Step 1. Start using Time blocking + Daily Routines

Have you ever tried a time blocking method together with a list of your daily tasks? If not, you definitely have to, especially if you spend too much time on cleaning or other household chores. Focusing on the tasks at the appropriate time will give you free time throughout the day, time that you will spend on the things you love.

1. Define your daily routines

You’ve already heard about Daily Routines, the small tasks that you have to do every day. Some of them are essential. We cannot delete them from our life (taking vitamins, walking the dog, picking up lunch bags for kids, etc.). With the help of other tasks, we want to increase the quality of our life (drink more water, read books, finish courses, exercise). There are also many aspects of our daily life that we want to improve (self-care, education, getting into shape, home management).

The founder of Flylady’s cleaning method Marla Silly suggests using house cleaning daily routines. By following them we can make our house clean and cozy with minimal effort. As an example, let’s create our personalized daily routines around house cleaning.

First, make a list of the things you have to do every day. Don’t make it too big, be honest with yourself, and start with a small number. When you succeed in essentials you can later add new routines. The main thing here is not to hurry and make everything step by step, adding one to two new routines per week.

Example

• Wash a load of laundry
• Empty the dishwasher
• Load the dishwasher
• Feed the fish
• Swish and swipe (flylady)
• Shiny sink (flylady)
• Pick up hotspots (flylady)
• Zone cleaning (flylady)
• Pick up toys
• Get clothes for tomorrow (flylady)

2. Set your day blocks

Example:

Morning

• Wash a load of laundry
• Empty the dishwasher

Afternoon

• Feed the fish
• Zone cleaning (flylady)

Evening

• Shiny sink (flylady)
• Load the dishwasher
• Pick up hotspots (flylady)
• Pick up toys

Before Bed

• Swish and swipe (flylady)
• Get clothes for tomorrow (flylady)

3. Set the time

Now you have your daily blocks. The next crucial step is to set up a time range for each of your blocks. Yes, you can limit your Morning block from the time you wake up till the next block, but setting up a time range will help you avoid procrastination and reserve free time. Set up the time where you can do all the tasks in the block, one by one, in the shortest period.

Example:

Morning (7:30 am – 8:00 am)

• Wash a load of laundry
• Empty the dishwasher

Afternoon (12:00 pm – 1:00 pm)

• Feed the fish
• Zone cleaning (flylady)

Evening (6 pm – 8:30 pm)

• Shiny sink (flylady)
• Load the dishwasher
• Pick up hotspots (flylady)
• Pick up toys

Before Bed (9:30 pm – 10.00 pm)

• Swish and swipe (flylady)
• Get clothes for tomorrow (flylady)

4. Put them in your planner and track the progress

Now that you have a time block list for every day, make it visible for you until you learn them by heart. Put them down wherever you like, into a phone app, phone notes, or on a paper sheet clipped to the fridge. If you have a paper planner and love to write everything down, create your daily routines on a list that is easy to open. The main thing here is that you need to track your progress. Leave a space for checkmarks so that you can see what works for you and what you need to change (time range, time block, task order). I use 7 checkmarks in a row to observe the whole week.

My first daily routine planner was written in a Bullet journal.

If you are creative, you can make your own design that will inspire you to work on gaining new habits. But please don’t spend too much time coloring or adding stickers and washi tape. Your actions are much more important than planner decorations.

As I love minimalist style I created this template for myself, and I'm so happy it helps a lot of my customers.

5. Engage your family members (kids, dear husband, etc.)

It’s easy to delay tasks and later feel disappointed in seeing no change. That’s why you have to be consistent in completing your daily routines, to make them automatic. You will have more time, you will feel like your responsibilities are under control, and you will have the peace of mind that you need. Your family members will see it, thus you can be a great example for your kids or other family members. You can also create small steps for kids:

• Toothbrushing,
• Breakfast,
• Making bed,
• Picking up toys,
• Doing homework, etc.

And don’t forget to put some pleasant things for them (having a break, eating cookies, playing with friends, and free time).

This is an example of one of my customers using two column routines for the kids.

6. Give it a try right now!

Take your time and make your own Daily routine planner. Start with the main challenges and more chaotic spheres of your life. Don’t waste your time on being nervous. Slowly take everything under control, step by step, and you will see a BIG CHANGE.

Let me know what you think! How did you manage to start?

Also check out Daily Routine templates (US Letter, Half-Letter, A5, A4) in our store.