How to Improve Your Routine For a More Productive Day

The new year is finally here and what better time to refresh your routine and make 2024 the best year yet, both personally and professionally.

But what’s so important about improving your routine? Well, consistent morning and evening routines prime you for success. They help you think more clearly, perform better and achieve more, preventing you from stumbling through your day aimlessly and making sure you prioritise getting the most important things done.

So, to help kickstart your new year with a new and improved routine, we have rounded up our 6 top tips. 

6 tips to improve your daily routine include:

1. Create a consistent morning routine
2. Start the day with exercise
3. Keep your space clean and organised
4. Take breaks 
5. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals
6. Aim for 8 hours sleep every night

1. Create a Consistent Morning Routine

A productive day always starts with a consistent morning routine, so the very first step is to create a morning routine that sets you up for the day and that you can stick to daily.

While you might not want to hear it, waking up early can do wonders for productivity, and research shows that high achievers typically rise early in order to prepare for the day. In those early hours of the morning, (that you would typically spend asleep), you can execute your routine while the rest of the world sleeps, doing things like exercise, meditation, affirmations or even a bit of tidying. 

But for most of us, waking up and getting out of bed early can be tough, which is why creating small habits can help you avoid that dangerous snooze button. For example, you could count five and then force yourself to get out of bed and begin your day. You could also do things like keeping slippers next to your bed, laying out clothes next to your bed or even presetting your coffee machine so it’s ready as soon as you wake up. 

In addition to waking up early, if there's one other habit you should adopt to improve your daily routine, it's making your bed every day.

While it might seem like a simple task, you will have accomplished the first task of the day, which will give you a small sense of pride, and hopefully encourage you to do another task, and another, and so on. 

Good Early Morning Habits

Some other morning habits that can really help improve your routine and productivity throughout the day include:

• Have a cold shower
• Eat a nutritious breakfast
• Meditate
• Recite affirmations
• Read 
• Listen to a podcast
• Do your stretches
• Take your vitamins

2. Start the Day With Exercise 

You won’t find many other things as transformative than starting your day with exercise. Why? Because exercising in the morning increases blood flow, releases feel-good endorphins, and strengthens your body (and mind). These increased energy levels so early on will prepare you for the coming day and of course help you remain in optimal health.

As well as physical health benefits, regular morning exercise has also been shown to enhance cognitive function, including improved concentration, memory, and learning. This can therefore translate to increased focus and productivity throughout the day.

A number of studies have shown that regular exercise can help you manage symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. 

You don’t even have to go to a gym to reap the benefits of morning exercise. A brisk walk around your neighbourhood, a 10-minute workout in your living room or a quick yoga session from YouTube are all great options to raise that heart rate and start your day.

3. Keep Your Space Clean and Organised 

Did you know that your living and working space can have a significant effect on your mental health and how well you perform tasks? Studies have shown that a cluttered home or office space can actually decrease well-being and in turn, negatively affect productivity. Like they always say, a clear space = a clear mind. 

Keeping everything organised can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task, but having everything in its own place can help you not only keep your space tidy, but also reduce the stress of looking for something you can’t find. 

We recommend organising one room or space at a time, and perhaps investing in home or office storage solutions to keep everything out of the way. It might also be worth considering a smart home system that can automatically remind you about house chores and appointments.

It’s also important to implement time management strategies into your daily routine.

These may include things like using a daily or weekly task planner, setting reminders on your phone and prioritising tasks.

4. Take Breaks

The secret to sustainable productivity is incorporating micro-breaks into your daily routine. Breaks are crucial as they give your mind the rest it needs, especially if you work long hours at a desk, making it easier to focus, be productive and reduce the likelihood of burnout.

Now, breaks don’t have to mean leaving your house and walking around the park, that’s what your lunch break is for. Micro-breaks could simply mean spending 5 minutes doing some breathing exercises, light stretches or walking to the kitchen and making yourself a cuppa. Anything that temporarily takes your mind away from working is enough. 

Many people use the Pomodoro technique, which is where you work in bursts of 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break.

Learn more about how to improve focus and attention here. 

5. Surround Yourself With Like-Minded Individuals

Surrounding yourself with good, like-minded individuals can affect every aspect of your life, from business to friendships and romantic relationships. When you surround yourself with positivity and people who will inspire you, you’re more likely to adopt empowering beliefs and become a better person, both personally and professionally. 

If you’re a start-up business owner, working in a co-working space, where individuals from various professions and backgrounds come together, allows you to expand your professional network and work amongst like-minded people who share similar ambitions and goals to you. 

This shared ambition creates a motivating environment, and can often foster a sense of community, which can be super beneficial for business owners who tend to feel lonely. Learn more about the benefits of using a co-working space, here. 

At Tramshed Tech, our co-working space memberships give you access to multiple benefits depending on the one you choose, such as social events, bookable workspaces, and more. We also offer day passes if you’re only looking to pop in every so often. Learn more about our various memberships or book in for your free session.

With sites across Wales (Cardiff, Barry, Newport and Swansea), you can be sure to find the perfect flexible co-working space for you and your team.

6. Aim for 8 Hours Sleep Every Night

Last but certainly not least, you want to be getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night, as sleep is absolutely essential for optimum performance and productivity. Unfortunately, however, very few people practise proper sleep hygiene, and the quality of their sleep suffers as a result.

Tips for Improving Sleep Quality

Some tips/ habits to improve the quality of your sleep include:

• Avoid screen time or TV an hour before bed
• Avoid caffeine in the evening
• Take a warm bath or read a book in the evening to induce sleepiness
• Stick to the same sleep and wake schedule

To develop a consistent morning and nightime routine, try creating a checklist that you walk through every morning and night until they become a habit.

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We hope this article has inspired you with ways you can improve your daily routine. For more help, check out our recent blog on 2024 New Year’s Resolutions For Business Owners or head over to our tech startup blog for additional entrepreneurial tips.

We are Tramshed Tech: a startup ecosystem home to 50+ companies ranging from pre-revenue start-ups to scaling businesses with 600+ registered members from the digital, creative and tech communities.

Written by Kate for Tramshed Tech.