In order to lead a happy and healthy life, you must make a series of steady decisions; rather than try to change everything about yourself at once or be overly optimistic.
By developing intentional, conscientious and emotionally aware daily routines, we create a supportive environment to support our desires for positive living to become reality. Simple actions repeated throughout the day reduce feelings of stress and contribute to the emotional stability we hope to achieve.
Calm Morning Routines
The research published by Harvard Health shows that routine and structure provide a sense of focus and emotional regulation.
Many people use a drink of water, some sort of light exercise and/or quiet meditation when getting ready in the morning; this allows for a gradual activation of brain functions without creating excessive emotional distraction.
Psychologists agree that routine consistency improves emotional confidence. In turn, this increased confidence leads to greater emotional peace and long-term positive habits.
Routine Creating Emotional Safety
Regularity in our actions permits our brains to feel more comfortable in being in control.
Through the long-term practice of creating routines, we develop emotional responses to daily stimuli, and these establish positive foundations for building strong emotional habits of happiness, which are discussed below.
Daily Routines Used to Enhance Mental Peace
Quiet Personal Time
Quiet personal time allows for emotional reset and the processing of their thoughts and feelings.
Routines that promote positive growth in life allow for enjoyment and connections between individuals.
The Recommended Routine For Happiness
Research conducted by Gallup on an ongoing basis shows that social connection results in greater life satisfaction and overall wellbeing. When an individual has a healthy routine of social interaction, it creates an emotional sense of security and increases their capacity for being happy.
Finding Joy From Small Positive Daily Moments
Being aware of those small positive moments each day creates a natural way to experience joy from those positive parts of our lives every day. Learning to recognize the good parts of life develops an automatic way of appreciating what we have.
With increased levels of appreciation, an individual naturally desires to build a daily routine which reflects their values and purpose.
Adapting Your Daily Routines to Support Long-lasting Positively Influencing Your Life
Daily habits are developed into the future through habits and behaviours over time; however, your habits and behaviours are influenced and changed forever by new habits and behaviours.
When your habits and behaviours match your personal value system, your routines become much more effective. By adding value to a person’s life or adding value to what they do, their consistency is enhanced greatly.
Journals and standard/normal habits trackers are effective methods that many use for tracking habits/routines. Instead of measuring progress based on perfection, the practicum of tracking habits/routines allows you to see how far you have come. This will allow you to reduce the frustrations associated with trying to be perfect.
As your life circumstances change, your routines must also change.
Pacing Yourself for Daily Activities
Performing the same actions repeatedly will build emotional strength and support an increasing commitment to self-discipline over time.
Develop Realistic Daily Objective(s)
Set Small Goals to Limit Overwhelm
Using smaller, more frequent goals will allow for less overwhelm and will also result in an increased completion percentage. Each success will create long-term confidence and a more positive habit of happiness.
Creating a Support System
Accountability creates an environment of responsibility, which supports consistent routines. Many people utilize traditional planners or electronic reminders to accomplish this.
Goal Sharing – Sharing one’s objectives with a trusted group of individuals will produce a greater degree of goal achievement because of the additional follow-through that occurs when we have accountability from others to help us achieve our own success.
Rewarding Consistency
Providing a reward for an individual will reinforce their positive behaviour naturally and will also create a balance in motivation and fun.
Acknowledgment of an Individual’s Effort — Acknowledging the effort put forth by an individual creates a sense of peace of mind and will support them in creating a sustainable, balanced life going forward.
Routines Help You Achieve Long-Term Balanced Life
Daily routines support our emotional, mental and physical needs together to create long-term balanced lives. Daily balance routines reduce our risk of developing burnout and experiencing emotional strain.
Work and Personal Life Balance
Setting firm boundaries around your personal life will protect your personal time and energy. As discussed by Forbes, the advantages of work/life balance.
By keeping our work and rest separate it is possible to enhance our ability to recover emotionally.
