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10 Tips for a Better Daily Routine

Establish a Better Daily Routine

By , About.com Guide

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Ten ways you can instantly improve your daily routine from getting dressed more quickly in the morning to fitting in exercise.

1. Get dressed more quickly in the morning.

Elfa Large Walk In Closet Ladies AlmondPhoto / Container Store

Lay out your work and work-out clothes the night before. This is much easier when you have organized closets and bureaus. How to Organize Your Closet

Closets 101

2. Make breakfast easier.

Lemon RecipesPhoto / Stuart Ovenden
Quick to prepare, quick to clean up, and can be made to-go, I recommend the following from our Busy Cooks Guide:

Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping 101

3. Harness your most productive hours.

Desk with Books and CalendarPhoto / Josh Beggs
You've got to be ready to harness your creative energy when it strikes and that may mean shifting your work hours, or figuring out a way to capture your best thoughts on-the-go. 

  • If you’re at your desk during those times, limit distractions: don’t schedule meetings, answer the phone, log onto Facebook, or check email. 
  • If you can’t be at your desk during those times, carry a small notebook with you to jot down notes and ideas, or tape yourself with your smart phone. 

Routines 101

4. Prioritize exercise.

Bike Wall MountPhoto / The Container Store

Exercise is practically a fountain of youth and should be highly prioritized in your Daily Routine. Here are several ways to work exercise into your daily routine from our Exercise Guide.

Routines 101

5. Declutter your home regularly.

Home Organization Magazines - Martha Stewart Living MagazineMartha Stewart Living Magazine
Establishing a weekly routine to declutter your home will cut down on stress and in-grain decluttering as a habit. I just happen to have already created two routines you can use to keep your home clutter-free and organized:

Clutter 101

6. Get your pets on a schedule.

Boot Storage in the MudroomPhoto / Wall Street Journal

Walking, feeding, and grooming pets at the same time each day will provide them structure they crave.

Here are some tips from our Puppies Guide.

Routines 101

7. Organize your kitchen pantry and cabinets.

Hanging Pots and Pans from Ariannabelle.comPhoto from Ariannabelle.com
Organizing your kitchen cabinets will streamline meal preparation, and will cut down on the amount of times the words, “Mom, where does this go?” will be heard in your kitchen. Win-win.

Kitchens 101

8. Have a good mail management system.

Bamboo desk set from Franklin Covey
I used to dread dealing with mail and now I secretly, sort-of enjoy the process because I shred and recycle so much of it. How to Manage Mail

Mail & Paper 101

9. Streamline your morning and evening grooming routines.

Silver Mesh Vanity Organizer by Design IdeasPhoto / Design Ideas
I’ve been reading Allure magazine for years and I think if I followed every piece of advice I’d be applying potions and creams for about 60 minutes before bed at night and prior to my morning make up application. There is a simpler way:

Bathrooms 101

10. Follow a checklist.

Clipboard by The Macbeth CollectionPhoto / The Macbeth Collection
I'm a huge fan of checklists, mostly because I enjoy crossing things off my To Do list. So satisfying. Daily Routine Checklist

Routines 101

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