Routine setting hacks

Hi folks! How are you all doing? Today, after a very long time, I have come up with a hacks-and-tips article(I don’t know if that makes sense).

Moving on to today’s topic, I’ve always wanted to adopt a stable and productive routine and so, I have sufficient experience in formulating time-restrained schedules and in failing to implement them. Over the years, I have found some common mistakes due to which people(including me) can’t stick to a routine. I would like to lay them down here in the form of pointers:

• List all the activities that you want to do in a day

First the basics. These activities should include everything ranging from taking a bath to having lunch to journaling, even the smallest of tasks. This would help you keep track of where your time goes.

• Select your daily tasks wisely.

Don’t overfill your to-do list. Classify tasks as urgent, important, not urgent and not important. Firstly, choose the tasks that are most urgent and important. If more than one task falls under this category then do the one that is more difficult or time-consuming first. This would enable you to lift the weight of the task off your shoulders as early as possible and you would get it done on time without procrastinating. Moreover, you might even get a sense of accomplishment after completing a difficult task and ahh! the joy of ticking off that task from the to-do list.

• Set time-limits for every chore

It is essential to set a specific time duration for each task. For eg:- Do yoga for, let’s say, 45 minutes or read a book for 30 minutes. This helps you to manage your time more efficiently. Also, when there is a time constraint then we tend to do things more swiftly and get distracted less.

• Keep a reasonable time margin

Setting time-limits doesn’t mean that you must be harsh on yourself and compel yourself to finish a task in a limited time frame. You must be mindful of the fact that to do every task you need to be in a specific place, get the required equipment or even go to another place. So, doing all of this to commence a task also requires time and thus, you must make time for this as well. Also, try to keep additional 5 or 7 minutes for any delay that may arise. For eg:- Workout for 1 hour includes time for taking out the mat, coming into various positions, playing the music etc.

• Put in small, frequent breaks into your daily time table

This is the most important of all. Trust me, not taking adequate breaks gives you a hard time in the long run of whose side-effects I have been having lately. It can lead to mental and physical exhaustion and even burnout. If you think that working for a week non-stop and then taking a break afterwards would help it is not a good idea. You must take breaks time and again to rejuvenate yourself. These breaks may include taking a nap, playing a sport, reading a book, watching a show etc. However, screen time should be kept in check.

• Take baby steps

If you are a beginner then you must start small. You must not bombard your day with heaps of activities. First, you should try to complete a handful of chores diligently and then you may regulate them as per your progress.

• Be patient and hopeful

Sketching a time table is easy but executing the plan isn’t plain-sailing. It takes time, a lot of time. You may, at times, feel despondent but don’t lose hope. Be iron-willed and keep persevering!

• Don’t keep unrealistic expectations

You can’t expect to be adept in religiously following your routine after two days of practising it. As said earlier, it takes time.

These are some of the suggestions that I wanted to share. Let me know your tips too in the comments below so that we all can improve! Also, an announcement: next week onwards, two articles would be published on Quirky Talksss, one on Wednesday and the other on Friday. Are you excited?;)

Kindly don’t mind the errors if any. Not an expert in English. Thanks for reading!