already do that work well for you
Tasks you need to add into your routine

If you’re starting from scratch, begin by answering these questions:

What tasks do you need to complete each day in order to get to work?
Which tasks do you need to do each day to get your kids to school?
Which tasks do you need to do each day to eat?
Which errands do you need to get done daily?
Which tasks need to get done each done in order for you to get some exercise?
Which tasks do I need to get done to maintain an organized home?

Make the list. In the beginning, nothing is too small, if you want to work “brush teeth” into your routine, that’s great. When I was creating mine, I found it much easier to throw everything in and edit out later.

2. Create a Timetable

Now assess your energy levels. Think about when you do your best work. Most people have greater energy for creative thinking in the morning because self-control depletes throughout the day. It’s important to schedule your “big thinking”

With that in mind, here are some guidelines:

Morning

Mornings about getting out the door, which is itself a challenge, especially if you have children. I like to get out the door as quickly possible because I know I do my best work in the morning.

Reserve the mornings for the tasks that require the most critical thinking and troubleshooting. If you’re a writer, make sure you have time to write in the morning.

Midday

This is a very powerful time of day because your energy (and coffee high) has likely dissipated. This means you’re primed to do the really boring, routine stuff. Use this time for tasks like answering emails, setting appointments, researching necessities like directions to upcoming appointments and recipes, and run some errands if you have time (post office, dry cleaner, bank, etc.)

Evening

Evenings are for planning and preparation for the next day: put your “get ready” activities like laying out your clothes, packing lunches, and decluttering in the evening.

3. Add in Some Flexibility for Exceptions

Your work process or schedule may not fit neatly into this, and that’s OK; the point is to harness your most productive times to use for your most challenging tasks, and your least productive times to do the more mundane tasks.

What I found while researching daily routines is that a lot of very successful people work all night long and sleep all day. If that’s you, that’s fine!

4. Put it All Together

Now match up your activities with times. Start with anything that has to be done at a certain time each day (like picking your kids up a school or eating lunch). Then slot in tasks based on when you think it makes the most sense to tackle them. To make this easier on you, I’ve created a standard daily routine checklist.

You can use this as a draft to work off of, or cut and paste into your own document. You’ll find it at the bottom of this post.

5. Test Drive

Take our new routine for a test drive for 30 days. How does it feel? Did you schedule your tasks at activities at times that makes sense? Do you need to adjust things?

Adjust anything that is not working on a case-by-case basis. Then do an assessment after 30 days to see how your new routine is working for you.

Sample Checklist

Surgeons use checklists, pilots use checklists, and you should be using checklists as well. Following a checklist allows you to focus more on getting things done rather than wasting precious brain space on:

What you need to accomplish
What you’ve already accomplished
Keep track of your daily tasks with this printable Daily Routine checklist.

Morning Checklist

I front-load the Daily Checklist with most of the tasks to be completed in the evening. This way you can get out the door more quickly in the morning:

Bathroom

____ Grooming
____ Wipe the sink

Bedroom

_____ Dress
_____ Make Bed
_____ Tidy night table

Kitchen

____ Prepare and eat breakfast(s)
____ Defrost ingredients for dinner
____ Pack lunches

Launch pad

____ Check work bag for keys, cell phone, work papers
____ Check school bags

Midday Checklist

Whether you work in an office or at home, I suggest completing the following either right before or right after your lunch break:

Desk / Computer

____ Check in with To Do list
____ Schedule appointments
____ Clean out 5 personal emails from your inbox
____ Respond to meeting requests, evites and invitations
____ Check your calendar. Are there any birthdays/anniversaries/important dates this week/next week?

Errands

____ Bank: Banking/ATM
____ Post Office: Do you have anything to mail? Stamps?
____ Drugstore: Toiletries, greeting cards, odds & ends
____ Dry cleaner

Evening Checklist

My #1 tip for successfully checking off this list is to start these tasks the minute you walk in the door. I personally go straight into the kitchen. Don’t wait until you’re half asleep on the couch to begin your evening routine.