Creating a productive and meaningful routine

You could be someone who detests the idea of having a routine because it gives you a sense of monotony. Nobody wants to do the same things in the same order every single day and make life too predictable. And I completely agree with that thought because I felt the same too. Until I began to see the importance of a routine from a different perspective.

It is not about bringing in regularity in your lives as much as it is about bringing in a balanced structure. It took me a while to create a meaningful routine that works for me, and my lifestyle and it keeps evolving with every different phase of my life. But what remains constant is the fact that through a solid routine I am able to make small strides towards my goals every single day. I am able to prioritise and focus on what is truly important to me and spend every single day as if it matters.

Routines are supposed to work for us and not against us. If the word routine triggers negative emotions in you, then you know it is time to internalise and re-prioritise what your current daily activities look like.  It is important for you to fine tune your routine and include all things that bring you joy and happiness. And trust me, this is so much easier to achieve than you think.

No matter where you are in life, it is important to find yourself a routine that is exciting and meaningful to you, because that is the only way you can make it last long and have fun along the way. If you are looking for some simple ways to zhoosh up your current routine, then a few tips may be handy.

Start your day with something you enjoy doing

This is a simple yet effective way to kickstart your day and keep you feeling uplifted to drive the outcomes you are looking for the day. Doing something you truly enjoy, even if it is for 5 minutes, has greater impact on your overall mindset than you can possibly imagine.

I have often realised that when I rush through my mornings, I am left feeling dull and exhausted very soon. Instead, when I take some time in the morning to read a book, write in my journal, meditate, or stretch and ease into the day, my mind feels fresh, and my thoughts are clear.

Listen to your mind and body and structure your day

I have the most energy in the mornings and feel lethargic towards the middle of the day and feel the most creative towards the end of the day. Understanding how we feel throughout the day can help us structure our tasks in a way that it synchronizes well with how we feel at the time.

I tried working out in the evenings for a few months last year and failed to do it consistently. I started blaming myself for not being motivated enough and started to detest my routine because it did not make me feel productive.

Soon I realised it was not my motivation that was lacking but was just a case of improper planning. Once I moved my workouts to the mornings it changed my whole life. I now love waking up early knowing I am going to get a burst of energy leaving me on a high for the rest of the day.

Simplify tasks

I am extremely mindful of what I eat and avoid ordering in as much as possible. I love to try out different recipes and experiment with flavours. But on a regular work day it is difficult to find the motivation and energy to whip something up from scratch. So to avoid reaching for my phone to order in, my husband and I plan our meals in advance and prep up some veggies and fillings beforehand. This is just a simple example to show you how a complicated task can be simplified.

Try applying this to other areas in your life. Plan your outfit in advance or have a grocery list so you can limit the number of trips to the store. When we simplify our days we have more energy to spend on what truly matters to us.

Make boring tasks enjoyable

The most important part of having a meaningful routine is having time to do what you love. And since we may not all be blessed to do these things all day, how about we combine them with monotonous tasks and make them more enjoyable?

It might be watching your favourite show while folding laundry, drinking coffee from your favourite mug, reading a book on a park bench under a tree or hiking up the hill for a beautiful sunset instead of running in a gym. Whatever makes your routine fun creates a life that you love and enjoy.

Finding the time to do something that brings you joy can be the most fulfilling thing you can do for yourself. In these challenging times with constant adversities, it is important that we never forget to take care of ourselves and our emotional wellbeing. When you have a routine that feels wholistic and complete, it can easily spill into other aspects of your life and make you feel more in control of the things that matter to you.