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Getting in shape is as much a mental process as a physical one and it means creating better habits, getting more organised, and de-cluttering your life to make space for getting the important things done! Research shows us that the same energy used for decision-making is what gives us willpower. Therefore, the best way to make sure you’re conserving your willpower is to reduce decision fatigue by having a regular daily routine.
Here are 6 tips for how to organise your schedule to be happier, healthier and more productive!
When you open your eyes to a brand new day, you have a choice to either plunge mindlessly into the frantic busyness of life or to take some time to start the day right. The choice you make can set the tone for the entire day so instead of immediately reaching for a coffee and your phone, you might start with a glass of water, a few minutes of meditation or gentle stretching and some positive affirmations. Take a moment to set your intentions for the day ahead.
Some people like to get moving first thing in the morning while others would rather use gym time to unwind from the stress of the working day. The important thing is to choose the time to workout that suits you and stick to it. Over time, you’ll start to associate working out with that time of day and it will very naturally become part of your daily routine.
Whether it’s cardio, strength or stretching, decide in advance what you’ll do, on which days and for how long. You might want to use a daily planner to help you create a schedule you can stick to. Remember that too many decisions causes decision fatigue and you can counteract this by knowing in advance exactly what you’re doing so you don’t even have to think about it.
Again, preparation is key here. Knowing what you plan to eat, having the ingredients you need on hand and scheduling in food preparation time means you’re less likely to make bad choices if something unexpected crops up. If you have a favourite breakfast recipe, stick to it! It’s all about consistency. Speaking of consistency, keeping your blood sugar at a consistent level means you’re not prone to mood and energy highs and lows and you can keep those sugar cravings at bay, which can disrupt the rest of your routine – so plan to eat regularly and eat well.
When you’re adding healthy habits to your life, you need to start with removing all the unhealthy ones. This includes everything from the food in your pantry that doesn’t support you to the unhelpful thinking patterns that keeps you stuck, the social obligations that eat up your precious time and yes, even the draining friends. Take an honest inventory of the things that either nourish you or deplete you every day and start making small changes to increase the proportion of nourishing to draining activities.
If there’s one thing that will undo the best-laid plans for the day, it’s staying up too late at night. Late nights mean late mornings. Rushed mornings mean poor food choices and missed workouts. If you’re serious about re-organising your daily routine, it needs to include a set bedtime and an evening wind-down process. If you’re a night-owl, you might need to dim all the lights, turn off all electronic devices and definitely stay away from caffeine and alcohol near bedtime. You want to give yourself the best chance of quality sleep so that you wake up early and start the day well.
Remember that the goal is progress not perfection and when you’re re-organising your routine, it might take some trial and error before you work out what’s going to work best for you, your personality, preferences and lifestyle. Small, consistent changes that you can stick to will lead to big improvements over time.
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