Recently, after a long period of burnout and low productivity, I decided to change my routine and habits in 2024. This burnout period was not temporary. It was five years of hard work that made me take a serious look at how I spent my time.
My burnout snowballed from a mix of external factors we’ve all experienced (e.g., pandemics, economic changes) and internal factors like dealing with what it means to get older or seeing life and work as a series of necessary tasks that need to be tallied up in order to have a “good” day. Like most women, I thought that if I just worked hard enough, I could do it all and achieve that elusive promise of “balance.” I thought I could do it all, even if I didn’t have the drive to build a business, even if I was in a season of life where there was always something to do.
There will be seasons when you do everything and seasons when you do as little as possible. Isn’t that great? Last year I worked on my life, and this year I’m creating a new kind of routine that supports the things that are most important to me: my family, my health, and my creative pursuits (which coincidentally overlap a bit with my work).
Most importantly, this routine came from the realization that there is no one way to live. There is no one formula that works for everyone. It was only by letting go of that idea that I was able to figure out what worked best for me.
Stick to a consistent daily routine in 2024
I am not good at keeping an open schedule. If I have a long list of things I want to do and I don’t have a plan for them, I will never get them done. I have always been time blind and will have an overly optimistic view of how much I can get done in a day. So I have a consistent schedule that is generally the same every day, although I have some flexibility in filling in the details. This structure allows my chaotic brain to take into account the time constraints and restrictions that allow it to rest and recover, while still being able to function.
Below are the basic elements of this routine. It’s not boring, new, or groundbreaking. It’s effective because it’s easy and small enough to do every day.
What does my daily routine look like now?
Early Morning: 4:30 AM – 8:00 AM
This time has become an essential part of my routine over the past few months. I try to avoid my phone during this early hour. And while this is usually just me, when Joe is out, I stop at 7am to take care of the kids’ morning and breakfast routine. This time is as follows:
- If you went to bed early the night before, you should wake up early (between 4:30 and 5:00 AM) after sleeping for about 7-8 hours.
- I brush my teeth, make tea, and sit at my desk in my pajamas.
- I focus on the most difficult task I have to accomplish first, usually writing.
- I write a few lines My Diary.
- I balance both my personal and business expenses.
- I like coffee and breakfast.
8am – 11am
I get ready for the day and get dressed. Depending on the day, this is usually the time for shooting, content creation, phone calls, and meetings. Whenever necessary, I prioritize more focused work somewhere outside the home, like a coffee shop. Sometimes I also exercise during this time.
Noon: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
I usually take a midday break at lunchtime. If I didn’t exercise early in the morning, I try to squeeze in some movement. It could be a Pilates class, tennis, or a walk.
Afternoon: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
I do my easiest work (or sometimes personal) tasks in the afternoon. Anything that requires little brain power but takes some time and effort to complete. This includes things like email, follow-up calls, and housekeeping. I also pick up my kids from school at the end of the afternoon.
Dinner: 4:30pm – 8:30pm
Unless there is a social event planned, evenings are usually spent with family. As with the early morning, I try to avoid cell phones during this time. This time frame is usually:
- We have dinner together as a family around 5pm.
- We prioritize homework, reading, and socializing with each other.
- I write down important things to remember for the next day.
- I ideally get ready for bed between 8:30 and 9:00 PM.
- I’m going to sleep!
Consistency over perfectionism
It doesn’t look like this every day. It’s rare that it’s exactly like this. I just do what I can on any given day. It’s about consistency and discipline, not balance or perfectionism.
The biggest change between this routine and the previous routine is this:
- Write. I never made lists consistently until this year, but now I know I need them. For me, lists are the first step in fighting burnout. I know that avoiding lists is a maladaptive way of dealing with overwhelm.
- Work hard before noonDuring this time I get the most energy.
- Perform administrative duties after the afternoon. You may have less energy during this time, but if you have a list, you can tackle some of it in the afternoon when you feel sleepy.
- Prioritize Daily physical activity. My brain and mood depend on it.
- Use my phone intentionally. I have to use my phone a lot at work, but I’ve realized how easy it is to waste time without even realizing it. It’s not that I’m less productive, it’s that I’m losing energy that comes with it. So I follow some basic rules that I find very helpful. Basically, I don’t call before breakfast, and I don’t call before bed.
No two days are the same, but this routine provides a foundation you can return to as the day goes on. really Sideways, a long vacation away from home, or a late night out with friends when you’ve had one too many glasses of wine. This routine is a gift to me. It makes it easier to take steps forward when you know you’re going to feel better. It’s the best way to tame or direct the overheated desire to bite off more than you can chew.
Find the routine that works best for you
If you want more consistency and structure in your daily life, consider the routine that works best for you. Think about the areas of your life that are most important to you right now and what you want to prioritize each day, and write down your routine with those things in mind. Try it, see how it goes, and adjust as needed. In the end, the routine that allows for flexibility is the one that is most likely to stick.
Next, I’ll share a post about the wellness practices that serve as the foundation for “refilling” my glass after I empty it in this routine. Look for that article soon!
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is Testing the limits of her creativity. Follow her on Instagram @withanddellight_.
