Creating & Improving Your Routine

Most of us have some kind of routine, whether it’s intentional or not. However, when it comes to creating a new routine, that can be difficult. By designing your routine piece by piece and learning some new helpful tips, you should be well on your way to having your own new routine!

How do I create a routine?

Creating a routine can seem daunting if you have no clue where to begin. Breaking it down to a format that makes it simple to form is the key. First off, start by writing everything down that you want to accomplish. Be sure to include weekly tasks or any other tasks that aren’t daily. Every routine is different so it’s important you brainstorm on your own and not use a checklist. Additionally, you’re only identifying what you want done for this step, don’t make it difficult by editing already. Now that you’ve gathered your list, identify your priorities. One way to break this apart easier is by highlighting different sections. Perhaps a yellow highlighter to distinguish work/personal needs and an orange highlighter to show wants. Moving forward with your prioritized list, jot down the frequency of how often you want/need to complete each task. Next, categorize similar tasks together. For example, if you have “wipe down kitchen counters,” and “do the dishes,” try keeping those tasks together as you can do them at the same time/right after each other. After this, it’s time to create a weekly chart. For making the chart itself, you can either design your own, print one from online, or buy one you like. Figure out what day each task goes to. While you’re doing this, pay attention to how many tasks need to be done per day. If there is a task that can be moved around, it may be a good idea to even out the workload. I.E, if you only have three tasks on Tuesday but seven on Saturday, perhaps you can move a weekly task to Tuesday instead. Finally, order and optimize your tasks. Once each day is set, decide which time of day is best for achieving these tasks. Blocking these tasks in your planner by morning, midday, and evening can be better than hourly because if a task takes longer, it will not disturb your routine. When your routine is all set up, review and check again if anything can be changed around to make it easier. Here is a helpful article for building a routine that is similar but has more for those who can not create a fixed schedule.

Tips for improving & sticking to your routine

Now that you’ve made the routine that you would like, there are many other tips and tricks to really stick to and perfect so you can keep the routine going indefinitely! First and foremost, the most crucial thing about forming a routine is being consistent. You want to start with small and effortless goals that can help build momentum to attain the bigger goals you desire. Next, try to set time aside to have some flexibility. No routine or schedule has to be filled for every moment of the day. Moreover, adding time for flexibility can give you more time if things are off track or allow you to rearrange some tasks for the day if need be. Adjectitiously, adding in set break times can be very beneficial to your routine. If you are working, having a five minute break every 20 minutes can give you a little time to destress and refocus throughout your day. Another good word of advice is to use your own natural energy cycle to your advantage. If you know you are more likely to get things done at certain times, consider planning more goals during those hours/time periods.

Finally, remember to be kind to yourself and not to compare your routine and goals to others’. We are all at different points in life and dealing with different things. Furthermore, someone may seem like they have it all together or that their routine is great, but they may be one step from burnout unbeknownst to you. Additionally, it’s okay to readjust your routine to fit how life is going presently. For example, if you just had a surgery, it may not be feasible to run for 30+ minutes for you right now, but it may still be possible to get up and walk around the house a little or stretch instead at the very least. This way you are still getting to your goal of fitness while being mindful of your body. When we don’t achieve our goals, we may feel hard on ourselves and that negativity can stack. This spiral can even lead to you getting permanently derailed from your routine. So, always be nice to yourself and try to maintain a good positive mental attitude. All in all, there are many strategies to help you make the best routine for yourself!

Go forth and make your best routine!

With all the steps laid out and plenty of tips to create the right routine, you can now develop and perfect a routine that works for you!

Illustration Love GIF by The Creamlovers

Positive Mental Attitude

All of us have been told at one point or another to just be happy. While emotions and life circumstances aren’t that simple, there are many benefits to maintaining a positive mental attitude. (PMA as we’ll call it here.)

PMA in Life & Business Impacts

There are numerous studies that show having a PMA can make you both happier and healthier. In one study, a group focusing on kindness/compassion in meditation led to increased social connection and positive emotions. Furthermore, this group had better control of their heart rate as well! In another study, having a PMA can even expand your lifespan! In 1930, the University of Kentucky reviewed biographies from a group of nuns of the same convent around the ages of 18-32. Sixty years later, the UoK contacted the (surviving) nuns. In these nuns, those who lived the longest, had the positive feelings and thoughts from 1930 regardless of circumstances they were going through!

Outside of just studies, having a PMA serves many other purposes and has several benefits as well. For starters, your PMA will also attract others with the same attitude. We attract people we are similar to and if you are always putting your best foot forward and keep up that PMA, you will eventually fill your circle with people of the same manner. Every business (owner) will come to face its challenges, maintaining a PMA will help you in the face of adversity. If you try to tackle a challenge when you are feeling down, you are more likely to accept defeat or create more problems in the long run. Viewing these hardships with a PMA builds resilience which is essential to the longevity of your business. Additionally, a PMA works to strengthen your decisions and creativity. Finding ways to navigate issues, gaining confidence to make the next steps, feeling comfortable with yourself and in social circles. These are all ways PMA contributes to creating these things more easily. The many advantages of PMA may sound nice, but may be hard to find where to start if it does not come natural to you.

How to maintain your PMA

PMA may not be your brain’s first pathway of thinking, and that’s okay! It takes time to build but you can definitely do it! First off, it’s important to note that positive thought processes do not mean you have to ignore the bad things that happen to you or the unpleasant feelings that arise in life. Positive thinking is created by reforming negative dialogue into your head into positive dialogue instead. It starts with identifying the type of negative thoughts you may be encountering. With the help of the Mayo Clinic, here are the most common types of negative thinking:

If something strikes you as familiar, it’s time to tune into that and decide how to turn that into a positive thought. Some easy examples are “I can’t” into “I can try,” or “this is too hard,” into “Let’s try this in a different way or ask for help.” Retraining your thoughts takes time. But there are also other things you can do to help create a PMA as well.

Another way positivity can be learned is through kindness to yourself and others. Acknowledge the good things about your life and yourself. Talk to yourself like you would talk to a friend. You are deserving of all the same care and love. Doing something good for others can also make you feel better by yourself and creates happiness for everyone involved. Moreover, doing volunteer work or involving yourself with projects that mean a lot to you, can bring you to others who share the same values as you and enhance your life with more purpose. Some other ideas for creating a PMA include: keeping a gratitude journal (keeps track of all positive interactions in a day so you can start to shift your focus to the good in day to day life, practice meditation, having daily affirmations said or written down. Finally, do not underestimate the power of physical health on mental health. It is vital to emotional well-being to get enough sleep, eat well, and have some sort of physical exercise/activity every day. If your physical health is not taken care of, your body is put under stress that will impact your mental state regardless of how you want to feel.

Keep that PMA going forward!

With time, you can keep up a PMA and dominate in your career and in life! And remember, if you are struggling, it’s okay to reach out to others and/or professionals. Use this hotline in case of any emergency. You can do this!

The Perfect Office Space for You

Whether you work at an office with others, another shared location with someone else, or have a personal room at home, it’s important to create the right office space for you. With a little help, you can plan and execute the best office for yourself!

Employer Guide to the Right Office for Employees

According to Gallup, as of August 2025, 52% of work is done in a hybrid work setting. (Hybrid means a mix of being in office or working remote/at home.) With about half the time spent in an office, it’s vital that employers design and produce an office space to benefit employee wellbeing. For starters, instead of cubicles, having a more open layout can promote more interaction between employees and thus lead to more ideas and strengthen team work. Creating a quiet zone can prove to be valuable as well.This gives individuals a place where they can either zero in on what they’re doing undistracted or give them an area when they’re not feeling up to socializing. It may also be a good idea to have break areas or outdoor spaces for others to roam to. No one wants to be stuck at their desk for 8(+) hours. Furthermore, outside of employee happiness, these spaces can show potential new hires that employers consider employee needs and wants.

The International WELL Building Institute focuses on their system, called WELL Building Standard, when determining a building’s performance in a comfortable and productive environment. Although some parts of WELL are less about the physical design of an office, this can still be a good way to construct an office building to make all your staff happy. Below is a picture that outlines their ideals.

Recently, they have added additional categories which are: thermal comfort, nourishment, sound, and materials. For more information on the WELL Building standard check out this link and you can check out IWBITM’s website here. When you work at home, it’s just as vital to enhance your workspace as well. 

Creating your Office Space on Your Own

Now, for the 26% of us who work exclusively at home, (or those hybrid workers), it’s time to conjure up and commit to making an outstanding workspace for yourself! First off, consider the location. If you live somewhere where there is a lot of noise, it may be best to find a space that reduces your chances of continually hearing outside distractions. Furthermore, if you are often in meetings, external sounds can take away from the importance and, for some, the professionalism of your meeting. Placing your desk by a window can also bring natural light in and fresh air; should you decide to open it. If you are still worried about sound, there are different types of soundproofing foam that are meant to absorb and diminish excess noise.

Health and comfortability are essential to everyday wellness. When it comes to your space, your chair and desk are paramount to achieve these things. A good desk chair should be cozy but also allow for good posture and mobility. Standing desks can also be a good investment for those who spend long periods at their desk. (If you are unfamiliar with this type of desk, it gives you the power to either sit or stand by alternating the height of the desk.) Next, lighting can be just as critical as everything else. For those who experience migraines or headaches, certain lights can amplify this effect. Lighting also assists in building an ambience in the room. Finally, clutter can create more stress and interfere with your focus. Consider keeping your desk and space organized with shelves, bins, and even other tools to manage all your computer’s cords.

Go on and Design the Perfect Space for you!

By thoughtfully curating your office space, you can achieve the ideal room for all your needs!