What Makes a Routine Good? — Part Two

Hey Reader. Hope that you have understood your mistakes while following a routine by now!

Today, let’s talk about how to set a routine that sticks.

Hi, I’m Prachi A.KA. Blazing Curls. And I’ve spent the past year in a phase of Trial & Error to see what really works and what doesn’t. I talk about increasing productivity through simple mindful changes in your daily habits. These subtle changes can bring a huge reform in your life.

The first mistake while setting a routine is that you create one that doesn’t naturally fit into your life.

Let that sink in.

If you keep unrealistic expectations of yourself — You Are Bound to Fail.

For example, if you wake up around 8 am every day but you set a routine for waking up at 6 am the next morning — You might follow through for a few days but you will slowly start feeling burnout & then procrastination kicks in, leaving you right back where you started out!

I’ve been down this road one too many times and if you’re reading this, you too have been there and done that. I feel you and that’s why I am typing this right now.

Here are 3 points to keep in mind while setting a routine:

1. Do not expect your natural clock (your bedtime/waking up time/eating time) to change right away; it takes time to adjust to a new routine, so don’t force it. Try to work around your current routine. If you want to be an early riser, try to wake up half an hour before your usual time. Enrol yourself for a morning workout session (a run, yoga, walk or gym) for extra motivation.

2. Don’t expect yourself to follow a routine strictly; it’s not humanly possible and it affects your mental & emotional health as well if you stick to the monotony. Break free! The body & mind crave comfort & so they only prioritize survival needs. It is the soul that feeds from your hard work & passion. So, keep working towards your goal while still breathing consciously & taking care of yourself. A flexible routine will give you more results than a rigid one. Just like a flexible body & mind will give you more space to win at life!

3. Hold yourself accountable. Maintain a Daily Task Journal. List down the tasks the night before. You can tick them before bed & list new or pending ones for the next day. That way you are able to see the amount of progress you are making daily, weekly, monthly & even yearly!

I personally love maintaining journals & making changes accordingly to my routine whenever required. They help you figure out where & why you are stuck at one point. Data never lies.

This is how I have been managing to complete all my tasks which leaves me with ample time to write & publish these & other such articles! Hope this helps! You can read more about how to work around your current routine here.