The Only Way to Build the Best Daily Routine
Daily routine. One of the biggest buzzwords in the personal development part of the internet. And for a good reason.
Although a life that is completely ruled by routine and lacks spontaneity eventually ends up being robotic and devoid of the true joy of living, living a life of no routine whatsoever is one of the surest ways to make yourself miserable. Developing a solid routine brings stability into your life and protects you in times of struggle, as well as propels you forward and enhances your growth.
It is no wonder then why most people who want to improve the quality of their lives are seeking "the perfect" routine. And this is exactly what I want to stop you from doing.
Let me be more specific.
Those of you who have been following my online journey for a while know that I am a man of routine. I've even openly admitted that I have, at some points in my life, been so protective of my routine that it has negatively affected my relationships. Through the years, I have made an effort to find balance and have a more healthy approach to my routine. And I've definitely gotten better at that. But still, having some kind of structure in my day is one of the main pillars of my overall wellbeing.
Through the past 7-8 years of experimenting with my routine, one takeaway stands out. Ironically, I've already revealed it by trying to introduce it—experimenting. Every person is unique and has a unique combination of current life circumstances, responsibilities, duties, resources, and opportunities that make it almost impossible for a single daily routine to be "perfect" for two people. But even that doesn't paint the whole picture of the importance of experimenting with your routine.
You and your life are subject to major changes. One of the most obvious examples is how much people's daily routines change when they become parents. I haven't become a parent, but I've experienced a different kind of change that forced me to find a new routine. Since leaving my home in January 2022, I've lived in five different places. And I had to adjust my routine, or, in some cases, create an entirely new one, for each one of those places.
Which gets me to the point of this essay. I have a challenge for you.
I moved to a new country about a month and a half ago, and I'm still trying to figure out my routine. The city I moved to is significantly different from the one I was in previously. As always, there are advantages and disadvantages when I try to compare it to any of the places I have lived in so far. And, if I want my days to be both productive as well as meaningful and fulfilling, all of those advantages and disadvantages require that I figure out what routine works best for me here.
However, after a month and a half, I still haven't quite found that routine. I've had some amazing days here, both in terms of work and enjoyment. But if you ever had a period in your life where you felt locked in and were performing as close to your maximum potential as possible, you would understand what I mean when I say that my routine still feels unstable.
And this made me impatient. But I only realized that a couple of days ago. I was listening to a podcast with Nick Bare. He is a hybrid athlete, an ultrarunner, the host of a great podcast, a successful businessman, and a family man. He is obviously doing something right. As I was listening, he mentioned something about his morning routine, but I didn't quite catch if he said he goes for a run right after waking up and then works, or if he first does some work and then runs. I wanted to rewind to hear it once again, but I stopped myself.
Why do I need to know his exact morning routine? We are two human beings at completely different stages in life, with different lifestyles and personal goals. Why should his order of priority have any effect on my morning activities?
That's what I asked myself, and decided not to rewind.
I have grown impatient with trying to find the right routine for me, so simply following the routine of someone I respect seemed like a quick fix. But I already know that's not the way to go.
Even more than it reminded me to be patient with my routine, this moment of reflection made me think of all of you who are reading this. A lot of people feel lost when it comes to their routine. I get questions about it daily. So I thought to myself, "If I, who have 7-8 years of solid daily routines under my belt, feel impatient and want to blindly follow someone else's routine, how difficult must it be for someone who is trying to develop a routine for the first time in their life?"
It might seem like a strange form of love and help, but I'll try to help you by giving you a challenge. The same challenge I gave myself.
Figure it out for yourself. This doesn't mean you shouldn't seek or take any advice. But it means resisting the temptation to blindly follow someone else's routine to a T just because it's the more convenient thing to do. If you keep experimenting to find your own routine, you will learn a lot about yourself in the process. You will learn what you like and don't like, what works for you, and what doesn't. It will definitely take more time, but it won't be wasted time. Everything that you learn in the process will help you create a better routine for yourself in the next stages of your life. It's okay to gather information, knowledge, and advice. But, at the end of the day, it's your life; it's your day. Figure it out for yourself.
Thank you for reading.
Free Resources:
My free ebook: The Lost Art of Reading
Paid Resources:
The Art of Showing Up: A Clear and Practical Method for Mastering Consistency
The Gold Pill: Timeless Ideas for a Life Worth Living
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