Why we need a routine?
When I realized that lockdown would be happening because of Coronavirus I knew for me this would be the time to set up the behind the scenes areas of my coaching business. This was the first step so I could start showing up in the world to support and empower ladies who want more - to live a happier and purposeful life.
I am very pleased with what I achieved during lockdown – creating a new website (you’re reading it) content for posts, setting up social media and what I have loved even more has been connecting with some great female entrepreneurs and also coaching some amazing women offline.
But when I look back, it was a struggle and stressful at times because I didn’t have a clear routine, which we have all suffered with this due to the world wide shut down and working from home.
We all did our my best in these unprecedented circumstances.
I am now writing this in September and my children are now back in school – only been back a few days and the amount my productivity has gone up in just those days is amazing. I actually forgot how much I can get done in a morning! It made me think about the power of a routine. One of the main reasons I can get more done is because I have been able to create structure and routine again.
Do you have a routine? Do you plan ahead or just see where the day takes you? Are you generally productive?
If you are finding you’re not being as productive in the day as you would like, or when you look over the longer term that you are not achieving your goals. Have a look at your current routine - can you improve this?
Ask yourself – “How can I be more productive? How am I spending my time? How can I stop procrastinating? Find more on procrastination tips in another blog I wrote.
For me in the past, running my own business and looking after a family the power of routine has been essential. This is a work in progress and I have learnt as I have gone along, sometimes it works amazingly and sometimes not so well– this is natural so don’t be hard on yourself and remember to have structure but also flexibility to what comes up on that day.
When I first started running my holistic therapy business and planning my own day it was great to have the flexibility and freedom. This was my big reason why I started in the first place. I wanted that time and life freedom of being available for the school runs, watching sports day and plays, running the home but being able to fit clients in around this and make an income.
However, I have learned that without a routine I can feel like I have too much on, or there is a blur of “am I in work mode now” or “family mode” and it has been difficult at times to separate the two and actually feels like I have less time freedom as I’m always doing something.
I am currently working on this again to separate the two areas as I feel it’s starting to blur and build a routine / structure for myself. I think this just may be an after effect of being in lockdown.
These are some of the new routines I am starting with this week:
I am working a set number of days per week for clients however I have flexibility around which days this may be and also the number of clients I see. This will help me to block off time specifically for clients/ work.
I am structuring my time so that I can do the majority of my work and seeing clients when kids are at schoo. When the kids are back home, I can spend time with them and put that phone down!
My self-care non – negotiables. This is a new one for me. I have been trying to incorporate these into my daily routine for a while now but these are often overlooked because it’s not “work.” However these are really important and are essential to my work as they set up my mindset and mood for the each day. They are empowering and motivating which will then reflect in my work and support for my clients.
This includes things like journaling, affirmations, listening to something inspirational or motivational and exercise. These are micro actions so may be 5 -10 minutes but it means I am incorporating these into my little by little and making them into a habit. I have decided I will do these before I start work in the morning to set up my day.
So over to you now!!
Creating a new routine and keeping to it.
1. Sit down with a pen and paper and think about what parts of your day and week you can turn into routines. Split your up your time – morning, day, evening, bedtime.
2. Write the down and create daily to-do lists for yourself until you’ve established these new habits and routines.
Some ideas:
It’s probably helpful to split your day up to morning, daytime, evening and think about what you do in each time frame.
Chances are you already have a morning routine.
You get up, make a drink, check your email and make breakfast – what do you want your mornings to look like?
What routines can you do to help the day to run smoothly?
Meal planning helps you figure out what meals to make and eat for the week. It will
also help when it comes to creating a shopping list.
A cleaning schedule makes sure you stay on track with your household chores
What else can you think of?
Finish up your day with an evening/ bedtime routine this not only helps when you’re too tired to make smart choices, it also helps you fall asleep more easily.
Think about what you can do the night before to make the next morning easier.
Having your clothes hung up and ready to wear or making sure the kitchen is clean are great examples.
Before actually going to bed, come up with a few calming things that help you slow down and get ready for sleep. Wind down with a cup of herbal tea, read a book or listen to some music.(don’t forget to include self-care and relaxation into your routine)
In summary, taking the time to create routines and habits will make your day run a lot smoother. You might just find yourself less stressed and get more done during your productive hours.
And that’s a great thing. You’re are using less brain power for decision making, you can use this now for the fun stuff like figuring out what family movie to watch, places to visit and things to do.
In this post, I’ve talked mainly about establishing a daily or weekly routine but if you have followed me for a little while (check out my Instagram here), you will know that I’m all about dreaming big and going for your goals.
The same principles of routine and habits applies to those big goals too, so start creating routines will which benefit you hugely in the future.
“If your habits don’t line up with dream, then you need to either change your habit or change your dream” – John Maxwell
As always, I’d love to hear of any new routine you put in place and how they affect your day to day or end goals. If you need support in establishing a routine or increasing productivity get in touch for a relaxed, informal chat. Have a fantastic week! Kay x
Helping ladies move from feeling stuck and overwhelmed in their lives to designing & achieving their goals, dreams and ambitions. For more information on bringing positive change into your life – www.kaymalcolmcoaching.com (life coaching for women)