Setting Up Routines

For someone like me, a routine is a safe haven. Routines make the world go round. I thrive on schedules and routine as they make me more productive and happy. If you too find yourself depressed and aimless, perhaps a routine would help you as well. Here are some tips I've found for setting up and sticking to a routine:

1. Schedule the most important things first. 
• This allows you to accurately gauge how much time you have
• It also makes sure that what has to get done is fully accounted for.
2. Set aside time for the things you enjoy.
• Put aside at least an hour each day for 'you' time. 
• Whether this is 15 minute writing chunks or an hour of meditation, having something to look forward to will compel you to follow the routine.
3. Have consistency. 
• The more things you can do at the same time every day, or on the same day every week, the better.
• Do laundry every Saturday at noon, or eat lunch at the same time every day. 
• This programs your body and brain to expect certain things to happen, making them remind you follow your schedule
4. Have several schedules. 
• Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly are all useful in different ways, so it helps to have one of each going.
• A Daily schedule is great for the little things of life. If you have a job with the same work hours every day you probably already have a daily schedule started.
• A Weekly schedule helps keep track of the things you need to do every week, like laundry and soccer practice.
• Monthly schedules are great for seeing those once in a while tasks 
• Yearly schedules help you stay up to date on birthdays, anniversaries and special events.
5. Factor in fudge time.
•  Not everything will always go as planned. So factor in an amount of time for things to go over the allotted time. 
• My favourite way of doing this is to make everything fall into 30 minute chunks, even if I know they will take less than 30 minutes
6. Don't schedule things you aren't going to do.
•  If you know you're not going to paint the garage this weekend, don't put it on your schedule. 
• It isn't going to motivate you, it will bring you down when you look and say you didn't do it.
• By only scheduling things you know you will do you open up more free time for those out of place tasks and increase motivation to follow the schedule.
7. Don't stress what doesn't get done.
• In addendum to that, make sure that if a certain task doesn't get done on time, or at all, that you don't put yourself down. Make note of why you didn't do the task, and factor  that in to changing the schedule for next time.
8. Add in some relaxation time
• Along with fun time make sure you put in a bit of relaxation time. 
• This is important to maintain faith in the system and to keep from running yourself ragged.
9. Have reminders
• Whether it is your phone sending you push notifications, or your watch beeping on the hour, have reminders of what time it is and what you're supposed to do.
• It is very easy to get sucked into an activity and ignore the rest of your obligations. By having an alarm telling you it is coming time to change activities you can prepare for the end by wrapping up what you are doing.
10. Adjust your schedule. 
• Set aside time now and again to evaluate your schedule and tweak it until you are a well oiled machine.
• Take notes as you use the schedule on what can be done better so that when it comes time to adjust the schedule you know what works and what doesn't.

That all said my favourite scheduling program is Google Calendar. It is easy to use and quickly and quietly links to all of my devices, allowing them to send me pop-ups when new tasks are coming up, as well as reminding me of birthdays and other significant events. Google Calendar is all at once a Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly schedule, making it ideal for a one stop shop. 

I hope all this can help you set up a routine that fits your lifestyle and helps you be a happier, more productive person!