Why a daily routine is so important

The pressure of waking the children up, getting them ready for school, getting ready for work, dropping them off at school and being at work before the first client arrives has been lifted! Now that we have had a week’s ‘holiday’ from this, it’s vital that we reintroduce structure to their day. This should not be regimented and rigid, but as a family, we will all benefit from this, it will reduce stress, conflict and we will all be more proficient and productive as a result.
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For those that have been furloughed, or who are forced to work from home, you will have far more free hours and as we are restricted on our movements, weekends free up! Designing and sticking to a personal daily routine can lead to freedom, productivity, happiness, and fulfilling your true potential. 

With the prospect 12 weeks at home, here are just a few reasons why you can be better off with a set routine:

1. Did you think to brush your teeth this morning? Did it require a lot of determination or willpower? Probably not, because you have made it habitual, you know longer need to think about it, you simply do it. The same holds true for other tasks when we follow a routine. We no longer need to think, reducing the number of decisions to make each day. Knowing exactly which tasks we need to do each day without having to contemplate, decide or ponder too much, makes us more efficient as a result.
2. Although we have been gifted this extra time, it is still the most precious asset at our disposal, once lost, it is non-retrievable. Maintaining a routine, takes the guesswork out of our day and allows us to wake up and ‘do’ instead of wake up and ‘plan’. It predetermines our schedule, allowing us to use our time efficiently.
   
3. Having structure and a logical sequence in our lives, facilitates familiarity and security with what we have to do each day. It creates a flow to our day and helps to instill good habits.  Just like brushing our teeth every morning, adhering to a routine allows us to adopt constructive habits that match our goals and aspirations.
   
4. With consistency, we create momentum, and this has a significant bearing in ensuring success. Sticking to a schedule helps build impetus, which in turn provides the ‘fuel’ to continue with your routine and reap the benefits associated with it. You may gain increased self-confidence gained from the tremendous satisfaction of completing a task or take delight in your increased proficiency! One of the keys to mastering any skill is repetition, practice makes permanent, good practice makes perfect!

 
Developing and sticking with a routine that is congruent with your goals is one of the surest ways to ensure success. It is also perfectly okay to set aside certain times to do nothing. What matters is that you are conscious and alert to your choices. The next few weeks and months pose differing challenges for us all. Each of us has different goals, needs, desires, and resources. That is why it is essential to decide exactly what you want to achieve then develop your routine around your life.
 
Next week we will be discussing the benefits of 12 weeks with exercise and healthy living compared to 12 weeks of no exercise nor healthy living!