How Routines Help You Become More Productive and Less Stressed
Routines may seem mundane, but they hold the power to transform your daily life, making you more productive and less stressed. Many successful people, from Mark Zuckerberg to Danielle Steele, have recognized the benefits of streamlining their day-to-day tasks into simple, repeatable routines. By reducing the number of decisions you need to make each day, routines free up mental energy for more important, creative, and fulfilling pursuits.
In this article, we’ll explore the concept of routines, their benefits, and how you can harness their power to improve your life.
What Is a Routine?
A routine is a set of actions repeated habitually, often without much thought. These routines can be simple, like the steps you take to unlock your computer, or complex, like the daily schedule that manages your work, family, and leisure activities.
Routines allow you to operate on autopilot, freeing your mind for other tasks. For instance, most people can’t recall every detail of their morning commute—it happens automatically while they focus on other things. This automaticity is what makes routines so powerful. By making something a regular habit, you no longer have to concentrate on it, leaving you with more energy for the things that truly matter.
The Benefits of Following a Routine
Routines offer several benefits that can help you manage your day more effectively:
Avoiding Decision Fatigue
Every day, we make thousands of decisions, from what to wear to what to eat, and these decisions can drain our mental energy. This phenomenon, known as decision fatigue, can lead to procrastination, poor decision-making, and unnecessary stress. By establishing routines for simple, repetitive tasks, you conserve your mental energy for more important decisions. For example, having a set morning routine that includes what you’ll wear and what you’ll have for breakfast can save you time and mental effort, allowing you to start your day more focused and energized.
Saving Time
Routines help prevent the time wasted on searching for lost items or figuring out what to do next. By creating a designated place for your keys or developing a system for organizing important documents, you can streamline your day. Additionally, routines can help you stick to a schedule, ensuring that you allocate time for important tasks and avoid procrastination. This time-saving aspect of routines allows you to accomplish more in your day without feeling overwhelmed.
Saving Money
Routines can also save you money. For instance, by planning and preparing your meals at home instead of eating out daily, you can significantly reduce your food expenses. Similarly, establishing a consistent wardrobe can help you avoid impulse purchases and ensure that your clothing budget is spent wisely. By incorporating routines that focus on budgeting and financial management, you can create a more stable and predictable financial situation.
Boosting Health
Incorporating healthy habits into your routine, like regular exercise and nutritious eating, can significantly improve your physical well-being. The key is consistency—routines help you stick to these habits even when motivation wanes. For example, making a habit of walking for 30 minutes each day or including vegetables in every meal can lead to long-term health benefits. Additionally, routines can help you maintain a healthy sleep schedule, which is essential for overall well-being.
Improving Sleep
A consistent bedtime routine can help you wind down and get better sleep. Whether it’s turning off screens an hour before bed or following a relaxing pre-sleep ritual, routines signal to your brain that it’s time to rest. For instance, incorporating activities like reading, meditating, or practicing deep breathing before bed can help you relax and fall asleep more easily. Over time, your body will associate these activities with sleep, making it easier to establish a regular sleep pattern.
Examples of Routines That Work
Many successful individuals have harnessed the power of routines to enhance their productivity:
Writers and Routines
Japanese writer Haruki Murakami and American novelist Danielle Steele maintain strict writing routines that allow them to produce bestsellers consistently. While their schedules are intense, they highlight how routines can help you focus and accomplish significant tasks. Murakami, for instance, wakes up at 4 a.m. every day to write for several hours before engaging in physical activities like running or swimming. Steele, on the other hand, follows a routine of writing for long hours, sometimes up to 24 hours straight, to complete her books. These examples demonstrate how routines can be tailored to your specific goals and lifestyle.
Simplified Wardrobes
Entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg and designers like Vera Wang have adopted a uniform approach to dressing. By limiting their clothing choices, they reduce decision fatigue, allowing them to focus on more critical decisions in their work. Zuckerberg, for example, wears a grey t-shirt and jeans every day, explaining that this routine helps him avoid unnecessary decisions and concentrate on building his company. Wang, despite her role in the fashion industry, keeps her wardrobe simple and consistent, allowing her to focus on her creative work.
Simple Meals
In Norway, it’s common for people to bring the same lunch to work every day—a practice that saves time, money, and mental energy. This routine contributes to Norway’s high quality of life and short working hours. The traditional Norwegian lunch, known as “matpakke,” typically consists of open-faced sandwiches made with whole-grain bread, cheese, and vegetables. This simple and nutritious meal routine supports healthy eating habits and minimizes the time and effort required to prepare lunch every day.
Tips for Creating Successful Routines
If you’re ready to craft routines that work for you, consider these tips:
Identify and Tweak Existing Routines
Start by recognizing the routines you already have. Analyze them to see if they are helping or hindering you. Make small adjustments to improve your daily satisfaction. For example, if you notice that your morning routine is rushed and stressful, consider waking up 15 minutes earlier to give yourself more time to prepare for the day. Similarly, if you struggle with maintaining a clean and organized home, establish a daily routine of tidying up for 10 minutes before bed.
Attach New Habits to Existing Routines
One effective strategy for adopting new habits is to link them to routines you already follow. For instance, if you want to start flossing, do it before brushing your teeth. If you want to start meditating, do it right after your morning coffee. By attaching new habits to existing routines, you make it easier to remember and incorporate them into your daily life.
Start Small
Focus on one or two small changes at a time. This approach makes it easier to stick with new routines until they become habits. For example, if you want to improve your fitness, start by committing to a 10-minute walk each day. Once you’ve established this routine, gradually increase the duration or intensity of your exercise. Starting small prevents you from feeling overwhelmed and increases your chances of long-term success.
Choose the Right Motivation
Different strategies motivate different people. Whether it’s tracking your progress on a calendar, seeking accountability from a friend, or competing with others, find what motivates you and use it to maintain your routine. For instance, you might find it motivating to reward yourself with a small treat after completing a week of consistent exercise. Alternatively, you could join a group or community that shares your goals, providing you with support and encouragement.
Be Realistic About How Long It Takes to Form a Habit
It can take several months for a new habit to become automatic. If you’re struggling to establish a routine, remember that it’s normal for it to take time. Studies show that it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days for a new habit to stick, depending on the complexity of the behavior and individual differences. Understanding this can help you stay patient and persistent as you work toward making your new routines a permanent part of your life.
Final Thoughts
Routines are powerful tools for enhancing productivity and reducing stress. By automating the simple tasks in your day, you free up mental energy for the things that matter most. Whether it’s improving your health, saving time and money, or boosting your creativity, establishing effective routines can significantly improve your quality of life.
Incorporating routines into your daily life isn’t about being rigid or boring—it’s about creating a structure that supports your goals and well-being. By taking small, consistent steps to develop routines that work for you, you can achieve greater balance, efficiency, and satisfaction in your life.