It may take some effort to figure out how to establish and maintain a daily schedule that works for you. So what does your ideal daily schedule entail? That is conditional on your requirements. Work out when things need to be done. If you want to establish a work schedule you can keep to, you must be truthful about your lifestyle, including your available resources and time management skills.
If you’ve never had a routine in your life, don’t worry; here are five easy steps to help you get started.
Start With A List
The first step in learning how to write a daily routine is to make a list of everything you need to accomplish each day. This is just a brain overflow, not a task list, so don’t stress over how to best order your thoughts. Write down what you do and need to accomplish each day.
Take notes as the day goes on as you may have more or less to add to your list. For example, if you go and get a new piercing, you may need to temporarily add “follow dermal piercing aftercare instructions” to your list. Or if you need to repair something in the home you might add “pick up paint from the DIY store”. Your daily list isn’t set in stone and can be amended to suit what you need.
How To Make A To-Do List
Structure Your Day
While those who are “morning people” are more productive before lunch, those who are “night owls” are more energized in the evening. Examine your schedule and see when you can get the most done. Next, categorize your jobs by the time of day when you are most likely to get them done quickly and effectively.
Getting out the door in the morning presents its own set of challenges. Put together all the things you need to do first thing in the morning, including taking the pets for a walk, making breakfast, and starting the slow cooker for dinner. Plan out what you want to get done the rest of the morning so you can complete it when you’re at your most alert. Consider, too, the activities you typically avoid or put off. Put them away first thing in the morning so you don’t have to worry about them the rest of the day.
Midday is a difficult time of day because your energy levels (and the caffeine from your morning coffee) have likely faded. Doing mundane tasks that don’t need much thought or creativity is a wise use of your time right now. Take advantage of the middle of the day to get things done, such as checking and responding to emails, scheduling meetings, and running errands. Cleaning tasks like unloading and reloading the dishwasher and scrubbing the bathroom can be done while you are at home during the day.
Time spent in the evening is optimal for planning and preparing for the next day. Prepare for the day by setting out your clothes, making your lunches, and clearing the areas that become dumping grounds (such as the mail basket) of unnecessary items.
Add Time To Be Flexible
If you follow a pattern every day, you may make the most of your most productive hours to tackle difficult work and your least productive hours to deal with the most tedious aspects of your life. Yet, it’s important to leave some wiggle room in your schedule to deal with the inevitable unforeseen occurrences that will arise.
For instance, you might need to take time off from work to attend a doctor’s appointment. Maybe you have a social event during the time of day when you usually make the lunches for the next day. Blocks of spare time scheduled into your daily schedule allow you to reorganize your work and keep things running smoothly despite unexpected happenings.
Start Using Your New Routine
Take your new daily routine for a spin after you’ve developed it. Inquire within:
- How do you feel about your typical day?
- Have you set up a sensible schedule for your tasks?
- Is there something you’d like to change?
Maintain your regimen for at least a month. Make adjustments to the schedule if needed. It will be much simpler to stick to your daily regimen once you have everything scheduled out.
Try out your routine for a whole 30 days.
Although establishing a regular schedule may seem difficult at first, the benefits of increased productivity, fewer morning tantrums, and unexpected free time will quickly become apparent. There are no absolutes. Make adjustments as necessary if your circumstances shift. To form new, helpful routine behaviors, just repeat the procedures you took to establish your original routine.
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