How to Start Creating a New Routine

As we approach the end of another year of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Canada , many of us are struggling to adapt and adjust to our ongoing reality. 

Maybe you’re still working from home, and you’ve noticed that it isn’t really for you. You struggle with getting into a work mindset or with motivation to get all your tasks done.

Or maybe, after almost 2 years of working from home, you’ve just received a “return to the office” announcement that’s completely upended your carefully crafted routine.

One thing is for sure: this pandemic has made life continually unpredictable for everyone.

So, what do you do? You’ve probably heard that creating some structure and routine into an otherwise chaotic “normal” has a lot of benefits for your mental health, and that’s true. But how? 

How do you begin to create a new routine after either having an unhelpful daily structure, or if your current go-to isn’t an option anymore? 

If you’re wondering where to start, keep reading! Here are 5 tips for beginning to craft a new routine.

1. Think About Your “Why”

Wanting to wake up earlier or exercise more sounds great - but wanting them just because you “should” do them more isn’t really helpful.

It’s important to identify why you want to change your routine, and why you’re including the things that you are. 

For example: waking up earlier became important to me in order to have a chance to start my day with coffee and reading. I don’t get a lot of time to read anymore, and it’s a huge form of self-care for me - so I decided to start my day with it. 

Before I’d identified why I wanted to wake up earlier, I had failed every single time I had tried to change my morning routine.

It wasn’t until I established motivation that actually worked for me that I’ve been able to wake up half an hour earlier every day with very little difficulty (most of the time).

2. Incorporate Healthy Habits You Already Have

Use your own strengths! Chances are, you have several healthy habits that are serving you well. 

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

So take a look at the habits or skills that you have, and see how they can be used or incorporated into new healthy habits that you want. 

It can also be helpful to look back on a time when you had a different routine to the one you have now. Were there aspects of it that were helpful to you, and if so, what helped you make them into habit? What didn’t help you?

Tip: Take stock of what your daily or weekly routine looks like now. What do you like about it? What can stay? What maybe needs just an adjustment - rather than a full-blown replacement.

3. Focus on Adding Healthy Habits

Oftentimes our goals tend to be focused more on what we need to stop doing. Want to be “healthier”? We need to cut down on junk food.

But what if, instead of focusing on the negative, we turn our efforts to the positives. Instead of focusing on eliminating bad habits, start by introducing healthier alternatives. 

It’s easier to introduce a new habit than it is to eliminate a current habit, whether that habit be positive or negative. That’s because current habits are already integrated into our routines, and we expect them. 

It’s also more motivating to do something with the goal of feeling good, rather than taking something away that may provide us enjoyment or comfort.

For example: if you really like chips (like I do!) but want to improve your diet, it may be easier to begin by introducing more fruit and veggies into meals, rather than by restricting or - worse - punishing yourself for indulging in a snack that you enjoy. 

Or, if you want to improve your overall health, start adding exercise, instead of just focusing on diet.

4. Start Small

If you’ve spent the last 2 years working from home with a 10 minute morning routine, it’s unfair and unrealistic to expect yourself to magically be able to wake up an hour earlier, change your morning routine, and get to work on time looking perfect overnight.

Unless you’re Superman, that’s not going to happen.

The goal with creating or changing your routine is to start small. You won’t shift to a magical “that girl” morning routine instantly - and that’s 100% normal and okay.

For example, a good place to start is simply by making your bed every morning. There’s a great video on YouTube from a convocation speech about the benefits to your overall wellbeing by this one simple habit. I tried this for myself, and let me tell you: it may sound small and silly, but this was a game changer!

5. Start Early

Ideally, you want to start implementing your routine before you need it. Habits, just like any other skill, take time to learn. 

It can be easier to introduce new habits if you’re able to begin them gradually and incrementally over time. This goes hand-in-hand with Tip #4.

For example: if you want to wake up early, start by shifting your alarms by 10-15 minutes. Continue with that until that 15 minutes is less challenging, and then shift them by another 10-15 minutes.

But the gradual approach takes time. So if you know you need a routine adjustment, try preparing as much in advance as possible. The more time you have to adjust, the more likely you are to succeed.