This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
Setting a Routine that Works for You ¶
Working from home can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you have the flexibility to set your own schedule. On the other hand, it's easy to get sidetracked and lose focus. To stay productive and achieve your goals, you need a daily routine that works for you.
As Gretchen Rubin once said, 'What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while.' This quote highlights the importance of creating a routine that you can stick to.
Step 1: Find Your Motive ¶
Before you start creating a routine, you need to understand why you want to do it. What's your motive? Is it to stop rushing out the door in the morning or to stop staying up late at night? Whatever your reason, make sure it's clear in your mind.
Step 2: Make a List of Your Daily Tasks ¶
Write down everything you need to get done daily, both in your home life and at work. Don't worry about organization; this is a brain dump, not a to-do list. Take as much time as you need to jot down everything you do and everything you should get done.
Step 3: Get Specific ¶
Within your loose outlines of each part of your day, you can get as specific as you want. For example, brushing your teeth and making a cup of coffee could be important specifics that you do daily. No task is too small.
Step 4: Structure Your Day ¶
Think of when you are most productive during your day. For example, early birds get things done most effectively before lunchtime, while night owls tend to get their creative burst of energy in the evenings. Group your tasks into the time of day that makes the most sense for when you will best complete them.
Step 5: Be Realistic ¶
Productive habits take time to develop. If you are too hard on yourself, you might never have the chance of enjoying the benefits of a routine. Give yourself time and be realistic about what you can achieve.
Step 6: Schedule in Time for Flexibility ¶
Life gets in the way of even the most detailed of routines. The point is to harness your most productive times to use for your most challenging tasks, and your least productive times to do the more mundane tasks.
Take your new routine for a test drive for 30 days. How does it feel? Did you schedule your tasks at activities at times that make sense? Do you need to adjust things? Tweak anything that is not working on a case-by-case basis, and then assess after 30 days to see how your new routine is working for you.
