We’re big proponents of routines and habits here at Day Designer. And that’s because we’re big fans of our time!
Think about this: By creating routines and making our very best actions and behaviors habitual, we save precious time that might have otherwise been spent overthinking or procrastinating. In doing that, we also save ourselves from having to complete tasks at inopportune times—or in many cases, avoid neglecting a beneficial action altogether.
We want to help you balance your schedule with meaningful interactions, fun activities, and some plain ol’ downtime too—which is why we focus on building positive habits and breaking the bad ones!
Here are just a few reasons why good habits are so important and integral to our lives:
1. Habits Allow Us To Concentrate
When something becomes a habit, you don’t have to think about it anymore. It’s automatic. For example, when you were two years old, brushing your teeth might have taken some conscious consideration (and quite a bit of encouragement from your parents!), but now you don’t have to think twice to start doing it at routine times every day.
When a task becomes a positive habit in your life that you can do quickly and easily and without expending a lot of time and attention, you are able to focus on other activities. Habits allow us to operate at higher levels—with less mental clutter and more clarity.
2. Habits Make Us More Efficient
Research says it takes 21 days to build a regular habit. But once you do, that action or behavior is set. You don’t have to think about the first step and the second one and the next step after that. Instead, you just do it. Over time, the activities and behaviors that are most important to you occur faster and without using up valuable mental energy.
That sort of efficiency is critical for anyone. Good habits free up time to let you focus on what really matters, whether that’s time with your kids, concentrated time on your work presentation, or reading a new book.
3. Habits Make Us Healthier
Positive habits can improve your health in every respect: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Of course, it helps to intentionally choose to build habits that support your well-being, such as exercising more, eating healthier, or meditating every day.
But no matter the habit, one good habit supports other good habits (or puts a stop to bad ones). Research shows that when you successfully implement one positive habit, you are motivated to make other positive changes in your life. For example, if you start working out every day, you’re less likely to do something that is detrimental to your body. Positive behavior reinforces further positive behavior—so why not make your most positive behaviors a habit?
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And that’s the key—in order to get these benefits, your habits must be positive. Negative habits are (unfortunately) just as powerful as positive habits. If you want to make a positive change in your life, focus on reducing your negative habits and building positive ones.
Throughout this month, we’ll share the top habits and routines to consider building into your morning, daytime, and evening right here on the blog. Stay tuned!
Get back on a meal plan to lose weight
Best of luck with planning out your meals, Michele! You might enjoy using our free Weekly Meal Plan printable.
Food journaling. Just have never been able to make it ahabit and i believe it could be helpful for healthier eating.
This is a great habit to get into! You might enjoy our free Food & Exercise Log for this. Good luck, Amy!
Daily, nightly, weekly routine
Awesome goal to establish routines that will set yourself up for success! Your efforts will pay off. Best of luck, Richard!
I would like to ritualize my mornings and evenings, creating more mental space for writing projects that have been left untouched for too long. Really looking forward to this challenge at a time in my life when I need the structure most. My Day Designer arrives tomorrow – I can’t wait to dig into it. Thank you!
This is an awesome endeavor, Sonya! Your commitment to establishing routines and habits will pay off. Best of luck, and enjoy getting set up in your new Day Designer (the best feeling!). Thrilled to have you in the challenge with us!
Definitely get on a meal plan and to start working out when I get home at night.
Best of luck with this new routine, Jen!! You might enjoy tracking your progress with these free printables: our Weekly Meal Planner + our Food and Exercise Log
I would like to prioritize and have accountability with my daily schedule. Allowing time for myself to unwind and focus on the day itself. Thanks for pulling this event together. I am excited to explore how to effectively use my planner.
You are so welcome, Kevin! We are excited that you’ve joined! These are great intentions that you’ve mentioned in regards to your daily and nightly routine. Best of luck!
Cleaning routines rather than having it all to do on the weekends!
Yes! Spreading it out makes it so much less overwhelming. Good luck, Kimble!
I would like to wake up earlier and have more energy to start my day. Maybe even get a work out in (that’ll take some time, but that’s the goal). Give myself enough time to not rush out the door.
Me too. Why is this so hard for me. It makes sense….I just love to hit the snooze button. Good Luck to you!
Good luck to you, Amy!
There are so many benefits to both of those habits! For added inspiration, you might enjoy this post where we talk about getting up earlier and prioritizing healthy habits among other daily planning tips. Best of luck, Adriana!!
I want to establish evening routines that support my well-being.
We love this! We’ll be covering some specific evening habits in the 30-day challenge. Thanks for sharing with us, Susan!
I have really struggled with my anxiety lately so I’m wanting to start a daily meditation routine to help me feel more centered and calm.
Hi, Leah, Meditation is important to me too. I pretty much meditate for at least ten minutes each day, but I want to do more, particularly to end my day. Would you be interested in being accountability buddies?
Hi Leah! So thankful that you are incorporating new habits to reduce your anxiety. We’ll be thinking of you and hoping that you start feeling more calm soon. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Be accountable for my day – learn to live within a schedule. I think everything else – dinner, eating more healthily, having time for my spouse – will fall in line if I do.
So true, Catherine! Best of luck with this new intention.
to much to do and feel like there is never enough time! Start a weekly/daily routine to make myself healthier including exercise and eating healthier!Excited for the 30 day challenge and to get my midyear planner to help me accomplish what i need!
Thanks for joining the challenge, Kristine! You are on the right track with all of these efforts!
Regular,daily exercise, because I know it helps me to sleep better!
It has so many benefits! And as our guest blogger, Robin Long of The Balanced Life, reminded us in this post: “Letting go of the ‘all or nothing’ mentality will help you stay consistent and get moving on a daily basis. My daily mantra? Something is always better than nothing. If you don’t have time for a 60-minute workout, do 30. If you don’t have time for 30, do 10. Do what you can and celebrate the fact that every little bit counts.” Good luck, Kaethe!
Daily journaling
Excellent intention, Phyliss. Good luck to you!
Have routines so that I am not last minute with everything. Also clean up clutter in my life.
Two amazing intentions!
Yes to all of this! I recently read The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg and his research into what creates a habit was so enlightening! One habit that I am currently working on is doing yoga at least 5 days a week. Although I’m still trying to figure out the best time of day to accomplish this, I find that when I do it I feel so much better and more aware of any tension in my mind and body that I need to let go. I wrote a post on habits as well that details 6 habits that will save time and increase your productivity:) https://coffeeandmoxie.com/6-simple-habits-will-instantly-transform-productivity/