5 Steps You Can Take to Create a Daily Routine

Why Doing This Will Help You Focus Better and Make You More Productive

Neel Raman
9 min readMay 2, 2023

An effective way to stay organized and focused on getting the right things done is to create a daily routine.

By taking the time to plan and structure your day, you can stay productive and ensure your list of tasks is completed.

A daily routine will offer you stability, help you get more done, and foster positive habits like getting up early.

Find out the simple steps you can take to create a daily routine that fits your lifestyle and will leave you feeling relaxed and in control of your schedule.

1-Minute Summary Video

What Is a Daily Routine?

Creating a daily routine can help take the guesswork out of your to-do list because it keeps your goals top of mind and helps you prioritize what matters most in your life.

A daily routine is a set of tasks and activities you do each day in the same order or at certain times. It helps you build good habits and stay organized by maximizing efficiency. It also helps you maintain your focus and reach your targets faster.

Having a daily routine will keep you motivated and focused throughout the day, no matter what challenges may come up during the day. Successful people understand the power of routines, whether they’re a morning routine or an evening routine.

Think of it like having a plan — it’s easier to make decisions when you already have a good idea of how to proceed with your tasks. It also helps reduce unnecessary stress.

Having a daily schedule also reinforces healthy habits, such as getting enough hours of sleep, exercising regularly and maintaining a balanced diet. When completing tasks becomes habitual, it gives your brain more time to focus on creative projects or other mentally stimulating endeavors.

Having a well-defined daily routine doesn’t mean you have to give up spontaneity. It means part of your day is planned so you don’t feel rushed or overwhelmed while accomplishing things that are important to you.

Why Is Having a Daily Routine Important?

Having a daily routine is important for many reasons.

1. It keeps you organized and productive

When you have a plan for your day, it’s easier to prioritize tasks and get them done efficiently. You can also set aside a bit of time for leisure activities or creative projects that help you relax and recharge.

2. It helps you manage stress

Having a daily routine can help reduce stress levels by providing structure and consistency to your day. When you know what’s coming up next, it’s easier to manage any unexpected events or challenges that come up during the day.

3. It builds good habits

Creating a daily routine is a great way to develop healthy habits like getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, eating nutritious meals, and taking breaks throughout the day.

4. It helps you stay focused

Having a daily routine can help you stay focused on your goals by keeping them top of mind. When you have a plan for the day, it’s easier to stay on track and accomplish more in less time.

5. It allows you to manage your tasks better

Having a daily routine can help you manage your activities better by allowing you to plan ahead and prioritize tasks that are important to you. This will help ensure all of your tasks get done efficiently and leave room for leisure activities or creative projects.

When you create a daily routine, you will be more intentional about how you want to use your time.

create a daily routine

What are the Benefits of a Daily Routine?

The benefits of having a daily routine include:

  • Increased productivity and efficiency.
  • Improved concentration.
  • Reduced stress levels.
  • Improved priority and task management skills.
  • Better sleep quality.
  • Increased motivation and discipline.
  • Improved mental health.
  • Better energy levels throughout the day.
  • Improved physical health.
  • Overall improved quality of life.

Are There Downsides to Having a Daily Routine?

While having a daily routine is helpful, it can also have downsides. These may include:

  • Being limiting and making you feel you’re doing the same things repeatedly.
  • Feeling like you have less freedom to do what you want.
  • Having difficulty adjusting to changes in your scheduled to unexpected events.
  • Making it difficult to be spontaneous or take advantage of unexpected opportunities.
  • Feeling overwhelmed if your routine is too rigid or demanding.

Creating a daily routine can be an effective way to stay organized, productive, and focused on your goals. It can also help reduce stress levels and build healthy daily habits.

However, it’s important to remember that having a daily routine doesn’t mean you have to give up spontaneity or limit yourself from taking advantage of unexpected opportunities.

With the right balance of structure and flexibility, you can create a daily routine that works for you and helps you make the most out of each day.

5 Steps You Can Apply to Create a Daily Routine

Here are five steps you can take to create a daily routine that will help you focus better and make you more productive.

1. Define your priorities and have goals

Know what you want to achieve each day, week, or month and ensure your goals are aligned with what you want to get done. This will help you stay focused on the tasks that are most important to you.

An important step you can also take is to develop the identity of the person you need to be to stick to your priorities and achieve your goals.

That future identity is something to aspire to and will help you stay committed to what you want to achieve.

2. Allocate time for your priorities

A task or an activity can only become part of your routine if it’s scheduled. A good practice to follow is to schedule your highest priority or essential tasks first and those of a lower priority last.

Your self-care and energy restoration also needs to be scheduled. You need to ensure you have enough breaks throughout your day to keep yourself energized and focused.

3. Set up reminders or alarms to stay on track

Setting reminders is a great way to keep yourself on track and ensure you don’t forget important tasks or activities.

You can set reminders on your phone, computer, or write them in a planner. You can even set reminders to have breaks or to take a few minutes to relax and recharge.

4. Track your progress and adjust as needed

Tracking your progress is an important step in creating a daily routine. It will help you stay motivated and accountable for the tasks you need to complete.

You can track your progress by writing down what you’ve accomplished each day, or by setting up a system that allows you to measure how much time you’re spending on each task.

Creating a daily routine doesn’t mean that it has to be rigid and inflexible. You should be open to making adjustments as needed, especially if something isn’t working for you or if unexpected events occur.

It’s also important to remember to be kind to yourself and not be too hard on yourself if you don’t stick to your routine. It takes time to develop a routine that works for you, so don’t give up if it doesn’t happen overnight.

5. Eliminate activities that consume your energy or waste your time

Creating a daily routine is not just about adding more tasks to your day, but also about eliminating activities that are draining your energy or wasting your time.

Take a look at how you’re spending your time and create a list of activities that are taking up too much of your energy or distracting you from what’s important. Once you’ve identified these activities, it’s time to eliminate them from your everyday life.

This could mean saying no to certain requests, delegating tasks to others, or simply cutting out activities that don’t bring value to your life.

By eliminating these activities, you can free up extra time and energy for the tasks that are most important to you.

By following these five steps, you can create a routine that fits your lifestyle and gives you a sense of control so you can achieve your goals.

How to Stick to Your Daily Routine When Life Gets Busy

It’s easy to stick to your daily routine when you’re feeling motivated and happy, but when you don’t feel like it, that can be a real challenge. People are creatures of habits, which makes it easy to fall back into bad habits.

That’s why you need a plan for motivation to keep you sticking to your routine.

Here are a few steps you can take to stick to your daily routine if you are short on time or when life gets busy.

1. Remind yourself of the benefits of having a daily routine

When life gets busy, it can be easy to forget why you created a daily routine in the first place.

Remind yourself of the benefits of having a daily routine, such as increased productivity and better mental health.

Knowing that your routine eases stress, reduces overwhelm, and increases productivity can help remind you why it’s important to stick with it, even if you don’t feel like it.

2. Break down your tasks into smaller chunks

If you have urgent tasks to complete, break them down into smaller chunks that are easier to manage and feel doable. Break down your daily routine or your weekly schedule into digestible daily tasks, so tackling them doesn’t feel so daunting.

This will help you stay focused and motivated to complete each task without feeling overwhelmed.

3. Reward yourself

Rewarding yourself for completing tasks is a great way to stay motivated and stick to your daily routine.

Set up rewards for yourself when you complete challenging tasks or reach milestones. This could be something as simple as having a coffee break, treating yourself to a healthy snack, or going for a walk.

The key is to find rewards that are meaningful and motivating for you so you can stay on track with your routine.

4. Manage your expectations

It’s important to manage your expectations so you don’t get overwhelmed or discouraged.

Set achievable goals that are within your reach and focus on making small progress each day. This will help you stay motivated and make it easier to stick to your routine.

5. Get support

Having a supportive network of friends, family, or colleagues can be a great way to stay motivated and stick to your daily routine.

Reach out to your support system when you need help to stay on track with your routine or if you’re feeling overwhelmed. They can offer encouragement and advice that can help keep you motivated and focused on achieving your goals.

Final Thoughts

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to create a daily routine. With some forethought, intentional planning, and conscious effort, you can move away from bad habits and cultivate new ones that contribute to your physical and mental health.

Taking small steps each day towards creating healthy and efficient routines will ensure every choice you make leads to a better future.

Remember, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to creating a daily routine. Start small and take consistent steps to make lasting changes.

Action Step: Review your daily routine if you have one. Identify improvements you can make to your routine. If you don’t have one, follow the ideas suggested to create a daily routine that you know you can stick to.

Question: What are additional steps you could take to create a daily routine?

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Neel Raman

If you’re a leader that wants your team to perform better, get a free copy of my bestselling book, “Building High-Performing Teams” here: http://bit.ly/2rS1T4F