One thing I️’ve been working on for a while is incorporating a solid routine to make my days run more smoothly. I️ didn’t have much a daily routine at all until my second daughter was born, but I️ quickly realized I️ needed one in order to maintain my sanity and keep the house in order!
I️ started off small by printing out a weekly cleaning chart I️ found online and that helped bring a bit of organization into our lives. I️ used that for a while and it helped me build a framework for day-to-day responsibilities, and then I️ started writing down additional to-do’s that included more than just cleaning. For example, taking daily vitamins and supplements and making our weekly grocery list. Things that I️ probably could remember without writing them down before kids, but after, not so much! Today, I️ thought I️’d share some tips on how to set a daily routine and give you guys my template that you can customize and print for your own household.
4 Steps to Create a Daily Routine
ONE | Determine Your Why
With any type of goal, establishing your ‘why’ is so important. For me personally, it felt like I️ was drowning in responsibilities and unable to keep up with everything that needed to be done around the house in addition to being a mom and giving my girls the attention they deserve. I️ felt like I️ was failing in all areas of my life and wanted to get into a better frame of mind so I️ could be a better wife, mom, businesswoman and friend. At the time, I️ was working in a full-time contractor role while also being a SAHM, but later that year, transitioned into a fully freelance capacity and definitely needed structure to keep things on track.
TWO | Make a List
I’m the type of person that thrives at knocking out a to-do list but if I️ don’t have structure, I️ get overwhelmed trying to figure out where to begin. After letting it stress me out for too long, I️ finally Googled weekly chore lists for some inspiration. I️ found one that seemed like it would work for us and printed a copy for the refrigerator. For a while, I️ simply used this cleaning checklist to establish a bit of structure, but then I️ started thinking of some tweaks I️ could make to have it better fit our household. Anytime something came to mind or when I completed a daily task, I️ would write it down on a sheet of paper. After about a week of keeping tabs on everything I️ did each day, I️ had a pretty substantial list!
Get Your FREE Daily To-Do List Template
THREE | Organize Your To-Do’s and Build Your List
Once you have your daily responsibilities listed out, you can start working on your custom to-do list. For me, it helped to segment these and create a DAILY list, a WEEKLY list, a MONTHLY list and a YEARLY list. For example, taking vitamins goes on our daily list, but washing sheets goes on our weekly list. It really helped me to separate these out so I️ could see the big picture and plan accordingly. The monthly and yearly lists were a little bit more tricky to create, because I️ wasn’t actively doing those things as often and had to jog my memory to make sure I️ included everything on the list. For example, renewing our vehicle registration goes on the yearly list, but it’s definitely not top of mind on a daily basis – having it listed out was a huge help so I️ wouldn’t forget!
FOUR | Take a Step Back and Evaluate
Try to follow your to-do lists for a full month and make notes where you see holes in the lists. It took me a few months to get mine into a good place, but I️ just saved my lists to my desktop and added/removed items as needed until I️ got them where I️ wanted them. I️ still tweak things occasionally, which I️ know will continue as the girls grow older and start school, get involved with activities, etc. I️ wanted to share my DAILY list with you in Word format, so you can easily download, edit and print your own version. Stay tuned, as I️’ll be sharing the full bundle from DAILY-YEARLY soon!
Another huge benefit to having these lists printed out and sitting on the kitchen counter is that my husband and I️ are on the same page. Instead of asking me what needs to be done, he can glance at the list and see what items haven’t been checked off for the day (or week) and pick up the slack. Admittedly, I️ have not been keeping copies of the lists printed out since we moved and because of that, things can be in a bit of disarray and sometimes I️ have to nag him about certain items that need to be done if I️ don’t get to them – which I️ don’t love doing! This post is a mental reminder to myself to get back on track and print out copies of our to-do’s because our life runs SO much more smoothly when we are following our daily routine! 🙂
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Jaclyn from Coffee, Pancakes, and Dreams
Brittany from Dreams and Coffee
Mary Leigh from Live Well Play Together
Tiffany from Lake Life State of Mind
Lindsay from Lindsay’s Sweet World
Keri from Cultivate an Intentional Life
I lobe -determine your why. So easy to lose sight of your purpose and what drives you. Great ideas.
Thank you! Yes, figuring out your why really helps you work toward your goals! <3
I thrive from a routine as well and have been feeling less productive these days because my typical daily routine kind of went out the window. I’m slowly trying to get back into the swing of things and think your printables would help me immensely! Great post 💗
Thanks! Yes, I️ easily get overwhelmed when I️ don’t have a to-do list or routine in place! The start of 2020 has been a little rocky with sickness, but I️’m determined to get on track for the rest of the year – it helps so much!
Thanks so much for hosting! I’m linking up with TOP 10 POSTS OF 2019 AT GRAMMY’S GRID. My unlimited monthly party 8 is open until January 26 if you’d like to link up! My themed party 9 for all things crochet is open until January 25 if you have appropriate posts.
These are all such great tips! I am working to create good rhythms and routines around here this year, too! It is so helpful! I love what you said about determining your “why” and keeping the list out for your husband to see, too! I’m sure that helps with getting everyone on the same page!
Thanks! Being organized helps my mental clarity so much and allows me to be more present with my family! I️ hope you guys can get into a good routine this year, too! <3