Easy Daily Routine - Weekly Planner

Tips for Creating a Daily Routine that Works

Ever feel that something is just “off” in your life but can’t quite nail the why? Read on! …

My daily “routine” started when I woke up after hitting the snooze button a couple of times then realizing I was now running late for work which then created a new layer of agitated morning energy dictating the next hour. And there you have it. My morning routine pre-mom days.  Routine to me meant no fun, too many rules and no free time! What I had yet to learn was this: Life can be easy and breezy once I created and lived on a schedule. Having no daily routine to speak of let ”life” take over with plenty of chaos. I sat in comfort with running late and allowed procrastination in with ease.

 When I became a mom, out of necessity I learned how to craft a meal and a sleep routine for my children. Some things went really well and not so well for many others. My personal life aside from motherhood was routine-less  (due in part to having young children who, at any given time, had a care-need arise.) 

 I honestly didn’t know how to; nor did I have any type of daily or weekly routine for life basics such as meals or laundry. I was always running to the grocery store and making due. Laundry was always needing to be done. As a result, I reacted instead of responding and was constantly looking for what I knew was a better way to navigate my life.

Gradually I  awakened to the fact that something was missing. Enter the slow adoption of a daily routine in my life. “Reaction to” was my status quo, “order” and “structure”… nice sounding buzz words with no real weight.

By chance, I one day heard about someone called “the FlyLady”  and on the importance of a daily cleaning and decluttering routine … and why creating a daily routine mattered in the big picture of life!

Curious and interested in what this meant, I went online to her site and began that day in following her baby steps daily routine. Her site is flylady.net

Creating and following a daily routine brought order and calm to the week.

What I’ve come to learn is this: How I show up, and the life I get to live, is dependent on my ability to care for myself … which includes, at the top, a structured, or at least loosely structured, daily routine.  Having a routine is the opposite of chaos – calming – orderly – foundational and life affirming!

Here is why daily routines work so well for most of us!

They take decision-making out of the process.

They make actions automatic.

They save time.

Free time is found and enjoyed easily and guilt free!

Practicing a personal routine is life affirming and transformational!

Suggested website: http://www.flylady.net  (this site has been around for many years and teaches new routines for cleaning and decluttering)  

Best Daily Routine Books

The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (before 8 am) by Hal Elrod

The Compound Effect: Jumpstart your income, your life and your success by Darren Hardy

Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy

Wake Up Successful – How to Increase Your Energy and Achieve Any Goal with a Morning Routine by Steve Scott

Act Now! A Daily Action Log for Achieving Your Goals in 90 Days -by Peter D. Winiarski

The Rhythm of Life: Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose by Matthew Kelly

Vision to Reality: How Short-Term Massive Action Equals Long Term Maximum Results by Honoree Cordor

23 Anti-Procrastination Habits: How to Stop Being Lazy and Overcome Your Procrastination by Steve Scott

Take Control Of Your Life: A 2-hour plan to help you set and reach your goals by Rachel Rofe

Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey

Do you follow a daily routine? Or are you currently struggling to get out the door every morning? Let me know in the comments below!