This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Ian Ferdock. Find him on Instagram at @ianferdock. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Once upon a time, we all had school schedules and various sports and activities dominating our week. And then we transitioned to college or joined the workforce. While classes or work shifts determined some aspects of our daily lives, there was a whole new level of freedom to do what we wanted when we wanted to do it. Initially, that transition into adulthood may have been quite a relief. No more having people tell us what to do or when to do it. Nonetheless, having control over all aspects of your life can become quite daunting as responsibilities pile up. This makes time management increasingly important. As a young adult, it is vital to understand the power of a routine to ensure you succeed in your personal and professional life.
Trust me, I get it, the thought of living each day in a rigid routine can seem boring or even a bit soul-crushing. Who wants to get up and repeat the same things day in and day out? I used to share that sentiment, but when I entered college and transitioned into adulthood it was a rough wake-up call. For the first time I had to manage myself and my responsibilities completely independently. When I wasn’t on top of things it often led to days of procrastination and falling behind.
How I Discovered the Power of a Routine
When I was still in college, I settled on the solution of creating a weekly Excel spreadsheet of all my assignments. This broke down each step I would need to take to complete them. That way important deadlines were always clear and I could build my schedule around them to maximize my time. This wasn’t enough, so I needed a consistent way to adhere to my schedule. The best way I found to accomplish that goal was through the power of a daily routine. Even though I’m not in college anymore I still stick to the same formula for success. The first step I took was laying out my ideal sleeping schedule.
My Morning Routine
I make sure I am asleep by 10 to 11 pm and wake up between 7 to 8 am depending on what I have to do that day. Overall, this was probably the hardest part. I love to sleep and if I don’t absolutely have to get up at a certain time it’s so much easier to sleep in. But there are always at least a few days a week I have to get up early. Constantly switching my sleeping schedule leaves me even more exhausted so I like to keep things consistent.
To start the day, I begin with breakfast and allow myself an hour to decompress and get ready for the day. Once that blissful period comes to an end I try to get as much as I can done in the first half of the day starting at around 9 to 10 am. While that used to be various college assignments now it is work and applying to jobs.
My Afternoon Routine
Because each day may be a little different, I usually give myself a window to have lunch between 12 to 2 pm. After about an hour to enjoy another meal, I keep pushing through the day with other responsibilities or household chores. Then by 4 pm, I usually take an hour to myself to unwind. When 5 pm rolls around I make dinner for myself and use the rest of the night to relax.
Ultimately, this is the routine that works for me. Without a full-time job, that leaves the day a bit more fluid than when I was in college. However, to stay productive, I like to utilize the same framework to keep my day orderly. What may work for you may be completely different because no one has the same set of responsibilities. I would argue that it all boils down to a few key steps to keep you on track.
Steps For Creating Your Routine
1. Sleep Schedule
In my humble opinion, the foundation of your routine should revolve around your sleeping schedule. I could go on and on about all the scientific studies that prove how vital sleep is to your health, but I won’t bore you. The fact of the matter is, the better quality of consistent sleep we get the better we feel. Everything else then falls into place.
You must determine for yourself based on your job or educational requirements what time best works for you, and how much time you want for yourself to start or end your day. I prefer to have at least two hours before getting down to business, but that’s just what compliments my lifestyle. For you, it may mean having thirty minutes to get yourself ready each morning, or maybe you want even more time. Whatever your sleep schedule is, it doesn’t matter if you are getting at least eight hours consistently. Plus, don’t forget that while it’s okay to catch up on sleep during the weekend you don’t want to alter your sleep schedule too much because it can upset things the following week. Once you have figured that out you can build a routine from there.
2. The Dreaded Schedule
Don’t get me wrong, I can understand any hesitation to commit yourself to a rigid schedule. No one wants to be a control freak. On the other hand, I love having control over my life. I think at the end of the day it gives me more freedom to do what I want. My schedule was very busy when I was in college so to avoid staying up late finishing assignments, I had to carefully plan out each task for the week. The method that best worked for me was an Excel spreadsheet. Before I did that, I had a dry-erase calendar in my room that served the same function. Perhaps a planner may work best for you, it’s what my girlfriend loves.
The method to the madness doesn’t matter. As long as you find a way to keep track of important deadlines and appointments you’ll be successful. The most time-sensitive matters should always go down first. Then you can fill the rest of the week with more flexible activities. Also, be sure to keep up on household chores as it may be helpful to write them in your schedule as well. It’s all about prioritizing and making sure you have time to complete everything, so nothing slips through the cracks.
3. Personal Time
Now that we have gone through the boring stuff like sleep schedules and Excel spreadsheets, it’s important to remember that you must budget time to just be a human. You may want to leave time to read a few chapters of a book or scroll on TikTok each morning. Maybe you want to ensure you can catch up on your favorite TV show before you go to bed. Or maybe you want one day you can go to happy hour with friends after work. Yes, sleeping well and meeting deadlines are super important, but so is just finding time to be you. The power of a routine is rooted in ensuring you have time for everything. That’s why it is also vital to make sure you are taking care of yourself and prioritizing your happiness and health.
4. Hold Yourself Accountable
This is the hardest part. I know that if I stay up too late reading a book or finishing a movie, I have to suffer the consequences of being tired the next day. If you misstep and don’t hold yourself accountable that defeats the purpose of having a routine. That said, you need to give yourself some grace as well. Sometimes plans change or emergencies pop up and there’s no need to beat yourself up about it. Your routine shouldn’t rule your life and be a source of negativity. It’s only meant to be a tool to help and guide you. That’s why I would advise always leaving a little wiggle room so if something unexpected does occur then you can adapt to whatever changes you need to make.
You Have To Figure Out What Works For You
For you, the adoption of this type of routine may be more rigid or open than how I set up my day. However, if you find some sort of schedule that can keep you motivated while also ensuring you have time to relax and enjoy yourself, I promise you that you won’t regret it. Daily routines can seem cumbersome and carry a negative connotation. However, I think they provide more freedom by always ensuring that there is time for everything.
The hardest challenge I faced when curating my routine was starting things off on the right foot each day. Getting myself going in the morning was always the worst part of all this for me but once I pushed through that barrier the rest became a lot easier. You might have to focus more on your morning routine. I certainly did. One thing that helped me fight the urge to procrastinate was limiting my screen time. That said, maybe the evening is where your day tends to fall apart so that may need to be your focus.
The Power Of A Routine Is All About Balance
When creating any routine, I recommend using the four main steps I provided as a foundation because they leave plenty of room to customize your schedule. Outside of that, there is one important thing to remember. You must balance setting boundaries and holding yourself accountable with allowing yourself to breathe. That is why I would advise always leaving one day a week with as little to do as possible. If some sort of unforeseen circumstance creeps up then you have the room to tackle the issues without a big ripple effect. It is important to realize that a routine is there to help you, not control you. But trust me when I tell you, the power of a routine really can change your life for the better.
Do you believe in the power of routine? Feel free to leave what tips have helped you in the comments below.
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