The Importance of Keeping and Sticking to Your Daily Schedule
"What you do today can improve all your tomorrows," -- Ralph Marston
Whether you are sheltering in place, under quarantine or going through social distancing, you may realize it is so easy to spend your day doing absolutely nothing. You could be on social media all day or just feel bored. So, what is your solution to fix this? Keeping and sticking to a daily schedule!
Most of us have one at regular times. Even if it is not strict, it does
provide you with some structure and this is what we all need. Even if you
are letting yourself relax for a day or two, your days need to have some
sense of completing tasks and an organized day.
There are a few things that having a daily schedule automatically does for you. It helps you have good sleep habits, as you know you will get up in the morning and go to sleep at night. You will eat meals at regular times and also eat healthy, balanced meals. During your day you will schedule exercise and other activities, so you are a fully rounded person to keep you socially active and connected with people and your mind engaged.
Here are a couple of helpful tips to create a great schedule. This can work,
whether you are in school, working or at home with family obligations. Do
feel free to adapt this so it works best for you, as your ideal schedule
will help you get what you need done, not feel like a huge list of chores.
- Start by setting what time you'll get up in the morning and go to
sleep in the evening.
- Add your mealtimes. These do not have to be "exact" each day, but creating a time when you think you would eat can help organize the rest of your day's tasks and routine.
- Think for a moment about the practical things you need to get done, not
simply daily but also weekly. This could include daily exercise, preparing food, showering and a beauty care routine. These things you will want to block out time for in your schedule, so you can plan for them.
- Next, consider some of both your long and short-term goals. What would you like to accomplish over the next year or six months? Choose 3 big goals and then think about 1 task you could do each day that would help get you closer to your goals achieved. Add this to your daily and/or weekly schedule if you can't do them each day.
- Be sure to include some free time. None of us are robots. There will be
times things take longer than you think they will. Unexpected things or bigger chores will need to be done. Having free time in your schedule gives you room to get them done, without stressing over if you can actually accomplish them.
Once you have a daily schedule, you then want to do your best to stick to it.
But if you find that you would prefer to do certain tasks at different times
or that there are more things you need to get done, then it is important
you make changes to your schedule. The goal is not to stick to what a piece of paper says, but that you simply create a daily schedule that gets what you need done accomplished.
Don’t miss the opportunity to add some fun to your daily schedule. There is an old saying that “All fun and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Well, this is not simply a classic line from the horror movie The Shining, but a lot of people know that if your day does not have any fun, it can make you feel quite unmotivated to get the rest of your daily tasks done.
Take a look at your schedule and try to add 1 or 2 “fun breaks” of about 20 minutes to your schedule. This does not have to be complicated. It could be as simple as sitting on your back porch and enjoying a fresh cup of green tea while you listen to the birds sing. Choose something that brings you joy.
Here are some of the activities that could be fun to add to your schedule:
- Daily yoga
- Draw in an adult coloring book
- A meditation routine
- Doing a random act of kindness
- Cook a new recipe
- Time spent doing a favorite hobby to unwind (knitting, crochet or sewing, etc.)
When you have a daily schedule, it is easy to see how everything else will start to fall into place. Sit down today (don’t delay!) and create yours!
I love your post! Colouring books are my favourite and I love the concept of thinking of long terms goals and doing a task for it every day! I just have to do it now ahah
Great post. This whole pandemic has thrown my routine out the window, and I really need to buckle down. On the days that I meditate, I am much more focused and productive.
Thank you for sharing these helpful tips…It’s really a challenge to stick with your daily routines especially when you have a lot of things to do that needs to be done all at once.. more power to your blog here’s mine www.pinaynursemeetsworld.com
Great tips! Sticking to a daily schedule makes such a big difference when it comes to productivity. Thanks for sharing!
I have struggled with making a schedule for years. I think it’s because I feel like I have to stick to it 100% when I make it, and it freaks me out. I see the importance and really do need to make a better effort. I could be so much more productive if I had a daily checklist to follow.