You might have all of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and system automations in your business but how do you fare with personal routines?
Like an SOP, your routines are repetitive, clear guidelines geared toward making your life as efficient as your business.
And, since SOP sounds a little too business-like, we’ll call them by their more common name- habits.
Several habits can help you free up your mental space, energize your body, boost your focus and creativity, and help you wind down at the end of the day.
However, there are a lot of options to choose from, so here is a short list of my favorite habits, broken down into three categories:
- Morning Routine
- Evening Routine
- Work Routine
Morning Routine
Morning can be the hardest part of the day. You’re trying to wake up, handle responsibilities, find caffeine, and prepare for the day ahead. However, even though everyone’s morning routine looks different, there are three steps you can’t afford to miss.
I call them the Three Ms of the Morning.
Movement
One of the first things you want to do in the morning is get your body moving. You could go for a walk, do some yoga, dance around the living room- anything to get your blood pumping and boost those endorphins!
Mindset
Before you leave the bedroom, take a moment and meditate on the upcoming day. If your mindset is positive, you’re more likely to have a good, productive day. If it’s negative from the night or waking up on the wrong side of the bed, use this time to breathe and adjust.
Menu
Now that you’re up and about, what’s for breakfast? Food fuels our body and helps it maintain energy throughout the day, so skipping breakfast or relying solely on coffee isn’t a great start. Instead, make breakfast a habit. Your body will thank you.
Even if your routine is 30 minutes, creating these habits in the morning will help you eliminate unwanted decisions and prepare you for the day in no time.
Evening Routine
For me, the perfect evening routine begins at 8 pm. That way, work is over, dinner is through, and there’s nothing left to do but relax- starting with a book.
Reading
What better way to relax than with a good book? Reading helps our brain relax and process the day, which then helps us sleep. You can read something for business (like Atomic Habits) or pleasure (like Verity by Colleen Hoover), but the best results always come from a physical book.
Journaling
Journaling is another way to relax your body and brain. Writing releases stress, balances hormones, and lets you see your emotions from afar, giving you a better perspective on the day. Pen and paper are the best, but you do what works for you.
Skincare
Do you have a skincare routine? If not, now’s your chance to create one. Wash your face, use your favorite lotions or masks, and let yourself relax from the stress of the day.
Connection
Now is also the perfect time to connect with your partner, kids, or anyone that you deem important to you. Watch a movie together, play a board game, or chat about your day and catch up on theirs. Trust me, you can never go wrong with quality time with loved ones.
An evening routine will help you shake off the day’s dust and prepare your mind and body for a restful night’s sleep. However, try to avoid coffee, black tea, or other stimulants during this time. Otherwise, you may find yourself unable to relax at all.
Work Routine
Your work routine consists of where and how you do your work. Since it is so varied, I’ll give you a baseline and let you fill in the details.
Time Blocking
With time blocking, you can schedule your day– including those much-needed breaks. Use it to block out your morning, evening, and lunch breaks- then stick to it! You can also use time blocking to organize your meetings and tasks so everything still gets accomplished on time.
Movement
As much as we may deny it, we’re still human. We can’t sit still at a desk for 8 hours straight, so don’t try. Instead, find time to move when you can. Dance to the bathroom, take a walk on your break, pace while on a phone call- anything to give your body some extra energy and movement.
Be consistent
You should be in your workspace when you are working. Your workspace doesn’t always have to be an office it could be your backyard, a coffee shop, or on a train but try to make it a space that you enjoy being in.
Create a To-Do list
At the end of the workday, create a to-do list and outline your tasks for the next day. That way, you’re never at a loss for what comes next.
Final thoughts
Even though routines and habits sound like they make life boring and repetitive, I promise that their benefit outweighs any lack of spontaneity. Plus, there will be times when a routine doesn’t work for you. Maybe you’re sick or achy and don’t want to move or have a headache and can’t focus on reading. Or, perhaps all you want to do is curl up in a chair and watch a sappy rom-com while eating ice cream.
No matter what happens, it’s ok to cut yourself some slack. Habits aren’t as stiff as SOPs, though they can give you the same efficiency in your life, and you shouldn’t be afraid to change and mold them to your needs.
We’re only human, after all.
