I recently moved house, and I have begun my process of setting up my new routine. It’s incredibly overwhelming having a drastic change to everyday life, that you may need to take a break and start again. That’s currently what I’m going through, and I follow these 3 steps to establish a consistent weekly routine. It took me over a month to establish a routine when I first moved.During that tenancy I modified it three times, before I was happy with it. Now, I’m starting again and here is how I’m going to do it.
Do the bare minimum to exist
This does sound weird but hear me out. By ‘Doing the bear minimum to exist’ I mean, set the habit of setting time to eat, sleep, shower etc. Basic things that anybody needs to function every day. I am not counting TV time, gaming or hobbies, literally the basic amount of your own private time, is the first part of your routine to establish.
For myself, I spent my summer break (2/3 months) not doing anything at all. When I started full-time work, I lost 8 hours of my week days. Once I had my basic furniture set up, I could prepare lunch and dinner in advanced. I liked eating breakfast before going to work, so I gave myself time in the morning to get up and eat. I showered after work whilst my dinner/lunch for the next day was cooking. Then I’d aim to sleep around 8 hours since I had the flexibility to do so.
Get your bearings
Whilst doing your bare minimum, you will have plenty of time in between your basics. This time is your time to navigate yourself for your new life. Finding hobbies, setting up ‘To do’ lists, cleaning, socialising etc. Try out as many things as you can and explore what your new place has to offer in this time. This will help you determine what you are comfortable devoting this extra time in your day to.
I went out and saw the local towns/villages and their amenities. Went to social events and tried a couple of clubs, and established connections. Google is also a great resource. Instead of going to a bunch of gyms, I researched them, and used that to determine which gym I wanted to attend, based on price, location, and services. Test out new experiences too. For instance, I knew West Cumbria has good views and walking routes, and I wasn’t the kind of person interested in that. But I gave it a try and now I’m addicted to walking.
Test, Modify and Consistency
This whole time, you will have maintained the basics, which are now a routine habit. Now you can assess the activities you tried and make the decision on what you want to keep on a weekly basis. The first week of a new routine is always the hardest, so I’d recommend at least 3 – 4 weeks to try it out. When deciding what to keep in the routine, bear in mind it’s a weekly plan, so you are intending to maintain it weekly. Even if an event happens infrequently, the general basis of the routine is still maintained.
If it still seems foreign or uncomfortable you can try one of two things:
- Change the organisation of your routine items, or
- Get rid of the ones that don’t mesh with you.
For the second option you can choose to replace it with something else straight away or wait till you find something to fill the spot. It’s not all set in stone, but it gives you a bit more of a grasp on your life, especially after a major change of routine.
Once you have found a routine that works for you, staying consistent is very easy. It allows you to make and keep plans, since the days are individual, rather than a messy blob. Whilst, also giving you control on your way of living, and who doesn’t want that?
It took me over a month to get my first routine sorted. By then, I had moved the time I eat breakfast so I could sleep for longer. I went to the gym twice a week, and I had movie nights with a friend, every week. A few months later it changed again, because I had started this blog and I wanted more time after work to spend on it. So, I started waking up and going to the gym at 5 am. I added gymnastics one night a week, whilst keeping movie night and the blog. A few more months past and I added therapy to my routine, and weekend walks. Now that I have moved house, I’ll see what my next routine will be like.
Moral of my story:
- You’re in control- It doesn’t have to stay the same forever, and you are the one that dictates that.
- Do the bare minimum- Get your basics established first. Allow yourself to exist.
- Get your bearings– Explore the options to add to your routine
- Test, modify and consistency-Try out what your new routine, and modify it to make it maintainable, consistent and comfortable.
