Are you interested in maintaining a healthier lifestyle and creating more stability in your day-to-day schedule? If so, the best way to help yourself make those changes is to create a new routine! Life can be hectic and feel overwhelming at times. Whether it’s work, preparing meals, exercising, errands, taking care of kids, leisure, or any other daily responsibilities, it can feel like there aren’t enough hours to accomplish it all. By creating a new routine, you can better utilize your time and, as a result, eliminate stress and accomplish more of your goals. Implementing a new routine in your life can help you track goals, stop procrastination, improve your health, and prioritize what is important to you.
Starting a new routine can feel like a daunting task. Staying committed and on track with a new routine can be difficult at first, but the more you do it, the more it becomes instinctual and the new “normal.”
Start your new routine by using these 5 easy tips:
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Establish what you want to accomplish with your new routine
The first step to creating a new routine is deciding what you want to accomplish. Why do you feel the need to start a new routine? Goals you may have could include:
- Eating a healthier diet.
- Regularly exercising.
- Getting more sleep.
- Reducing stress.
- Having time for leisure activities.
Start by listing things you would like to add to your new routine. Determine which items on the list are most important to you and add them to your daily to-do list.
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Start small
Making drastic changes to your current routine can result in additional stress and increase the likely hood of not following through over the long term. Start by choosing one thing you want to accomplish in a new routine and add to it as time goes on.
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Map out your routine
Mapping out your routine is essential to delegating time to specific tasks; by doing so, you can make time for others. Scheduling your tasks is also crucial because it can help you stay consistent over time. Mapping out your schedule can also help you adjust on the fly when unforeseen events pop up in your day.
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Track your progress
Along with scheduling tasks, you should track the results of how you have been keeping up with your new routine. Keeping a color-coated calendar is a great way to keep yourself accountable and on track. For example, if you are trying to exercise each day before work, have it written down on a calendar on your fridge or somewhere you will see it in the morning. After completing your workout, cross it off the list.
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Make swaps
Think about your goals and behaviors you would like to change and swap them out for healthier options. For example, if you are feeling tired and sluggish in the afternoon at work, instead of reaching for a sugary drink for a quick pick me up, try going for a brisk walk to get your blood flowing and boost your energy. If you want to read a chapter in a book a day and usually feel too busy after work, wake up 20 minutes earlier each morning so that you can eat a balanced breakfast and read before you leave the house.
Research studies consistently show that having a healthy routine can help people better manage stress and anxiety. Other benefits of a healthy routine include:
- Feeling more focused.
- More time for leisure and recreation.
- Improved productivity.
- Lower levels of distress when facing adverse events.
Some studies show that it can take an average of 66 days for a behavior to become a habit. Because of this, it is vital to cut yourself some slack and not become discouraged if you aren’t perfect with your new routine right away. Small changes each day add up, and by implementing these 5 steps into your new routine, your new routine will become your new “normal” before you know it!
By, Coach Alex