Building a routine can sound daunting. This article gives you ideas for building routine into your day, including a morning routine, work routine, evening routine, and bedtime routine.
There are many reasons why your normal routine, that set of things you do pretty much every day, could get disrupted. We know from experience that when that happens, it can leave you feeling disheveled and lost.
Luckily, you can adjust to your current situation and create a new routine that provides structure to your life.
The truth about building a routine
Though they’re easy to break, building a routine doesn’t happen overnight. It might take some time to try things out, find what really suits your life, and work them into your day.
To help make a full-day routine a little easier to take on, we like breaking it up based on the time of day.
The morning routine
Your morning routine can start at the very beginning of your day with waking up at a set time. Sticking to a consistent wake-up time can help you keep your days regular and improve your sleep. This is especially valuable if you tend to sleep late or spend all morning in bed.
From there, things like sitting down for breakfast, making a schedule for the day, and doing a little ritual, like preparing a fresh pot of coffee before you start working, are all great additions to a morning routine.
The work routine
Work is work, but you can still have a routine that keeps your workday structured and healthy. Stepping away from your workspace to have lunch and taking snack breaks are two valuable parts of a work routine.
Another important part of a work routine is practicing good work habits. This includes things like staying off your phone while you’re working, getting rid of as many distractions as possible, and keeping work in your workspace. These will all help you stay productive and get work done when it’s time for it.
The evening routine
An evening routine can help you transition away from work and unwind.
A few great parts of an evening routine include putting away your work things, making time to have dinner, and transitioning from work to home by taking time to unwind. By doing these things consistently, it’ll be easier to balance the different parts of your life.
The bedtime routine
The final part of your day is the time before bed, and just like the morning, this is a valuable time to have a routine in place.
Whether it’s picking a bedtime (and sticking to it!) or taking some time to reflect on your day before you head to bed, a solid bedtime routine can help you wrap up your day and get quality sleep.
It might feel daunting, but building routine and structure into your day is within your grasp! Just take it one small change at a time. The TOVI app is here to help you every step of the way. Download the TOVI app today. It's free!
Reviewed by: Lorena Ruci, Ph.D., Registered Psychotherapist