How to Create a Routine that Sticks
We're mid-way through the fall semester, and by now, you might think you'd have your school routine nailed down. But the reality is that many students (and adults) are struggling with following through their routines.
Creating a routine is easy, but sticking to one? That's the hard part. The secret is finding a balance between structure and flexibility. Below, we'll walk through some strategies to build a school routine that actually works and—most importantly—sticks.
1. Prioritize Sleep
We all know (I hope) that sleep is essential, yet it's often the first thing we sacrifice. Quality sleep is critical for cognitive function, mood regulation, stress management, and overall health. Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep per night. While you'll inevitably have some late nights (whether it's studying or socializing), keeping a consistent sleep schedule helps you avoid perpetual "jet lag." Skimping on sleep reduces your ability to make decisions, drains your motivation, and makes everything harder.
2. Daily and Weekly Resets
A daily reset is your time to prepare for the next day by packing your bag, laying out clothes, prepping meals, and organizing essentials in one place, like your keys and wallet (aka your "launchpad"). Doing this the night before removes morning chaos and decision fatigue. Similarly, a weekly reset helps you prep for the week ahead. Planning your week in advance reduces overwhelm and sets you up for success.
Not only does this make mornings run smoother, but it also makes it easier to get up when you know everything is already ready to go. Fewer decisions mean less stress, so you can hit the ground running.
3. Use Reinforcers
Reinforcers make a behavior more likely to happen. For example, setting your alarm across the room forces you to physically get out of bed, which helps you avoid the snooze button trap. Throughout the day, use small rewards (like scheduled free time, snacks, or a podcast during a task) to help you push through transitions and stay focused. Reinforcement keeps motivation high, especially during challenging moments.
4. Using Time Periods for Productivity
Organize your day into time periods—chunks of 30 minutes to 1 hour—where similar tasks are grouped together. These could be school classes, homework sessions, or even meals. Using time periods (i.e., time-blocking) creates clear start and end points, helping you stay focused on one task at a time and ensuring you move on when needed. Having dedicated blocks for work, breaks, and routines creates structure without feeling overwhelming.
5. Plan—Seriously, Plan!
Stressed about how much you need to get done? Plan. Not sure where to start? Plan. Planning helps you approach your week more strategically and make your day-to-day feel more manageable. Use a planner to break down your week into time blocks and plug in your tasks. I recommend setting aside time on Sundays to review the upcoming week and make adjustments at the end of each school day. Having a visual overview of your schedule makes everything feel more manageable. The worst feeling is knowing you have something to do—but not remembering what it is.
6. Define Work Periods (and Keep a Buffer)
Along with time blocking, it's helpful to pre-define your work periods. Apart from your conventional work periods after school, identify the other opportunities when you'll focus on schoolwork—tutorial, during a free period, or on the bus ride home. Keep some flexible time slots in reserve for extra work when needed, so you'll be prepared if you have more homework than usual. The key here is balance: don't overuse your buffer time, or you won't have any flexibility when unexpected work arises.
7. Schedule Free Time
Here's a surprise—scheduling free time is just as important as scheduling work. Planning out protected free time helps to create a reward system. These breaks give you something to look forward to and motivate you to push through the work periods. As such, it helps significantly with managing procrastination. This intentional balance between work and play reduces burnout. The goal is to have guilt-free downtime so you're refreshed and ready for the next work session.
8. Stay Mindful of Your Emotions
Structure and adjust your routine based on how you feel and your body's needs. Burnout is a real risk, and adapting your routine to match your energy levels will help you use your time more effectively. For instance, if you're an athlete, it's important to schedule in proper physical rest. If you know you'll be mentally exhausted after basketball practice, try to complete as much work as possible beforehand instead of setting high expectations for what you can accomplish afterward
9. Be Aware of the Perfectionism Trap!
A routine isn't about being perfect—it's about creating consistent, manageable guidelines to help you get through the day and find the balance of the different areas of your life. You're going to slip and make mistakes, and that's ok.
The strategies listed above, while not all-encompassing, provide the essentials for creating a sustainable daily routine. The key is to strike a balance between consistency and flexibility and view mistakes as part of the process, not failures. For more on how to create a daily routine, join the 8-week class series and action group!
