Can Anyone Actually Stick to a Routine?

[Gargamel1]

i've been there and still am - chaos mode, random bursts, zero structure.
what is working for me a bit, wasn't a strict routine but anchor points:

- morning: quick planning
- midday: deep work block
- evening: brief reflection

between those? stay flexible. the key is to maintain a bit of a consistency on the important stuff, not perfection on everything. and fighting against it with all force made me just exhausted..don't be too hard on yourself, but yeah, sounding easier than it is..still struggling hard

 

[Ben Arthur]

Sing along with me : D

Everything that kills me makes me feel alive

Lately, I been... I been losin' sleep
Dreamin' about the things that we could be

Haha

“But baby, I been… I been prayin’ hard
Said no more countin’ dollars, we’ll be countin’ stars”

Classic. That song still hits every time.

Maintaining routine is tough. In most cases I fail.

Same here It’s a constant battle. Some days the routine wins, most days… not so much.

i've been there and still am - chaos mode, random bursts, zero structure.
what is working for me a bit, wasn't a strict routine but anchor points:

- morning: quick planning
- midday: deep work block
- evening: brief reflection

between those? stay flexible. the key is to maintain a bit of a consistency on the important stuff, not perfection on everything. and fighting against it with all force made me just exhausted..don't be too hard on yourself, but yeah, sounding easier than it is..still struggling hard

Honestly, this makes a lot of sense Anchor points instead of a full-on rigid routine sounds way more realistic. Consistency over perfection is probably the real win. Still hard as hell though, so I feel you.

 

[saferidge]

Yeah, some people really thrive on routines. Once they lock it in, it’s like autopilot for everything.

 

[Ben Arthur]

Yeah, some people really thrive on routines. Once they lock it in, it’s like autopilot for everything.

Yeah, for some people routines make life simple. Once they get used to it, they don’t have to think much and things just flow. For others, strict routines feel heavy. It really depends on the person.

 

[Jyotika Singh]

I’ve been all over the place. late nights, random work bursts, zero schedule. Thinking of actually setting up a proper daily routine to get my shit together.

Anyone actually managed to stick to one, or is it all just chaos? Tips, hacks, or horror stories welcome

yes like we did in our schools

 

[Gargamel1]

...

Honestly, this makes a lot of sense Anchor points instead of a full-on rigid routine sounds way more realistic. Consistency over perfection is probably the real win. Still hard as hell though, so I feel you.

it helps a little, but as you said, for me it was something realistic. all those books and gurus with THEIR method, doesn't mean that is working for everyone. sure, you can pick something up on it, but some brains function diffrent..always good to explore something an adapt individually on their schedule, without too heavy weight!

 

[LegionProxy]

Can I ask what the problem is if you're still doing everything on point?

 

[hailmaryrecordings]

I used to do same thing the big question is your why big enough? Then you know if you can or not keep a good routtine otherwise anything you do will feel like just pain for nothing

 

[FocusFocus]

For us freelancers, setting up a routine almost never works. What I do is I setup the number of hours I will have to work each day depending on my work load and then I work those hours, usually with breaks to do other real life work that suddenly arise everyday.

 

[Ben Arthur]

yes like we did in our schools

Exactly Same system as school… fixed periods, rest was controlled chaos. Somehow it worked back then!

it helps a little, but as you said, for me it was something realistic. all those books and gurus with THEIR method, doesn't mean that is working for everyone. sure, you can pick something up on it, but some brains function diffrent..always good to explore something an adapt individually on their schedule, without too heavy weight!

100% agree What works for one person can be torture for another. Taking bits that make sense and adapting them to your own rhythm feels way more sustainable than forcing someone else’s system.

Can I ask what the problem is if you're still doing everything on point?

Good question For me it’s not about getting things done, it’s more the mental drain. Constantly switching gears and self-managing without structure gets exhausting over time, even if the work is on point.

I used to do same thing the big question is your why big enough? Then you know if you can or not keep a good routtine otherwise anything you do will feel like just pain for nothing

Yeah, that hits. If the ‘why’ isn’t strong, any routine just feels like pointless suffering Once the reason is clear, discipline stops feeling forced.

For us freelancers, setting up a routine almost never works. What I do is I setup the number of hours I will have to work each day depending on my work load and then I work those hours, usually with breaks to do other real life work that suddenly arise everyday.

That’s actually a solid approach Output over fake structure. Freelance life is too unpredictable for rigid routines anyway, so flexible hours with clear targets makes way more sense.

 

[LegionProxy]

Good question For me it’s not about getting things done, it’s more the mental drain. Constantly switching gears and self-managing without structure gets exhausting over time, even if the work is on point.

I mean if you're getting drained from having to do stuff it could be that you need a dopamine detox.

 

[Builder Dave]

For me personally, the key lies somewhere in the middle. I try to have an overarching structure to my week, but I allow myself enough leeway to let my natural chaos still express itself which keeps me both sane and creative. If I made a rigid plan by the hour with exact tasks for each timeslot, I would feel like a corporate worker ant and I would hate it which would make it unsustainable.

So I make a lose daily routine which is partially framed by the needs of my dog and my partner and I setup blocks of time when I expect to be working. I also have a list of a few large tasks with deadlines and I use my working time to work on whichever of these tasks I feel like attacking at the time. I also allow myself to break out of my routine if I feel like it. For example, a few days ago, it suddenly started snowing and the temperatures went below freezing. So when I woke up to find these conditions, I made had breakfast and went mountain biking all day as I haven't been able to get in enough snow riding this winter. But the day after that, I hunkered down and got a lot of work done as I had recharged mentally and I was able to concentrate a lot better. If I had stuck to my initial schedule, I would have missed on the one good day of snow riding that the weather afforded me while being a lot less productive and lot more annoyed with everything.

 

[Ben Arthur]

For me personally, the key lies somewhere in the middle. I try to have an overarching structure to my week, but I allow myself enough leeway to let my natural chaos still express itself which keeps me both sane and creative. If I made a rigid plan by the hour with exact tasks for each timeslot, I would feel like a corporate worker ant and I would hate it which would make it unsustainable.

So I make a lose daily routine which is partially framed by the needs of my dog and my partner and I setup blocks of time when I expect to be working. I also have a list of a few large tasks with deadlines and I use my working time to work on whichever of these tasks I feel like attacking at the time. I also allow myself to break out of my routine if I feel like it. For example, a few days ago, it suddenly started snowing and the temperatures went below freezing. So when I woke up to find these conditions, I made had breakfast and went mountain biking all day as I haven't been able to get in enough snow riding this winter. But the day after that, I hunkered down and got a lot of work done as I had recharged mentally and I was able to concentrate a lot better. If I had stuck to my initial schedule, I would have missed on the one good day of snow riding that the weather afforded me while being a lot less productive and lot more annoyed with everything.

That’s a great way to put it honestly. Structure without suffocation. Having weekly direction but daily freedom feels way more sustainable, and the snow day example is perfect. Sometimes breaking the routine is exactly what makes the work better when you come back.

 

[kojocap175]

I’ve been all over the place. late nights, random work bursts, zero schedule. Thinking of actually setting up a proper daily routine to get my shit together.

Anyone actually managed to stick to one, or is it all just chaos? Tips, hacks, or horror stories welcome

I am also living my life this way.

 

[Ben Arthur]

I am also living my life this way.

Same here That balance between structure and freedom just feels right. Keeps life enjoyable without everything turning into a checklist.

 

[MapleForge]

I have found routines work best when they are loose, not rigid. A couple of fixed anchors (wake time, start work, wind-down) matter way more than scheduling every hour. Once I stopped trying to be perfect and just aimed for mostly consistent, it actually stuck. Chaos never fully goes away, you just manage it better.

 

[Ben Arthur]

I have found routines work best when they are loose, not rigid. A couple of fixed anchors (wake time, start work, wind-down) matter way more than scheduling every hour. Once I stopped trying to be perfect and just aimed for mostly consistent, it actually stuck. Chaos never fully goes away, you just manage it better.

Yeah, totally agree A few fixed points matter more than planning every hour. Once I stopped trying to be perfect, it got way easier to keep going. Chaos never really leaves, you just handle it better.

 

[Jack-Thomas]

I’ve been all over the place. late nights, random work bursts, zero schedule. Thinking of actually setting up a proper daily routine to get my shit together.

Anyone actually managed to stick to one, or is it all just chaos? Tips, hacks, or horror stories welcome

I’ve had some luck when I stopped trying to be perfect. Loose routine, small wins, chaos allowed.

 

[elbigo]

It works really well for me to make a list of urgent tasks and important tasks, and then dedicate 90% of my effort to finishing the important ones. If you do this, your "urgent" list will never be full again.
Here is an example:
Important Task: Fixing the gas leak in the house.
Urgent Task: Putting out the fire burning down my house.

 

[Ben Arthur]

It works really well for me to make a list of urgent tasks and important tasks, and then dedicate 90% of my effort to finishing the important ones. If you do this, your "urgent" list will never be full again.
Here is an example:
Important Task: Fixing the gas leak in the house.
Urgent Task: Putting out the fire burning down my house.

That example made it painfully clear. You’re right though, focusing on important stuff early saves you from future emergencies.