“The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” —John C. Maxwell
There are many positive changes that have happened in my habits and life since discovering minimalism. It is possible, of course, that some of those changes would have happened even without minimalism. I might have just matured into them.
But the intentionality that minimalism offered my life was the catalyst for me. Some life changes brought simplicity, others brought intentionality.
Developing routine brought both. And it will for you as well. Creating daily routines opens our life to discover and accomplish wonderful things.
As an example, my most consistent daily routine is how I spend my morning.
There are countless articles and videos being made by people who record and publish their morning routines. Some of them are quite outlandish. And, in my opinion, unsustainable (if they are even true at all). But I digress…
My current morning routine looks like this. The times are not always the same, but my mornings follow the same order of events:
4:00am Wake up.
4:30am Make coffee and write
6:00am Breakfast (eggs, sausage, and a vegetable)
6:30am Write
7:00am Gym
8:00am Shower / get ready
8:30am Faith-based devotions
9:00am Begin working on my 3-Item To-Do List for the day
*Please do not read this routine to mean I never stray from it. For example, if I have a late-night commitment, I will start later in the day. At least one day a week, I go to the grocery store at 8:00am (everything after gets moved back roughly 30 minutes).
*I am most consistent with my morning routine, but I do have an evening routine and meal routine and weekly work routine as well.
Over the years, I have found there are numerous benefits to routine:
Freedom. Freedom is found on the other side of discipline. Some assume that a consistent routine would be restrictive to their freedom. But I’ve found the opposite to be true. Having a set pattern to accomplish the most important things creates more space in the long run.
Focus. Too often in life, the urgent takes precedence over the important. Daily routines prevent that from happening by keeping our attention and action on the predetermined, most important things.
Better Use of Time. When time is short, a routine helps us make the most of the little we have. And when time is plentiful, a routine keeps us from letting it slip away.
Mental and Physical Health. Studies have found that older adults with more regular daily rhythms (consistent times for waking, eating, and spending time with others) report less pain, experience fewer symptoms of depression, and sleep better at night.
Better Work. For anyone doing creative work, routine provides the canvas to accomplish it. Austin Kleon writes about it this way: Routine removes the need to wait for inspiration. We simply keep showing up, and over time, the accumulation of ordinary days produces substantial work.
Stability. Rare is the person who experiences no disruption to their day. Life doesn’t work that way. A daily routine helps bring stability after short-term disruptions (travel, for example) and can bring new stability to a longer-term change of season in life (whether we asked for it or not).
Anticipation. When we build our routines ourselves, we naturally include things we enjoy. Which means there are always some elements we look forward to: the first cup of coffee in the morning, sitting down to write, a walk outside, a favorite lunch, etc. These elements help us get out of bed in the morning and/or provide something to look forward to in the evening.
Better for Others. When the people we live and work with know what to expect from us, they can count on us. Regular meals, consistent bedtimes, weekly tasks, and dependable rhythms create a sense of stability for everyone, especially our kids.
Set Culture in Our Life. Routines remind us that we are in charge of the day and that it is wise to make the most of every opportunity. A routine in the morning is the rudder for the day. A routine in the evening resets our mind for a new day tomorrow.
There is great value in establishing routine. If you embrace routine, you’ll know this to be true. If you do not, I encourage you to try.
Here’s how to get started:
1. Start small. Nobody needs to script out their entire day. Start by choosing one area of life where you think a consistent pattern would help (morning or evening, for example). Pick a timeframe that is the least likely to get disrupted by others.
2. Write down the things you’d like to accomplish. Choose two or three habits you’d like to make a priority in your life and add them to your routine.
3. Place them in an order that is easiest to sustain. Some activities naturally flow into others. I like to eat at least 30 minutes before I exercise—so that is why I schedule more writing time after breakfast before going to the gym.
4. Choose a consistent start time. This will be the most important anchor of your entire routine.
5. Include some things you look forward to.
6. Adjust when needed. Your routine should serve your life. If the routine you wrote out on paper isn’t working, adjust it. Expect this to require some trial and error. Additionally, when a major life change happens, adjust again. My morning routine looks very different today than when we had kids to get ready for school… it also looks different than when both of them were in bed by 9:00pm.
7. Give yourself grace. You will miss days. Simply begin again tomorrow. Don’t believe any assumption (or claim) that everybody follows their routine with 100% efficiency.
A good routine makes life simpler and more intentional. It adds stability, expectation, potential, and freedom.
And in my experience, those are worth waking up for.
