The Benefits of Having a Daily Routine

Updated: April 6, 2023

The pandemic has forced everyone to change their lifestyle. With curfews and lockdowns in place, we had no choice but to stay inside our homes for most of the day.

To occupy themselves, many chose to binge-watch tv series and movies. Some became more active on social media. While others worked from home or used their time to learn through online courses.

If there’s one thing I realized about productivity during these times, it is the importance of having a daily routine.

Like probably many of you, I didn’t give it much thought at first. I just tried to wing it every day, doing whatever it is that I was in the mood for.

Because I still had work to do, which I prioritized doing in the morning. What was challenging were my afternoons and evenings. Without meetings and events, I suddenly found myself dealing with a big block of free time each day.

At first, I binged on movies. Then I tried to be more active on social media. Sometimes, I’d open a book and read, or take a free online course to learn something new.

After a few days, I felt restless and discontent. Initially, I blamed the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic for what I was feeling. I told myself that it was expected and normal, given the situation.

Then one afternoon, I decided that I’ll try something new, and go out for a brisk walk around the block. After almost an hour, the endorphins from the exercise gave me some clarity.

That’s when I realized that perhaps, the emotional exhaustion that I’d been feeling was because I didn’t have a daily routine. And I’ve been using a lot of mental energy every day just to decide what to do in the afternoons and evenings.

That night, after dinner, I drafted a possible daily routine that I’d follow – a schedule of activities that will give my days some structure during the community quarantine.

And after a week of religiously following it, I can say that felt better and more productive than when the lockdown started. Indeed, following a daily routine was what I needed.

The Benefits of Having a Daily Routine

1. Increased productivity and efficiency
Most people tend to be more productive when they’re trying to catch a deadline. A daily routine has a similar effect because each activity has an end time, and your brain will be geared up to finish the task by then.

2. Better time management
My current daily routine gives me up to two hours of watching Netflix. By setting this, I’ve been able to consciously avoid unproductive binge-watching, and ensure that I’ll have enough time for other activities.

3. Learning self-discipline
Following a schedule has helped me learn a bit of self-discipline. If it’s time for work, then it’s time for work, and I should not check my social media notifications during this time. It was a struggle at first, but eventually, it became easier.

4. Increased focus
A daily routine helped me become more focused because my mind doesn’t have to wonder anymore if there’s anything that I should be doing instead; or what I would need to do next afterward. It was easier to just think about the task at hand.

5. Good for physical and mental health
In my daily routine, I’ve intentionally included time for rest and meditation, as well as physical activity and exercise. This has helped me avoid overworking or just lazily bumming at home. Also, such activities are effective in boosting the immune system.

6. Helps in understanding yourself better
Designing a daily routine requires some form of introspection. For example, I discovered that the best time for me to do some analytical work is in the evening; and it was easy to get myself to exercise in the afternoon than in the morning.

Final Thoughts

Several days passed and eventually, I decided to officially start my day at 10 AM and end it at 10 PM. In those 12 hours, there’s time for work, exercise, and for rest & recreation.

It took a couple of weeks of testing and adjusting before I arrived at the schedule that pleased me the most. So when you try this, don’t worry if your initial routine feels awkward or difficult to follow.

I guarantee that with enough patience and persistence, you’ll likewise reap the benefits that I mentioned above. And you’ll breeze through your days with less stress and worry.

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