The Struggle to Have It All

Have you ever experienced phases of life where it feels like you can’t get a grip on your schedule? Metaphorically speaking, do you feel like a rug is constantly being ripped out from underneath you the moment you finally get used to juggling everything? In a perfect world, it would be amazing to be able to have a healthy balance of:

• Work
• Social life
• Eating balanced meals
• Getting enough sleep
• Prioritizing mental health
• Dedicating time to passion projects

It’s easy to fall into a position of thinking, “It seems like everyone around me knows how to multitask better than I can.” I promise you’re not alone if you’ve ever thought that. If anything, I don’t think there’s anyone out there who has this fully figured out. We’re all just trying our best to maintain what we need. And sometimes that’s all we can do.

I Need a Better Routine

Carefully curated routines won’t fix a lifestyle imbalance immediately, but they can at least help you figure out what you want/need to prioritize as well as how much time it takes out of your schedule.

My routine changes all the time. I used to think that a change in routine meant there’s more room for slipping up and falling into a pattern of inconsistency. That simply isn’t true. Routines come and go based on your needs and lifestyle.

Usually, you draw conclusions about needing a new daily routine if your current one no longer fits your needs, goals, or it drains you to complete. And as a reminder, a routine isn’t supposed to drain you. It’s meant to help give you balance, motivation, and a better sense of control. If you’re not experiencing any of these things from your current routine, maybe it’s time to change.

Change and Consistency

When changing a current routine, what works for me is doing it in phases. I’m normally inconsistent with a routine if I completely switch up everything at once. It’s important to note how you respond to change. Regardless of how big or small that change is, what do you do to adapt? Do you need to make changes in increments? Or can you easily switch up your routine in one go?

As an example, I used to work out every day back when the pandemic started. When I got a job, that obviously changed. I didn’t want to work out every day because I got really exhausted from it. Noticing my pattern of working out every day and feeling exhausted from it meant it was time to switch it up.

Now, that was the only major change I made in my routine before switching out other aspects. Other goals of mine were to cook more balanced meals, write more, listen to more podcasts, make more time for friends and family, and read more articles on Medium. Trying to make room for these activities and switch out old ones all at once would’ve meant inconsistency for me.

Seeing positive results with modifying your daily routine depends on how you react to change and how consistent you are with it. It’s okay to move slow and steady. A drastic change doesn’t always equate to immediate satisfaction.

Routine Misconceptions

Now, it’s important to address that there’s no penalty if you deviate from your routine every now and then. If anything, routines should leave room for flexibility and adaptability depending on your needs and wants. Routines are supposed to be there to help keep us on track, not drain us of our limited energy.

When we fail to meet our everyday expectations, there’s often some level of guilt associated. That constant looming feeling of guilt from “not doing enough” can be brutal. I know it’s normal to set high standards for ourselves, but sometimes there are going to be days where it’s just not doable.

We’re conditioned as humans to think that hard work equates to some sort of break or rest period. Yes, that’s true. However, rest is a necessary thing that should already be incorporated into our everyday routines. You can only be on autopilot for so long.

Creating a New Routine

Indeed.com is a website that’s typically used for job hunting. But, did you know they also have a career guide? I found an article that I really liked that laid it all out in plain text for how to stick to a routine after creating one. They suggest:

1. Write everything down — tasks that are personal and professional.
2. Identify priorities — what’s the most important on your list?
3. Note the frequency — write down or make note of how frequently this task is going to be performed.
4. Cluster similar tasks — determine if there are similar tasks that you can group together.
5. Make a weekly chart — writing down tasks on a weekly basis can help with visualization.
6. Optimize your tasks — Review your weekly schedule and determine if there are areas or tasks you can simplify or optimize to save time.
7. Order the tasks — once you’ve optimized your weekly schedule, create a loose schedule for each day’s tasks.
8. Stay flexible — try out your schedule for a week or two to see what happens. If it doesn’t work as well as you thought, that’s okay. Switch things up until you find a routine that works for you.

Now, this is just a simple form of creating a routine by categorizing. I find that it’s easiest for me to visualize what I need to do if I see it in front of me. Maybe writing everything down and making lists isn’t your thing. That’s okay! Everyone has their own way of organizing.

Patience and Persistence

The truth is, things don’t change overnight. It can be the most frustrating thing to hear, “Oh just be patient and trust the process! Everything will work out just fine!” It really is true though.

Things fall into place when they’re supposed to. The waiting and consistency are going to be the hard part. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve organized and planned everything out. Sticking to a new change in your routine is going to be difficult if you expect everything to go perfect overnight.

Consistency is key. And even if you have an off day, it’s important to remember that every day doesn’t have to be perfect. Small efforts over time add up quickly.

If you’re currently working on revamping your old routine good luck! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.