The Life-Changing Power of Practicing Habits and Routines Daily
As humans, we are creatures of habit. Often, our habits are formed out of convenience and necessity and we rarely, if ever, give them a second thought. But habits are more powerful than we may realize, and we can intentionally shape them into rhythms and routines that give us more life and joy every day!
Rhythms and routines are simply processes and systems that we as humans naturally follow to give ourselves daily direction. Routines are built from repeatable actions that become habits, the building blocks of routine and rhythms.
Daily routines are habits that keep us “on track” in our lives, heading toward what we want for ourselves and for our lives. They include things like getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth, and going to bed at night.
They also include more intentional habits like taking a walk when you feel stressed or anxious, journaling, meditating, going to a coffee shop with a friend, reading, and much more. Whatever actions you take, or want to take, to build the life you want to live - those are habits.
Why are routines important, anyway?
Routines are important because our actions fuel us and move us toward our vision for our life. What we do becomes, to an extent, who we are. Our actions affect us in life-changing ways.
Routines anchor us as humans. No matter what changes around us or what challenges we face each day, our habits become a constant we can count on. A daily routine can provide structure, organization, predictability, self-care, and even peace to our days.
Reports have even shown that those who practice consistent daily routines sleep better, have more manageable stress levels, and claim they are in increasingly better health.
How to build your own routines
Creating a daily routine isn't as hard as you think. There are plenty of ways to structure your day so you can live in greater alignment with your goals. Here are some tips to help you build your own daily routine.
Set Goals
First, set goals, no matter how “large” or “small”. Goals don’t have to be achievement-based, they can simply be a vision or picture of what kind of life you want to live, or an outcome you want to see manifest in your life. For example, “I want to walk my dog every morning,” is a great goal. So is, “I want to run a marathon next year.” Big or small, goals help you get clear on what actions you need to take daily.
Create Morning and Evening Routines
Create morning, afternoon, and evening routines to anchor your days. Think of your morning and evening routines as “bookends” to your day, and an afternoon routine to help you “check-in” mid day.
A great morning and evening routine helps you realign your emotions and behaviors with your desires and goals. They also set the tone for the day and evening and create a buffer of peace as you enter and exit your work day.
For afternoon routines, they can be as simple as a short meditation practice, some breathwork, a short walk, or simple pause in your day to mentally and emotionally check-in.
Make a Plan, But Don’t Stick to It!
Once you've determined your goals for this season, create an outline for your new daily rhythms and routines. This can be as simple as mapping out steps in consequential order. The key here is to create a loose plan and practice your new habits with grace. You don’t have to necessarily “stick” to your plan - just feel it out, practice your habits, and grow into these new routines!
When it comes to establishing new routines and practicing new habits, grace is key. No human is perfect in consistency, and no routine is perfect in practice. Grace fills in gaps and helps us realign when we need to adjust. It’s the perfect balance to the structure routines create!
Remember to regularly check-in with your goals and habits. Do your goals need to adjust, or habits need to change? If it’s not working, change it up! If it is working, have fun and keep growing forward!