We all love a bit of structure, right?
Good habits are good for a reason. If you’re like most people, your day is a whirlwind of activity. You’re constantly running from one thing to the next, barely catching your breath before it’s time to start over again.
It’s a vicious cycle, we know.
But, what if we told you that if you could make just one lifestyle change to your daily routine, it would have an incredible impact on your life? Well, it’s true. At The Skinny Confidential, we’re all big fans of daily routine.
Why? Because routines that work are the building blocks of good health and productivity. They help you maintain healthy energy levels throughout the day and keep you focused on what matters most—all while keeping your mental health in check.
If you haven’t yet started working on building a routine for yourself, we’re here to tell you – now is the time, babe. And don’t worry, you don’t have to do this all on your own. We’ve got some tips below to help get you started:
What Is The Importance of A Daily Routine?
Even if you already have a daily routine, sticking to it some days a breeze. Others…not so much.
But, what if there was a way to make this easier? What if there was a way to set yourself up for success every day so that even if something comes up unexpectedly, you’ll still be able to get back on track quickly?
There is. And we’re here to help you do just that.
Grab a cup of coffee or a glass of NON-TOXIC wine and settle in as we talk about how you can create a daily routine that works for YOU through time management and good habits—and what the importance of having one is in the first place.
♡ Makes you more efficient
Having a daily routine is one of the most important things you can do to increase your efficiency. When you have a daily routine, you’ll spend less time wondering what you’re supposed to be doing, and more time actually doing.
Some of the most successful people in the world stick with their daily routines and schedules—even if they’re not always followed perfectly or even at all times. Just take Rob Dyrdek for example, who taught us all about the power of mindset, organization, & discipline when it comes to maintaining a daily routine.
♡ Creates structure
Let’s break this down real quick: A morning routine is an important part of creating structure in your life. It can help you start the day on the right foot, as well as set up a daily schedule that makes sense for you. Having a daily routine then creates structure in other areas of your life. And finally, a healthy nighttime routine can set the structural tone for the next day as well. See where we’re going?
Let’s dig in a little more here. So for example, if you always take lunch at 11:00 am and leave work at 5:00 pm every day, then those things become part of your daily schedule too—and create…structure. They’ll also help keep you focused on what needs to get done in-between those times. As much as we love a good rebellious streak – structure is necessary for planning and efficiency.
♡ Breaks bad habits/builds good habits
The best way to kick a bad habit is to replace it with a good one. That’s a fact. But we get it…it’s so much easier said than done. So, here’s where a good daily routine comes in to save the day. When you set time aside in your day for all your positive and healthy habits, you reduce the time available for your poor habits. And you might even forget about them altogether.
Need an example? Let’s talk social media anxiety. More likely than not, you’re spending too much time scrolling through life-sucking posts and it could possibly be taking a toll on your mental health. Take some time each day to reduce your social media usage and replace it with something else you enjoy. A walk, some meditation, some self-care – whatever helps kick it.
♡ Helps with prioritization
Do you ever feel like you have so much shit to do, but don’t know where to start? It turns out that having a set daily routine can help you get your ducks in a row and focus on what’s most important.
After all, there is only so much time in the day. So, creating a daily routine will help you excel in essentialism, better prioritize things such as self-care, work, family duties, etc., and reduce wasted time throughout the day.
♡ Improves mental health
Having a daily routine can do wonders for your mental health. Seriously. It helps you feel like you have more control over your life and that you’re in the driver’s seat of your own destiny. An organized daily routine also reduces stress by taking away the paradox of choice. Instead of stressing over all the things you could do, you have a set plan that will help you accomplish your goals.
How to Start a Daily Routine and Stick To It
Your daily routine is the key to your success.
It’s the first thing you think about when you wake up, and it sets the tone for the rest of your day. It’s what you do before you check your phone or open your laptop, before you have time to think about what’s going on in your life or make decisions about what comes next.
If you want to be successful and make a difference in the world—whether that means getting ahead at work, or making a positive impact on society—you need to start your day off right. You can’t afford not to.
So… how do you do it? How do you build a daily routine that works for YOU?
♡ Lay out a plan
First, decide what your daily routine will look like. Will it include a morning workout? A meditation routine? A healthy morning skincare routine? A walk around the block? A glass of water? If you’re not sure, write down all the things you’d like to accomplish each day and then go from there.
We encourage you to truly take the time to write down your goals, because there is something to the physical act of writing. Read more about that here.
But don’t just pick up any old notebook – your daily routine deserves a pretty pink and motivating planner: THE HOT MINUTE PLANNER. Oh, and your new fav pen.
♡ Set small goals
Setting small goals for your daily routine is a great way to get into the habit of taking care of yourself. It can be as simple as setting aside time for your morning coffee, or as focused as going for a walk at lunch.
In the same breath, remember to be flexible. Shit happens. So when you miss your first goal of the day, don’t fret. Make a quick little plan to get back on track and execute. You got this.
♡ Track your progress
It can be easy to lose track of your daily routine, especially if you’re a busy person. But, tracking your progress can help you stick to building up good daily habits. And honestly, tracking your progress can be very motivating, especially if you’re knocking out your goals left and right.
So, we recommend keeping a record of your daily habits and tracking your overall progress. Ask yourself: what are you succeeding at? What needs work? And, what parts of my daily routine need to be changed or updated as I’m growing? Then, reflect.
♡ Schedule breaks
The best way to stick to a daily routine is to set aside time for it. But something that many people don’t realize is this: scheduling breaks can actually help you stick to your daily routine, too.
Decide on a specific number of minutes each day that you’ll devote to each activity, then block or “batch” off that time in your calendar. Being sure to leave time for your built-in walking, coffee, and lunch breaks. Then, if you find yourself getting distracted and veering away from the task at hand, take a break and go back to it later. More on time batching as a productivity hack here.
♡ Reward yourself
Taking time to reward yourself for sticking to a daily routine can also help you stick to your routine. Set aside a few minutes in your day, or even just a few moments at the end of the day, to do something that makes you feel good and makes you want to keep up with your daily activities.
You already know that we think self-care is one of the best ways to reward yourself after a long hard day of hustling. Take an ice bath, read a book, mix up a DIY coffee scrub, or apply a turmeric facemask. Even better, grab your HOT MESS ice roller and your ICE QUEEN face oil & PINK BALLS massager and get to it. De-puff, relax, and give yourself an instant fucking facelift. Your skin will thank you later.
A daily routine is something we all have, whether we realize it or not.
We all have certain habits that we do every day, usually without even thinking about them. So, just imagine if you put some intent into your daily routine the absolutely amazing things you could accomplish.
These routines are good for us because they help us stick to our goals and keep us on the right path. They also help us be more productive and get things done faster without having to worry about what needs to be done next.
And probably the most important benefit of all: a daily routine can help with mental health by making sure that you’re doing something productive every day. Which, in turn, can help you avoid some of the negative effects of depression and anxiety.
Some of Lauryn’s favorite daily routines are:
+ meditation
+ hot/cold therapy
+ legs up the wall
+ skincare
+ movement
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ check out this post on organizing your thoughts.
++ learn more about prioritizing tasks here.
ENHANCE YOUR ROUTINE:
