Feeling like you’re constantly playing catch-up with your own life?
I know that feeling all too well. For years my life was a mess. I was stuck in a cycle of gaming until 3 a.m. grabbing whatever food was fastest and feeling like I was just drifting. I was overweight unhealthy and disconnected from any real purpose. The idea of a “routine” felt like a prison. It sounded boring and restrictive.
But I was wrong. A good routine isn’t a cage. It’s the framework that gives you freedom. It’s what helped me lose over 110 pounds stop destructive habits and build a life I’m proud to live. It all starts with taking small intentional steps. Here are the 12 steps that helped me create a weekly routine that actually works.
1. Start with Your Why
Before you even think about a schedule ask yourself one question. Why do you want this? Do you want more energy for your kids? More focus at work? A stronger connection with God? My “why” was simple. I was tired of feeling sick and tired. I wanted to honor the body God gave me and find a better path. Your reason is your anchor. Write it down and put it somewhere you’ll see it every day.
2. Do a Reality Check
You can’t plan your future if you don’t know where you are now. For a few days just track your time. Don’t judge yourself. Just write down what you’re doing and for how long. You might be shocked to see where your hours go. I know I was. Seeing the hours I lost to gaming and mindless scrolling was a huge wake-up call.
3. Define Your Big Rocks
Think of your week as an empty jar. Your “big rocks” are the most important things in your life. These are your non-negotiables. For me they are my faith my family my health and my deep work. These must go into the jar first. If you fill it with sand (small unimportant tasks) first there won’t be room for the rocks.
4. Pick One Keystone Habit
Don’t try to change everything at once. That’s a recipe for burnout. Instead pick one small “keystone habit” that will have a positive ripple effect. When I first started my journey I didn’t overhaul my entire diet. I just committed to a 20-minute walk every morning. That one habit gave me more energy cleared my head and made me want to make healthier food choices later in the day.
5. Schedule in Rest
This is not a weakness. It is a requirement. A good routine includes downtime. You cannot be “on” all the time. Schedule time for rest hobbies and just doing nothing. This prevents burnout and makes your productive time much more effective. True rest recharges your soul.
6. Time Block Your Week
Open up a calendar or a simple notebook. Start by blocking out your big rocks. Put in your prayer or Bible study time. Schedule your family dinners. Block out your workouts. Then add your work commitments. What’s left is the time you have for errands chores and other tasks. This gives every hour a purpose.
7. Embrace Short Bursts of Work
I used to think I needed an 8-hour block to be productive. That’s not true. I’ve built my entire business on short focused bursts of deep work. I schedule 2 to 4 hours of completely uninterrupted work on my most important projects. No phone no email no distractions. The rest of the day can be for meetings emails and smaller tasks. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in two focused hours.
8. Plan Your Meals
Deciding what to eat three times a day is exhausting. It leads to bad choices. I used to fall into the trap of ordering takeout because I was too tired to think. Now I plan my meals for the week every Sunday. It removes the stress saves money and was a huge factor in my weight loss. It’s one less decision you have to make each day.
9. Prepare the Night Before
A great day starts the night before. Take just 15 minutes before bed to set yourself up for success. Lay out your clothes for the next day. Pack your lunch. Tidy up the kitchen. Review your schedule for tomorrow. This simple habit removes morning friction and helps you start the day with calm instead of chaos.
10. Build in Buffer Time
Life happens. Traffic is bad. A call runs long. Your kid spills juice all over their shirt right before you need to leave. If your schedule is packed too tightly one small problem can derail your entire day. Leave 15-minute gaps between appointments or tasks. This buffer time is your secret weapon against stress.
11. Review and Adjust Weekly
Your routine is not set in stone. It’s a living document. I take about 30 minutes every Sunday evening to look back at the past week. What worked? What didn’t? Where did I feel stressed or rushed? Then I make small tweaks for the week ahead. Be flexible and adapt as your life changes.
12. Give Yourself Grace
You will mess up. You will have an off day. You will skip a workout or eat something you didn’t plan to. That’s okay. You are human. The goal is not perfection. The goal is consistency over time. Don’t let one bad day turn into a bad week. Just acknowledge it give yourself grace and get back on track with the next right choice. My faith teaches me that I am saved by grace not by my own perfect works. I try to apply that same grace to my daily habits.
A routine is just a tool. It’s a tool to help you build a life of purpose health and peace. It’s about being intentional with the time God has given you.
So my question for you is this: What’s one small thing you can schedule for this week to move you closer to the life you want?
