How to build your daily routine
When my week feels like it’s hit me like a train and I am working on autopilot, fire-fighting the problems and not stopping to smell the roses, I know it’s time to sit down and have a reset.
It’s important to check in with yourself and make sure you take the small steps to create a life that matters to you and aligns with your values.
When I feel like a ball stuck in the net, I revert to the basics, ensuring my approach is as strong as a championship serve. 🎾
One thing I find really useful is building a solid routine (and updating it regularly!). When your world feels like it’s crumbling, and you are one small toothpaste drip on a school jumper from a breakdown, a strong routine can give you a stable base to fall back on.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel every week. Having a consistent and repeatable routine, that becomes a habit, can help structure your day and keep stress levels down.
Here are some ideas to help you build a work routine that works for you:
- Keep things balanced. There will be the less exciting mundane tasks—washing, ironing, and cleaning the bath—but don’t block out your week with only ‘tasks’. You also need to ensure you have made time to mix in some small boosts throughout your day. These could include getting some physical activity in, having a meal with loved ones, or doing the daily Wordle every morning. Make sure to make time for activities that fill up your cup.
- Take regular breaks. Your mind needs rest to focus and stay healthy. Don’t hunch over your laptop for hours like a prawn, which is also bad for your posture! Get up and stretch every 20 minutes, try techniques like the Pomodoro technique, or set some music for a time limit to remind you to get up and move when it stops.
- Have clear boundaries. Being your boss can be incredibly rewarding and exciting, but switching off can be hard. At the end of my working day, I find it helpful to make a list of everything that I still need to do and any thoughts that are running through my head, to declutter my mind a bit. I can also make a very quick priority list for the next day. I don’t take too much time to prioritise the list, though. I can look at it the next day with fresh eyes and go from there.
- Sleep. I am just terrible with no sleep. Think grizzly bear emerging from hibernation and then stepping on a Lego with bare feet. I need sleep if I don’t want to start a fight with my kettle for looking at me in the wrong way. It can be hard as a mam, especially when your kids are small, to get a good night’s sleep. But, one of the bonuses of being an entrepreneur is setting your own schedule! If you consistently aren’t getting a good night’s sleep, or you know you won’t be getting the recommended 8 hours, you can plan your day to accommodate this. Book meetings at a time when you will be most alert, or maybe even block out some time in your diary for a power nap or meditation.
Building a routine that works for you can help when things are stressful and uncertain. It can provide comfort and reduce anxiety and it can also save you time in the long run by reducing your mental load, making sure the things that need to get done are done. It keeps you calm, makes sure you get important things done, and saves you from feeling overwhelmed. Just a few simple changes can make your day smoother and give you more time for what you love.
If you’d like to give yourself a bit of a break and seek my support with all things business, get in touch at [email protected].
Hollie x