We are constantly told that routines (and discipline!) are the secret to success. Advice on how to structure your day is everywhere — and everyone, it seems, has a 27-step routine that you should be following. And while these methods work for some, they often fall flat for others. Why? Because they’re not designed with your unique energy, values and needs in mind.
For me, as a woman with ADHD, I’ve struggled with the rigidity of traditional routines. I want them all!! The idea of waking up at 5 a.m., hitting the ground running, and sticking to a predetermined schedule all day felt great — until I wanted to sleep in. It left me feeling like I had to choose: The 5 a.m. Club, or the 4-Hour Work Week? Which one is the secret to success?
The truth is, routines are meant to serve us, not the other way around. When we follow routines that don’t align with ourselves, we risk disconnecting from what truly matters: our vision, our well-being and our ability to thrive. You don’t have to conform to someone else’s definition of a “successful” routine. By customizing routines to fit yourself, you can create a structure that supports your growth and aligns with your goals.
For instance, I’ve learned that I don’t have to choose between hustling out of bed at dawn or sleeping in until noon. My version of a decadent, beautiful morning routine now means waking up early and staying in bed for a couple of hours with my dogs, allowing my body to wake slowly and easing into the day. Now, I still get out of bed at a fairly early hour, but there’s no rush — and no brain fog, because I am fully awake.
This is the freedom that comes from breaking the rules: You get to design a routine that works for you, not against you.
How to Craft Your Own Routine
Creating a routine that aligns with your vision and energy requires intention and experimentation. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Assess Your Energy Patterns. Pay attention to when you feel most energized and focused throughout the day or week or even month. Are you a morning thinker, an afternoon doer or an evening creator? Do you have weeks you feel great followed by weeks you deal with debilitating symptoms? Track your energy levels and notice patterns. This awareness will help you design routines around yourself, perhaps recording all your videos when you feel like you’re really “on” and allowing yourself to spend the day tying up loose ends in sweatpants when you don’t feel like talking to people. Pay attention to what feels good and what doesn’t. The beauty of a customized routine is its flexibility; you’re always free to change something.
2. Define Your Priorities. What matters most to you? Your routine should reflect your personal and professional goals, not just a checklist of what others say you “should” be doing. Perhaps you get lots of movement in your job so you choose reading a book over going to yoga for your evening routine. Ask yourself: What activities truly move the needle in my business? What brings me joy or fulfillment? Let these answers guide how you structure your day.
3. Let Go of Guilt. This may be the hardest step, but it’s the most important. Give yourself permission to ignore the advice that doesn’t resonate with you. Success isn’t about doing what others do; it’s about doing what works for you. Whether that’s staying in bed a little longer or working in short bursts instead of long stretches, own your choices and let go of the guilt.
Routines are powerful tools when they align with who we are and what we value. Breaking free from the expectations — about how we should work, how we should lead and how we should live — allows us to reclaim our time, our energy and our vision. So, ask yourself: What kind of routine would truly support you? What rhythms feel natural, energizing and sustainable? Start there. Break the rules. Build a routine that works for you — and watch how it transforms not just your day but your entire business.
[box at bottom of page, with head shot – as example, see digital pages in July 2024 edition]
Andi Hess
Remix Coaching
