Perfect daily routine for students [full guide]

Summary

The speaker discusses the importance of establishing a personalized daily routine, emphasizing the need to identify 'win the day' tasks and structure the day around them. They suggest starting with a basic structure, gradually improving it, and standardizing repetitive decisions to conserve energy. The speaker also highlights the value of experimentation in optimizing one's routine for maximum productivity.

Takeaways

• 😴 Morning routines can be overwhelming, but finding a personalized routine is crucial for productivity and satisfaction.
• 🏃‍♂️ Not everyone thrives on early mornings or marathons; it's about finding what works for you, similar to choosing the right music genre.
• 📅 Structure your day around the 'win the day' tasks – those few key activities that make you feel productive if accomplished.
• 🌞 Identify when you work best and schedule your most important tasks during those times for optimal productivity.
• 📝 Keep your routine flexible and non-restrictive by focusing on the big tasks and not micromanaging every minute of your day.
• 🔄 Be prepared to fail and adjust; starting with a routine and achieving even a small percentage of it is better than no routine at all.
• 🌱 Gradually improve your routine by increasing the percentage of your 'perfect day' that you achieve over time.
• 🛑 Standardize repetitive decisions like what to wear or when to eat to conserve mental energy and focus on more important tasks.
• 🔧 Optimize your routine through experimentation, finding what works best for you in terms of time, location, and activities.
• 🏋️‍♀️ Balance structure with flexibility, ensuring your routine is both effective and enjoyable, and not overly rigid or restrictive.
• 📱 Consider using digital tools like WhatsApp for convenience in managing and updating your routine, but also weigh the benefits of physical checklists for the satisfaction of ticking off tasks.

Q & A

What is the speaker's initial attitude towards morning routines and why?

The speaker initially finds morning routines difficult to follow, often giving up after a few days. They attribute this to a distaste for routines, possibly developed from the restrictive timetables in school.

Why does the speaker believe routines are like music?

The speaker compares routines to music because everyone likes music, but they need to find the genre that suits their taste. Similarly, finding a routine that is optimized and fits an individual's preferences is key to making it work for them.

What are the three steps the speaker suggests to set up a long-term routine?

The three steps are: 1) Identifying 'win the day' tasks that make the day feel productive, 2) Structuring the day around these tasks, and 3) Adjusting the mindset to accept and gradually improve the routine.

What does the speaker mean by 'win the day' tasks?

'Win the day' tasks are the most important tasks that, if completed, would make the day feel productive and successful, regardless of anything else done during the day.

How does the speaker structure their day around 'win the day' tasks?

The speaker structures their day by placing the 'win the day' tasks during the time they work best, such as mornings, and leaving blocks of time for other activities, focusing on the big tasks rather than minute details.

Why does the speaker emphasize not dictating every single second of the day?

The speaker believes that dictating every second of the day can make the routine feel restrictive, similar to school timetables. Instead, they suggest focusing on the big tasks and leaving flexibility for other activities.

What is the speaker's approach to handling failure in following a routine?

The speaker acknowledges that failure is part of the process and suggests being okay with not achieving 100% of the perfect day. They encourage starting with small percentages and gradually improving over time.

What is the significance of the mindset mentioned in step two of the speaker's routine setup?

The mindset in step two is about accepting that perfection is not achievable at first and that even doing a small percentage of the perfect day is better than not having a routine at all. It's about progressive improvement and being grateful for incremental progress.

What does the speaker mean by 'standardizing' in the context of routines?

Standardizing refers to making one-time decisions for repetitive tasks, such as what to wear or when to eat, to conserve time and energy. This helps in reducing the cognitive load of making small decisions every day.

How does the speaker approach optimization in their routine?

The speaker approaches optimization through experimentation, trying different factors like the time of day or location for tasks, and then adjusting based on what works best for them.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the simplicity of a routine?

The speaker advises keeping the routine simple, focusing on removing unnecessary elements rather than adding more. They emphasize that simplicity is usually key to making a routine sustainable and enjoyable.

What is the speaker's method for recording their daily routine?

The speaker records their daily routine in a WhatsApp group chat with only themselves, which allows for easy access and modification on their phone, rather than using a physical notebook.