How do you achieve a goal? You take the actions needed to get you to that goal. How do you keep your actions consistent? Cause consistency is key. You implement a routine. In today’s episode, I’m sharing with you my simple 3 step process to create a routine. Whether you’re looking to start a morning or night routine, you can use this same process to help build consistency and eventually a new habit.
Hello again, My name is Kate Avery, I have been a Nurse since 2015, I’m a mother of 3, I’m an entrepreneur coach, and so much more.
Over the last few years, I started to notice how nursing was not fitting the needs of my growing family. So I decided enough was enough and I embarked on this journey to find a better way. This has included countless self-help books, multiple courses, and a deep dive into figuring out what the heck I wanted.
Now, I started this podcast to inspire and motivate you, if you also feel the burnout of nursing while supporting a growing family. Then you’re in the right place.
Let’s build our dream life together. Every week I share my adventures and I share hard lessons I have learned along the way. Make sure you follow the podcast and download the episodes every Friday, you can also follow me on Instagram at Inspirern. Check out the show notes page for more.
Goals, Habits, Routine, Oh My!
Achieving a goal means you’re doing something new. Something new means you’re changing your behaviors. To create a new habit out of these new behaviors you have to be consistent with it. Habits are consistent behaviors. Simply put, you have to stick with it for 66 days to be exact. It takes 66 days for the new behavior when repeated consistently to become a habit.
Did I spell that out well enough for you?
If you’re looking for change and you’re looking to hit some big goals this year. Creating new habits is a skill you should learn.
How the heck do you make this process easier? By Implementing a routine.
When you add a new behavior to an already existing routine, you increase the likelihood of creating a new habit. And with that new habit comes the achievement of the goal.
If you are here, you are wanting to achieve some amazing goals and I want to help you build the routine that will be the foundation of your change.
So without further ado, let’s dive into my simple 3 step process that I use when I implement a new routine.
Take Stock of What You’re Already Doing
Do You already have a morning routine?
If you answer yes, Amazing this process will be much easier for you.
But If you answered No, I am calling BS.
We all have a routine that we go through in the morning. We brush our teeth, get dressed, and put our shoes on, so yes you do have a morning routine. It may not be the routine of your dreams but I am here to help you build that..
For the sake of simplicity, I am only going to talk about a morning routine, but again this same process can be used to create any routine, any time of day.
I have had the same morning routine for the last 2 years.
Typically I wake up around 5 or 6 am. I take my supplements and work out, then I meditate, journal, and plan my day. Once that is done, I get myself ready for the day before moving on to get the kids ready. Finally, we are off to school or I am off to work. And that’s it.
The routine is pretty much the same every day. Yes, some days I work at the hospital and some steps may be skipped that day, but usually, I stick to this schedule.
When I want to include a new behavior there are a few things I do first.
I take stock of what my morning routine currently looks like. What I like about the routine and maybe what is not working for me at this time.
Doing this first step will help you with step number 2, do not skip this step even though it may seem boring.
I like to often write it all out so I can visually see what might work best or flow better to make my mornings easier.
The Art of Habit Stacking
You’re not bad at routines, you just don’t know how to stack them yet.
Routine success is a lot about stacking behaviors that make sense. You don’t want to put on your shoes and then have to go back upstairs to brush your teeth. It just doesn’t make sense. It’s going to be harder for you to remember and you won’t be able to create a habit from a disorganized routine.
Taking stock of your current routine will help you add in the new habit where it makes the most sense. If you skipped step one, please do that now so that you can see where the new habit fits in.
When I first started building this morning routine that I’m currently using, I initially wanted to add in daily journaling and meditation. I was already working out in the morning, so it logically made sense to add the new behaviors around that. It took a lot of adjustments to get my morning routine to the point that it is now. I tested out meditation before working out and after. I tried to journal first and then meditate but Ideally, I found that I can focus more when my energy is depleted from a workout and I like to calm my mind before I set out to journal.
Morning routines take a lot of adjustments and trial and error.
This leads me to the next step
Roll With The Routine
Do you find yourself discouraged easily by a setback?
Step 2 ½ to creating a routine is giving yourself grace and acknowledging the benefits of slow progress.
As I just said, building the morning routine of your dreams will take time and tons of adjustments to get it just right.
It is much easier to implement one new behavior at a time. My suggestion is to pick one that you think will give you the most progress and build from there. I would not add anything else for at least 60 days. That way you are well on your way to that new habit before you rock the boat again.
You can disagree with me and try a few new behaviors but I would suggest them all be in the same wheelhouse, like adding a protein shake and new supplements.
Progress is our goal, so slow steps toward becoming the best version of you should be the plan.
Track Your Progress
Do you remember taking before and after pictures when you started that new workout routine or diet?
Yup, this idea is similar. Tracking your progress is a great tool to use when you’re building a new behavior. It is so easy with how busy we are to blaze right by the new behavior and not even notice it until you settle into bed that night.
Habit tracking is step 3 to implementing a successful routine. I am going to save you some time and I have attached a habit tracker for you to use.
Put this tracker in your planner, on the fridge, basically anywhere you will remember to check off the days. There are 66 spots for you to track your progress for one new habit.
Let Change Begin
I can not wait to see how your morning routine changes your life. I am not being dramatic. Building the morning routine that I have today has changed my life. I can set a peaceful foundation before the chaos of my day begins. I want the same for you.
If this subject fascinates you, I suggest you check out Atomic Habits by James Clear. This is where I learned everything. I learned how to build a routine and how to create consistency and success.
Here is what to do next, Follow these steps and build the routine of your dreams. Choose one or two new behaviors that will help you achieve a goal. Download the tracker and start changing your morning routine.
Lastly, I need a huge favor from you, will you share this episode with a friend or family member? I want to make sure I can connect with as many of you as possible. I am hoping to help a record number of women this year and I need your help to get me there.