How to Stick to a Routine Like a Pro

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You work hard every day to reach your goal. For which you might already have a certain routine that you follow daily.

So, how do you tell if it’s working for you or not?

As a matter of fact, your daily routine is what drives you towards your goal.

However, if you’re unable to get the results that you want from your hard work then there’s definitely something wrong with the routine you subconsciously follow every day.

Since a routine is subconscious by nature, it helps in saving your energy. In other words, using your conscious mind will take up a whole lot of energy which can be saved if you follow a certain routine daily. Therefore, creating a daily routine that works for you is important.

Similarly, it is necessary to follow a routine you can stick to consistently. Or else, there’s no point in making a schedule itself.

CONTENTS

How to stick to a routine?
Habit tracking methods
Simple ways to effectively track habits
6 Reasons to start tracking your habits
The ultimate tool to track your habits

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

— Aristotle

How to Stick to a Routine

Your routine consists of a series of habits (good or bad). It is common knowledge that a sensible set of habits will form a good routine that will help you achieve your goals.

And the BEST WAY to stick to a routine is by tracking these habits.

Tracking your habits is a simple yet powerful technique that will help you stay consistent with following routines.

Habit Tracking Methods

These two methods of habit tracking have always worked for me:

METHOD 1:

This method can be used to track a single habit.

The most basic method to track a particular habit is by using a planner or calendar. By crossing off each day on your planner with an ‘X’, you can track a particular habit.

For instance, if you want to track your daily workout – you’ll cross off with an ‘X’ or just tick for each day you did it on your planner.

After weeks and months, you’ll have a record of how consistent you were.

METHOD 2:

This method can be used to track two or more habits.

You can track your habits using a bullet journal or a printable where you already have a list of activities (that you want to carry out). All you have to do is mark one by one as you accomplish them throughout the day.

For instance, consider you’ve to track different daily habits – like wake up at 6 am, meditate, read a book, finish four tasks at work, complete household chores, etc. You’ll write down these activities in your journal and mark the boxes as you move forward.

Here are some more resources that you may find useful if you need help with creating an ideal routine for yourself:

Simple ways to Effectively Track Habits

It could be a hassle to track your tasks or habits daily, as tracking a task is itself a task to remember. So, how do you simplify the process?

Here are a few tricks to make habit tracking easier for you:

Don’t try to track too many habits at once. Take one habit at a time. It’s all about striving to become a bit better every day.
The best time to record a task is instantly when you just completed it.
Use automated tracking devices, apps, etc.
Non-automated habit tracking should be done for crucial tasks only.
If you’re into bullet journaling you can record it by the end of the day before sleeping.

6 Reasons to Start Tracking your Habits

Here's why you need to start tracking your habits:

Sometimes we think we can do better than we actually can. But that’s not always true. So when you track your habits, you’ll have an accurate judgment about your own behavior.
The mere act of recording a habit will help kick off the following one. The X’s or ticks on your planner will prompt you to take action once more.
In most cases, people focus on the ultimate goal instead of focusing on taking the measures to reach that goal. And that’s where they lack. However, tracking your daily habit will help you stay focused on the practice and the whole process.
Research says that you’re more likely to improve if you track your progress than when you do not.

A habit tracker will become a visual record for you. As a result, a visual record of you moving forward will motivate you more to reach your goal. When you see how far you’ve come, you’ll not want to break the chain.
Tracking habits in your planner or journal will eventually become fulfilling and pleasurable. You’ll feel rewarded just by ticking off the items in your to-do list or marking an ‘X’ in your calendar etc.

Habit Tracking Tool

Here's the ultimate habit tracking tool that will help you establish good habits and stick to your routine: the Habit Roadmap

BUY IT HERE

Furthermore, the KEY to sticking to a habit is by showing up even when you don’t want to. Remember that growth is always slow. It might take you months or years.

Besides, there will be times of uncertainty and self-doubt. But just by showing up at such times, you can empower yourself.