Routines and Healthy Habits
At many times of the year, we feel the need to start a new routine. January 1 is the big one, perhaps when spring hits and the weather changes, when summer begins and the kids are out of school, or alternately in fall when they go back to school. We are creatures of habit, and making a routine around your lifestyle can be healthy, bring peace, and help you feel organized, accomplished, and successful when reaching for your goals.
For example, whenever the kids go back to school, I find myself with a new scheudle to follow, so I use this as a basis for building my routine. Here are some steps I take to help me figure out my routine. And note! These change all the time depending on so many factors. Schedules, goals, expectations, and family needs are always changing, so be prepared to adapt these along the way!
Figure out your goals
What are your goals? Do you need to find time to work? Do you want to start a new workout or walking routine? Do you need time for prayer or meditation? Do you want to learn a new language, skill, or hobby? Have time to meal prep? Have time for dates or lunches with friends? Figure out how you want to spend your time, and rank them in priority. List the things you need to do, and then the wants. You only have so many pieces in the pie, or so much water to sprinkle on so many plants, so choose what you can reasonably handle and try and have an assortment.
For me in this season, I have some more time on my hands since my kids are all in school, and I wanted to walk daily, workout, and find time for networking events, lunch dates, but also have time for freelance work and growing my client base.
Write down what is set in stone.
Now you need to write down the things you can’t change. What time do you need to leave the house to to get to work on time? What time does the bus come, or the carpool for school? What time is your weekly appointment or meetings? When is school pickup? When does soccer practice start? Think of all of these things and write them down with timestamps and on each day of the week. Take a look at what your schedule looks like, and see what each day ends up being like.
This time around, I have a bus stop dropoff at 6:50 and another one at 8:15. We have an activity at 4:30 on Tuesdays and 5:00 pm on Thursdays. Every other week is a practice on Wednesdays, plus monthly I lead a networking session one day a week in the morning. I put all of them down on a sheet of paper and noticed that I had some time between drop-offs, and time after school before going to the activities.
Find pockets of time for each activity.
This is the easy part, or perhaps the hardest part. Finding out which of your goals and the methods to get those goals achieved can fit into those time spots. For example, I have time to take a 30-minute walk after first drop off, and get a 30-minute strength workout done before second drop-off. Then I can eat breakfast and shower before getting to my desk or a local event around 9. Now I have hit my walking and workout goals before work started! And if I meal prepped some egg bites or yogurt bowls, I have a healthy breakfast ready to help with my nutrition goals.
I pick 2 days a week to not have outings, meetings, or appointments so I can catch up on work and other desk work. I have 1-2 meetings a week, and always a social lunch to catch up with a friend. Since I use my meal planner to plan my meals for the week, I also have one grocery run and a few meals with minimal cooking ready for those busy weekdays.
Try it and adjust.
Once you have your routine mapped out, all you have to do it try it. Give it a week or two, and see how it goes. For me, working out in the morning is the best way to get it done and begin my day with energy, but I know during the summer, I worked out in the afternoons because I didn’t have to wake up early! Remember, trying this out is FREE and only takes a little effort. If it doesn’t work, adjust and try again. And when the summer comes, or the holidays creep in, adjust for those Friday Night Lights, summer pool days, and family dinners for birthdays.
Overall, finding a routine that works for you and your family will help you stay productive and bring you peace. You know what to do, what to expect, and how to achieve your goals around your schedule. Try it out and let me know how it goes! I hope it helps you find harmony in the hustle.
