Be the Master of Your Own Routine

Simple advice on how to get the most from your days.

I’m on a mini mission to create a few shorter articles. As much as I love to tinker about with words, I also want to share my perspective in a more succinct way, to make for a punchier read. So, let’s go!

I posted about ‘routine’ on Instagram last week and was sent some really engaging messages afterwards.  The resounding sentiment was ‘thank you, I know, and I need to get back into a routine, my life’s much better when I have one’.

Three things spring to mind for me.

1.   WE OUTGROW OUR ROUTINES

We often try too hard to bond with an old routine from a former chapter. A past routine carries less relevance to where we want to be, so it becomes impossible to stick to and leaves us feeling guilty and flawed.

2.   A ROUTINE IS NOT FOR LIFE

Routines should be given shorter shelf lives. Relevant timeframes so that they (and we) don’t become stagnant. Shorter windows give us permission to play around more, to mix it up and see what lands. It’s not forever, so let’s throw some creativity at our thinking here.

3.   CREATING A ROUTINE IS A PRACTICAL TASK

An effective routine does not live in our heads. It requires active planning. No one teaches us how to do this sort of thing, so I’ve devised a game-changing little guide for you. I reckon it could be enough to help you move forward with this straight away.

R is for RELEVANT TIME FRAME

Start by defining the window. Somewhere between 6 – 10 weeks is great. It’s a manageable timeframe for change, without becoming a never-ending slog that you bail out on too soon. You’ll soon get to the end and appreciate what works. Hopefully you’ll have formed some remarkable new healthy habits on the way. Behaviours that you can take forward into the next chapter.

Setting shorter routine cycles enables you to get the BIG THINGS done. You won’t resent the commitment and you’ll appreciate the fact that these are self-serving mountains you’ve asked yourself to climb, to get to the top of something that matters.

O is for OUTCOMES

 Seriously, what is the point of a routine? Well, it’s to structure our time and our days in ways that offers the most meaning, giving us the best chance to achieve things that count. But it should also be about factoring in fun. I believe we should structure our worlds in a way that makes us happy, with chunks of play in their too.

You need to start by thinking about what matters right now in your life. What the end goal is from the routine you’re putting in place.

·       What matters to you in this next window? (Go with 1 – 3 top priorities here)

·       What do you need to include to make you feel good? (Things that don’t erode the above)

U is for UNDERLYING MOTIVATION

 Explore and sense check what these outcomes are all about. Are you motivated by winning, by personal growth, a quick fitness leap, a career shift?

 Why do this part? It’s self-therapy. It’s checking-in and being honest, so that you know how the routine fits in with your emotions and desire to get it right. If you know what it’s for, you’ll know if you’re hitting the sweet spots on the journey.

T is for TIME AND PLANNING

 You need one hour for this, your diary, notepad, probably your laptop and coffee. You need to get stuck in. Think about this in the context of time, task and goal, then play about with it until you create something more interesting than your current weather worn routine.

 Think about:

-      What you’ve always done and seriously need to change.

-      What works for others, including people you admire?

-      What would never work?

-      What used to work, but somehow you dropped?

-      What you’d do with your routine if you had more courage or cash.

-      What time of the day you waste the most.

-      What you’re over-doing and making dull.

-      What you’re ignoring.

-      What you’re not being honest about.

-      What’s missing?

 The options should seem quite exciting by this point. There should be some hope of not living the same 365 days as the last!

I is for INCLUDE OTHERS

 You’re more than likely going to impact someone else by changing your habits and tweaking your routine. Before you sign off the above, share it. Someone wise in your life has a great idea about how to mix it up. They’ve got a savvy bit of wisdom on why the timings need tweaking and they are there to tell you their view on why mornings might work.

 Sharing makes it all real, it allows for valuable collaboration and healthy debate.

N is for NON-NEGOTIABLES

 I talk about non-negotiables a lot in coaching. In this context it’s the things you need to cordon off in your routine, for your sanity or wellbeing. We all have different things to consider, whether its trash TV, meditation or a wind-down with your pals. It’s the things that if deleted, would compromise your sense of self and take away your joy. A great routine requires balance. If a non-negotiable is a bit off-piste, but gives you respite, its critically important to schedule it in. Or you’ll resent every day from here forward.

 We often get giddy and unrealistic when we make a shiny new plan. We try to cut these things out. Never. Go back and make sure you’re non negotiables are safe and secure, but given no more time than they need.

E is for EXERCISE

 Ok, so it’s a bit preachy. But I had an ‘E’ spare and I passionately believe that every routine requires movement. Whether it be strength work or stretching, running or walking, we need to move our energy through and raise our vibrations to achieve all the other good stuff on our daily radar.

 I have never known a client regret building exercise into their routine. The endorphin release brings them additional benefits they didn’t map out and they always move towards their goals faster.

 So how clever is that? An authentic guide to robust routine planning with a fancy pants backronym to boot.

I hope this added some value, good luck.

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