Creating Meaningful + Effective Routines
6 Steps to creating a meaningful routine
+ plenty of ideas to make it into a routine you love!
Routines can make or break your day.
Routines help us to create habits that form a life of self-care and abundance. As a result we can experience more joy and fulfillment in our day-to-day lives.
Do any of these sound like you?
Hitting ‘snooze’ over and over, putting off waking up until the last minute
Throwing on whatever clean clothes you find
Grabbing breakfast and coffee as you rush out the door
Mid-day exhaustion, no matter how much coffee you drink
Struggling to stay focused at work, mind often wandering
Pulling out your phone any break you have
Eating dinner in front of the TV
Drifting off on the couch
Struggling to fall asleep/ stay asleep once in bed
Mind racing at night, thinking of conversations or to-do lists
If you answered YES to any of the above, your routines may need some support!
Maybe you’ve tried to overhaul your morning/ evening routines in the past and it hasn’t worked.
That’s because a full-on overhaul won’t stick.
The good news? You already have most of the tools you need to gently make your routine into one that you actually want to stick to.
Ready to learn how?
The key?
Find things that you really love/ enjoy to put into your routine. This is what will keep you coming back.
Six Steps to Creating a Meaningful Routine:
Asses your current morning/ evening routines. Write them down, without judgement.
Write down the routine that would be your dream goal. Make it realistic- ex: for most people, this does not mean waking up at 5am.
Pick three things from your dream list to integrate into your daily routine (three things total!) Once again, make it realistic.
Do your best to practice these things everyday for a week. If you miss a few days, that’s okay. We’re learning here.
Pick three new things the next week. See what works, and what doesn’t. Meet yourself with kindness. Notice how you feel.
Repeat, until you find a routine that feels good for you!
Morning Routine Ideas
“Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” —Buddha
Keep your blinds open at night, so your body can notice when the sun is rising and be ready to wake once it’s up.
Take a few minutes to stretch your body in any way that feels good while still in bed.
Use an alarm that’s a soothing sound, instead of one that jolts you. Maybe put your phone across the room so that you have to get up to turn off the phone.
Don’t look at your phone until your routine is over!
Drink a glass of lukewarm water with lemon while you wait for your coffee/ tea to be ready.
Sit down for your first few sips, and take a few deep breaths first, really enjoying the moment and how it feels for your body.
Prepare nutritious meals you can easily eat in the morning- overnight oats, etc.
Sit down while you eat, let yourself enjoy it!
Only keep clothes that you love. Pick ones that feel good on your skin and help you feel confident- even if you’re staying home all day.
Say goodbye to everyone in the house, including pets, before you leave.
Evening Routine
“Finish each day before you begin the next, and interpose a solid wall of sleep between the two.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Greet everyone with kindness and touch when you come home.
Set your phone down while you settle in the house- maybe plan a specific amount of time you want to spend on it through the evening and try to stick to that.
Take a moment to light a candle and tend to anything that needs your attention- plants, pets, kids, etc.
Take a hot shower or warm herbal bath, allowing yourself to breathe deeply and be present with yourself.
Turn off all screens at least an hour before trying to fall asleep.
Listen to calming music or an audio book in bed for 10-20 minutes.
Think of three things you are grateful for from your day.
Keep a notepad by the bed to write any urgent feeling thoughts or to-do’s that come up while you’re trying to fall asleep, and thank your brain for reminding you before returning to your breath.
In creating a routine that best supports you, the focus needs to be on REST.
Without good rest, you will never have the energy to live the life you desire.
Keep in mind all the little ways you can support yourself to live more rest-fully in your day-to-day, and you’ll watch your energy levels respond.
Remember- pick just three things to start and go from there! Having one healthy routine habit that sticks is better than a complete overhaul that falls away.
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