A daily routine is important for helping you wake up feeling refreshed and motivated every day. Not only does your routine affect your quality of sleep, but it can improve your mental sharpness, performance, emotional health, and energy levels.
Unfortunately, many of us lost our concept of what a daily routine should look like during the pandemic. Now, as we all try to get back to normal, it is a great time to take a look at our routine and find ways to improve it. Here’s how.
1. Wake Up At The Right Time
Some people need to wake up early to start their day on the right track, while others prefer to sleep until the last possible moment. If you consider yourself a night owl, then putting yourself in a position to wake up early means going against your body’s rhythm. When you do that, you run the risk of feeling tired and unmotivated all day long.
Many of us are forced to wake up as soon as our alarms go off so we’re not late for work, but it may be beneficial for you to determine your circadian rhythm. Essentially, your body lets you know when to go to sleep, wake up, and eat. If you listen closely enough, it will even allow you to understand when your most productive hours are.
Finding your circadian rhythm is easy, and you can do it on a weekend when you don’t have many obligations. Friday night, stay awake until your body tells you it’s time to go snuggle up with your favorite body pillow and sleep. Make sure you’re aware of how you’re feeling and aren’t too into your television show to listen to your body. Turn off your alarm that night and allow your body to wake itself up the next day. If you feel your energy levels are up the next day, then you have successfully found your circadian rhythm.
Doing this allows you to understand your body better and find ways to make your schedule work for you rather than against you. You may find your most productive hours begin as early as 7 AM or as late as 7 PM. From there, you can decide which activities you should do and when. Sleep equals health, and health equals beauty.
2. Eat Breakfast
You’ve been told breakfast is the most important meal of the day since you were a child, so now it’s time to follow that advice. Instead of grabbing a cup of coffee in the morning, make yourself a quick bite to eat so you have enough energy to start your day.
Remember the quality of food matters too. You shouldn’t eat a donut for breakfast every day, but aim to have more balanced breakfasts that include healthy options, such as:
- Eggs
- Berries
- Smoothies
Foods high in antioxidants, like vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin B3, are not only beneficial to your body, they are good for skin protection too.
3. Accomplish a Small Task ASAP
By accomplishing a small task first thing in the morning, you can productively start your day. The odds are you know exactly what you should accomplish in a day the night before, so it’s a good idea to start your day off with a simple task you can cross off your to-do list to help you be motivated for the rest of the day. This small accomplishment will encourage you to continue knocking tasks off your list throughout the day. Things you can do in the morning are:
- Making your bed
- Taking care of your oral health with brushing and flossing
- Bathing
4. Focus on Skincare
The harsh sun and prolonged exposure to it’s rays can be devastating to your skin, not to mention it can cause serious long-term health concerns. Whether it be the summer months, or the middle of the bitter winter, your skincare routine is always important.
Without the proper attention, your pores can become clogged, causing blemishes and other imperfections. Not to mention dryness, irritation, redness and even shedding or cracking of the outer skin layer can occur. Whether you have an existing beauty regimen or not, now is the time to make sure you’re doing everything you can to preserve the longevity of your skin’s health.
There are a lot of ways to take care of yourself, but skincare is the most manageable and important one to start off with. Having a skincare routine helps you build a daily routine to focus on yourself. Washing and moisturizing your face can be a great way to accomplish a small task first thing in the morning. This simple step not only begins your day feeling refreshed but it helps you start your day with proper wellness in mind.
- Cleanse
- Exfoliate
- Treat
- Moisturize
- Protect
5. Move Your Body More
We don’t move our bodies as much as our grandparents used to because jobs are becoming more digital. Consider all of the people who recognized the benefits of remote work this past year. Unfortunately, remote work and sitting all day come with some downsides. A sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy. It can lead to weight gain and a host of other health problems.
Getting your body moving throughout the day, even if it’s just a short walk on your lunch break, can help you unwind and take a break from your stress. The best time for you to take a stroll depends on your personal preference and your schedule. Some people find a morning hike with their dog helps them beat morning grogginess, while others enjoy the digestive benefits of going on a walk after lunch.
6. Make a Schedule
Whether at work or home, you know what you have to do for the day, but sometimes this list in your head isn’t enough. If you don’t properly schedule your time and all of the tasks you have to do, you might forget something or wonder about your day. Your schedule doesn’t have to be detailed; just make sure you block out enough time for certain activities. Make sure you know what your priorities are for the day and when you can expect to have them finished.
7. Start With the Task You Don’t Want to Do
Out of all the things we have to do in a day, there are a few we’d rather avoid, but they have to get done. Instead of pushing them off until the last minute, do those dreaded tasks first. While you may think you’re starting your day off on a bad note, you’re improving the rest of your day by getting these things done first.
8. Leave Work When Work Is Over
Most people think about work a lot, even when they’re at home with their families and no longer at the office. However, thinking about work while you’re home and doing work are two different things. If you’re off the clock, then it’s time to stop working and focus on the things you enjoy, such as spending time with the family, hanging out with friends, or having quality alone time.
If you work remotely, leaving work can be more difficult because work is at home. This is why having an office or a separate space for work is important. Stop working on your couch or in bed so you can enjoy those spaces for what they are meant for rather than making them feel like stressful areas. Make sure you set a clock out time so you can separate your time at work and go enjoy time with your family.
Bettering Your Daily Routine
How you improve your daily routine is up to you. What’s important is you’ve improved it. Find ways of making your daily routine better for you. For example, if you’re not someone who enjoys waking up early to have a full breakfast, make sure you pack a breakfast you can eat at your desk.
Meet Guest Contributor: Marné Amoguis
Marné Amoguis holds a B.A. in International Business from UC San Diego. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she loves sharing her passion for digital marketing. Outside of writing, she loves traveling, playing music, and hiking.
