Do we have a subconscious routine?
Usually, people do not realize this because they don’t have a daily list of tasks. So, they go about their day haphazardly doing whatever takes their fancy in the moment – and even in this process, there is a pattern. A pattern of unproductivity, wasted time, and a general shirking of what needs to be done… followed by panicking in future when the workload piles up. The truth of the matter is that a daily routine has many health benefits that will serve you well in the long run. The most productive and happiest people on earth usually have daily routines that they follow closely. We were not meant to bob around aimlessly on the waves of life like some sea coconut with no destination. No no. Happiness is found in progress… and almost all progress in life is determined by good habits strategically woven into a daily routine.
The benefits of your daily routine
With a daily routine, you’ll know exactly what you need to do each day. This will cut down the number of decisions you need to make… and reduce decision fatigue. The mental energy of always figuring out what comes next can take a toll on you.
A good routine will have productive habits that you’ll follow and once these habits are established, they’ll yield rewards many times over. For example, drinking a glass of water every 2 hours will keep you refreshed and prevent lethargy.
A routine will also save you time. This actually translates to more free time, especially if you work from home. A productive routine will mean that you’re more efficient and your work gets completed much faster. You now have time to engage in activities that make you happy.
And here you thought that a routine would deprive you of joy! Tsk tsk.
The beauty of a routine is that once you’ve been on it for about 6 to 8 weeks, it becomes automatic in nature. For example, if you exercise at 7.30 am every morning, it becomes a habit and you’ll stop procrastinating or trying to skip it.
The activity becomes you. The same applies to all other daily activities. Once they’re habits, they become as ingrained as brushing your teeth or taking a shower. You no longer have to expend mental effort trying to be determined or disciplined. You just do what you need to.
The benefits of having a daily routine are immense. So, study your current day-to-day life and see how you can create a daily routine that will help you achieve your goals. Aim for slow progress so that it’s not too overwhelming in the beginning.
As time passes, you can streamline and iterate your routine to become more efficient and productive. From then on, you’ll coast through your days like a bullet train. This is a good place to be. Make your daily routine a habit starting today.