Daily routines come in all shapes and sizes. Some people go to bed, wake up, go to work, and eat at the exact same time every day. Others include things like exercise, prayer, or hobbies into their daily routines. While the actual routines themselves may be diverse, the outcome is usually the same—greater wellbeing.

If you’re looking to increase your overall wellbeing and even your mental health, adopting a daily routine might be the way to do it. In this guide, we’ll go over some helpful tips for creating an effective daily routine, as well as provide some information on just how effective a daily routine can be at calming the mind and soul.

Comfort In Familiarity

One way that a routine can help improve your wellbeing is by providing comfort from familiarity. The brain craves routine when things get chaotic. That’s why it’s so important to maintain a good daily routine when things like COVID-19 occur. The daily routine provides something for your mind to ground itself to, rather than focusing on the incredible stress that something like a pandemic can create.

While routines can offer comfort, some people find them to be confining as well. Depending on how long you’ve kept the same routine and other factors in your life, you might feel more stressed out by your routine than comforted. It’s ok to change things up a bit. In fact, change can be good in small doses, but don’t try to change things during a significant challenge. Certain life events will inevitably inspire change, but it’s always a good idea to try to remain as consistent as possible when you’re experiencing stress.

Which Daily Routine Is Right For Me?

Finding a daily routine that suits your needs sounds simple enough, but it’s different for everyone. Depending on what you like, what spiritual beliefs you have, and what your goals are, the daily routine will differ. Let’s look at some “anchor” routines that you can use to build off of.

A Bedtime/Morning Routine

Getting enough sleep is probably one of the biggest problems that we face in our modern society. Less than half of all Americans report getting enough sleep, or any level of quality sleep. This is due to all kinds of things that would take another article entirely to explain, but for the most part, our addiction to electronics, a huge amount of stress, and lax bedtimes are to blame.

Keeping a sleep schedule starts with setting a time to go to bed and wake up. Before bed, you should refrain from using electronics for at least 30 minutes. Blue light signals the brain it’s time to be awake, so read a book instead. Set a strict wake-up time as well. Maintain both for a few weeks, and you’ll start to fall into a natural rhythm.

An Exercise Routine

Keeping an exercise routine is part of a healthy, happy lifestyle, but it’s not that easy for everyone. If you’re not much into lifting weights, there are thousands of other ways to get your exercise in. Even something as simple as a walk can get the blood flowing and your mind turning. Exercise is very therapeutic as well, and good for your mental health.

A Spiritual Routine

This won’t apply to everyone, but for billions of people across the country, a spiritual routine is a necessity in their daily lives. Whether you’re reading Christian bedtime stories, praying, meditating, or simply practicing mindfulness and gratitude, a spiritual routine can help improve your day or help you sleep better.

A Food Routine

One of the most important facets of a good routine is a good diet. And, unfortunately, the average American does not practice good eating habits. Combined with the other “anchor” routines in this list, good eating habits can help establish a pattern of overall wellness and even increase your energy, motivation, and self-esteem.

Taking A Stand

When you create a daily routine for yourself, you’re taking a stand against bad habits. Bad habits have a way of creeping into our lives and taking a seat when we’re not looking. The next thing you know, you’re eating poorly again, you’re not sleeping right, and you haven’t prayed in weeks.

Anchor yourself in the comforting familiarity of a good daily routine. You’ll improve both your mental and physical health, and you’ll have a safeguard against future bad habits. Make no mistake—it will take more than a little bit of discipline to master a daily routine, but once you’re there, you can build on it. Set goals for yourself, and don’t beat yourself up when you don’t reach them.

The Bottom Line 

Creating daily routines is one of the best habits you can adopt. Ditch poor diet, exercise, sleep, and spiritual habits (or lack thereof) for a daily routine that encompasses each facet of wellness. Being fit, healthy, spiritually secure, and getting enough sleep can massively improve your life in just a few short months. Get started today! What are you waiting for?