Who has watched the videos or TikToks all about influencers’ 5-9 routines before their 9-5? They’re at the gym, they’re creating content, they’re cleaning their home all before they start their full-time job. We all know being a content creator is a huge second job for anyone so I’m just exhausted. That’s why I wanted to write this guide on how to create routines that are sustainable and do your routines your own way.
Start off small
I might seem obvious but don’t try to overwhelm yourself right at the beginning! Start with one habit in one routine with what you want to add in the most. Personally, I think your evening routine is more important than your morning routine. If you can get organised for the next day the night before, you can create that dream morning routine! I always say to choose one habit to implement and do it consistently for 2 weeks. Make sure it’s something you really want to do so you’ll be focused, motivated and excited.
One idea is to get your stuff ready for the following day. In theory, it’s a few tasks such as packing your bag, making/prepping your lunch + drinks and getting your outfit ready. However, carving out that extra half an hour before bed will save you that time in the morning.
Add on when you find consistency
This is called habit stacking, where you add a new habit to an existing one. For example, maybe you want to drink more water in the morning. When you get yourself organised for the next day, leave a glass of water by your bed when you go to sleep. When you wake up first thing, drink it all. I find it better to use a stainless steel water bottle so the water stays cold. Stick to it for 2 weeks before adding another step.
Don’t give yourself too many habits to implement right away. Make sure you have the foundations in place first before adding to it.
Consider making a habits menu
I’d say this is something that I’ve only thought about in 2024. Some days, you love to have a full morning routine with 25 steps. On other mornings, you just want to get out of bed, wash your face, brush your teeth and get out of the door. A habits menu will allow you to basically pick and choose what you need on that day. It definitely works best for mornings and evenings so you can tailor your routine to what you need that day.
Choose your non-negotiables that you must do every day and then list habits you’d like to add in if you have extra time. Maybe your everyday morning routine takes you half an hour. Perhaps most Sundays, you want to give yourself an extra hour. You could use that time to pamper yourself, catch up on reading or simply as an additional hour of sleep! You could also jot down how long each habit takes you too so you can make the best use of your time.
Keep track of your routines
When I was a kid, the only way to motivate myself was to use a sticker chart. Even now as an adult, if I don’t track my progress with something, I probably would forget. Why not make yourself an adult habit tracker? It could be an app, a spreadsheet, a printout you’ve designed on Canva or even stars on a chart! Tick off your habits at the end of every day (or whenever you get a chance) and trust me, it’s incredibly satisfying. I use a daily app but do have a spreadsheet that I use weekly.
What habits you put on your tracker is entirely up to you. If I have a work-heavy week, I’ll track my water intake, fresh air intake and movement. If I’m in a bit of a slump, I’ll track getting out of bed, doing my skincare routine and reading.
Focus on one routine at a time
Do not go in and try to change every routine overnight. Work out which routine you need to edit the most and start there. You might not need a massive overhaul, just to make a few tweaks, or you might want to make wholesale changes. If you’re like me, I have different routines in different seasons. In winter, I want a slower morning routine whereas with lighter summer mornings, I have more motivation to wake up earlier.
After a month, you can add in another routine. It doesn’t just have to be your morning or evening routine. I have a business Monday morning routine (basically just accounts and admin), a weekly money routine (I sort out my budget and review the week), a Sunday reset routine and a self-care routine. That might seem a lot but you’ve probably got similar routines in your day-to-day life without even noticing.
Be flexible
You are allowed to try stuff out. You can switch a habit out from your morning routine to the evening. You’re allowed to have a different routine for workdays and weekends. In the end, routines are all about trial and error to begin with whilst you find what works for you. Whether it’s a seasonal or life change, your routines are designed to make your life a little easier and streamline it.
By all means, take inspiration from those online (I love watching routines on YouTube and TikTok) but remember that they’re very personal. You’ll probably take bits from about ten different videos to make your own.
I hope this guide on how to create routines that are sustainable was helpful. Whilst I love sharing my own routines online, they’re not designed to be copied, simply just to inspire you.
If you enjoyed this post all about how to create routines that are sustainable, you can check out all my other organisational posts here. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok too! I promise to post more on all platforms.
