Summary

The article emphasizes the significance of establishing a beneficial routine to improve mental health, productivity, and overall well-being by focusing on self-awareness, incremental changes, and utilizing productivity tools.

Abstract

The article "The Importance of Building a Good Routine" discusses the challenges of breaking free from detrimental habits and the positive impact a well-structured routine can have on one's life. It suggests that small adjustments, such as short walks, can significantly enhance mental health. The author advocates for a personalized approach to routine building, highlighting the importance of understanding one's own productivity patterns and preferences. The article also recommends focusing on one aspect of the routine at a time, such as sleep, and leveraging productivity tools like Notion and Google Calendar to maintain organization and discipline. The overarching message is that while change can be difficult, with persistence and the right strategies, anyone can develop a routine that leads to a healthier and more productive life.

Opinions

The author believes that a bad routine can exacerbate personal difficulties and hinder healing, suggesting that a good routine is essential for problem-solving and mental health improvement.
It is expressed that social media habits can be detrimental to one's routine and that time spent on platforms like TikTok could be better utilized for personal growth activities.
The article posits that self-knowledge is crucial for creating an effective routine, including understanding one's most productive times of day and optimal sleep needs.
The author is critical of the one-size-fits-all approach to productivity, particularly the trendy "5 am 'that girl' routine," emphasizing that individual differences necessitate personalized routines.
The author endorses the use of productivity tools, particularly Notion, as instrumental in organizing and maintaining a beneficial routine.

The Importance of Building a Good Routine

We’ve all been there.

Stuck in a bad cycle. We want to go to bed earlier but we always end up going to bed at the same hour because we have the habit of going on TikTok before bed.

We tell ourselves we are going to start working out again but a new day rolls around and it’s like we can’t bring ourselves to actually do it.

We say we are going to start that side hustle but we get caught up in the learning part of it instead of starting.

Bad cycles can lock you up. Suck up all the motivation you have. From the outside what we need to do is so simple. We get so frustrated because why can’t I bring myself to do what I need to do? Why can’t I actually start doing what I need to change my life?

I learned a bit about this throughout the years.

The thing is that having a bad routine on top of dealing with one’s difficulties and healing is a hard task. Plus, your routine could and should help you solve your problems and improve your mental health.

For example, I started to go on walks to help my mental health. Sometimes leaving the house for just 10–15 minutes really made a difference. There are so many little things we can add to our routines to help us, trading it perhaps with the time we use to go on social media.

I get into that more in this article:

How Silence Saved my Sanity

The most important part about healing that no one talks about.

medium.com

Here are some things that helped me build a good routine.

Focus on one thing at a time.

You can’t build a good routine overnight. It took me a while to figure out the best sleep schedule for me. So, since it was one of the things I struggled with the most I focused on that for a while.

Then I realized that I’m a morning person, so for me days go better when I’m able to complete my most important and demanding tasks in the morning. So I started building it like that.

Get to know yourself.

Am I more productive in the morning, the afternoon, or the night? How many hours of sleep do I actually need to function? What kind of foods or eating habits help me be more productive?

There are honestly infinite questions you can ask yourself or journal on. Knowing yourself is super important to be able to create a routine that works for you.

I hate to break it to you but the 5 am ‘that girl’ routine you are bombarded with on YouTube, IG or TikTok might not work for you.

We are all so different. If you are lucky enough to have flexible work schedules, maybe 9 am is the way to go for you. Or maybe not. You’ll figure it out little by little.

I married my productivity tools.

Yes, this one is super important. I’ve been using Notion for almost 3 years now and that has helped me a lot. Notion can help you organize pretty much about anything imaginable.

After you properly learn how Notion works (or you find the right template) it becomes a powerful tool. Notion is the first thing I check (technologically) in the morning as well as Notion / Google Calendar.

They are all amazing and most importantly, they will help you build the new systems you need to create a good routine.

Hope this encourages you to not give up. We’ve all been there but nothing is stagnant and you can start again tomorrow with the right foot, the right intention. Remember that once you get it you get it and you’ll be able to adapt to even the habits you resist so much but you know you need.

Thank you so much for reading.