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10 Tips for a Better Daily Routine

Establish a Better Daily Routine

By , About.com Guide

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.

2. Make breakfast easier.

Quick to prepare, quick to clean up, and can be made to-go, I recommend the following from our Busy Cooks Guide: Related: Get Started with Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping | How to Meal Plan | How to Meal Plan Healthfully | 10 Tips to Meal Plan | Organize Your Weekly Shopping List

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. 

4. 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:

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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:

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Get your pets on a schedule.

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.

More About Your Daily Routine:

  1. Get More Done with a Daily Routine
  2. How to Create a Daily Routine
  3. How to Use a Daily Routine to Reach Your Goals
  4. How to Stick to a Daily Routine
  5. Daily Checklist
  6. 10 Good Daily Habits
  7. 10 Tips for a Better Daily Routine
  8. <-- you are here
  9. Erin Duran's Pro Advice on Daily Routines
  10. Wendy Salmon's Pro Advice on Daily Routines
  11. Daily Routine Reading List

Organizing Tips
Read Hundreds of organizing tips for every room in your home.

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