Create More Time in Your Day

Routines in your morning, day and night can help this circle of stress and lack of time disappear

You Have Don’t Time?

Count how many times you say “I don’t have time,” or, “I’m too busy” in a day. How often do you feel like your to-do list grows and you have no idea how because you’re been working all day and are exhausted? Yeah, I know, it’s a lot. You got into teaching because you love it. But, the more you teach the less time you have for you, your practice, and it feels like you’re always saying you’re tired, busy and hoping to get to something to tomorrow. Routines in your morning, day and night can help this circle of stress and lack of time disappear. If you’re ready to create time keep reading.

There are plenty of studies that show how much routines benefit our lives. Even Steve Jobs was so notorious for his routines that many CEO’s copied his thinking it would help them create companies as big as Apple. I had always loved a morning routine but then one day I heard about night routines when I listened to an interview Ariana Huffington did while promoting her book. She said that by having a sleep routine helps prepare our bodies for rest. This sort of routine was a little harder for me to figure out because it was so easy to skip the routine one night or change it up a bit. I mean, we all know about trying to get one last thing done. Or, getting more sleep tomorrow.

alarm clock and clipboard with time management check list written
My routines morning, day and night allow me to create time in the day.

Creating Routines

But, one day after being consistent with both my morning and night routines. The proverbial sh*t hit the fan and I was so happy to have my routine. Because they really helped me feel in control. And, slowly after time, I realized my routines were allowing me to create time. Wouldn’t you like to create time?

We have to make thousands of decisions every single day. By creating routines, both morning and night, you eliminate these daily decisions that are often repetitive. And allow yourself to have better decision making power later in the day when you’re working on your business, deciding what to create, post, say yes or no to. If your brain is having to make every decision from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed you’re definitely going to feel more than exhausted. And, worse, you’ll likely miss out on opportunities to propel your business forward.

My routines have changed over time. At first, I didn’t know much about what I would need in my routine to help my day be more productive. So, I tried out different ideas for a while until I figured out what worked the best for me. And, even recently I added something new to my morning routine. So, as I share my routines below remember that this has been a work in progress. You will want and need to figure out what works the very best for you. But, feel free to try these out and make them your own. I also added some suggestions for creating routines below.

Morning

Monday-Friday

  • wake up between 4:15 am-4:45 am and drink a large glass of water
  • Run my dog Bayon 3ish miles often with my neighbor
  • Get coffee and say hi to the baristas (this makes me feel like I live in a neighborhood).
  • Make Brad french press coffee feed Bayon his special breakfast
  • Say my gratitudes out loud while holding Gaia in the kitchen
  • (NEW) Ask Gaia and the universe some questions that “I wonder….?”
  • Go to HIIT or do my Pilates workout.

Weekends

  • wake up between 5:15-6am walk get a coffee and walk Bayon around our neighborhood.
  • Saturdays I call another female biz owner and we talk about what’s going on in our lives, businesses and what we are excited about. Sundays talk to a family member.
  • Saturdays my neighbor and I attend HIIT classes and get a yummy breakfast before enjoying a day off. Sundays I go into work. Before workouts or work the above routine still applies.

During workdays, my schedule is very consistent. I know when I am teaching and when I am doing marketing, content creation, meditation, and email. This makes it easier to know when I will get to “that thing” when someone needs it. I am super protective of my time blocks. They allow me to “drop-in” to writing, meditating and teaching much faster because I know when I am doing what.

Evenings:

  • after dinner another glass of water
  • write down anything that is on my mind to get done the next day (these things often come closer to the evening).
  • shower, face wash, brush teeth.
  • Read for a few minutes (nothing that requires much thought) considering a mediation here instead so I may be testing this.
  • Turn a sleep story on.
  • Asleep between 9:30-10ish pm.

    Here are some resources for you to try out ideas for your own routines:

  1. Daily Routine tip
  2. Intention Routine building 
  3. Morning and Night Routines

If you could get back more of your decision making powers what would you do? Maybe you’d have more time for your own practice? Or, maybe you’ll finally get to those blogs or newsletters you’ve been wanting to do?

Your life is too good to let it be ruled by what work you didn’t get done. And, your business should be working for you and not you working for it. The start of creating the dream work schedule or even an ideal work schedule comes from your ability to have boundaries around when you will and won’t teach. And that muscle gets stronger by practicing a routine.

What routines do you keep and how do they help you?

I’d love to hear about your routines in the comments below.

xx~LL


PS. I credit my routines to my lack of jet lag when I travel to teach workshops and retreats in this blog.

Women laying on mats exercising with therabands and blocks in studio
Exercising is scheduled into my routine because it gives me peace and allows me to be inspired and energized.

Share On

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

<a href="https://profitablepilates.com/instructor/lesley-logan-2/" target="_self">Lesley Logan</a>

Lesley Logan

Lesley Logan fell in love with Pilates after her first 100! From side-hustle to full time, she jumped from teacher to manager to running multiple studios. She wrote a book that focused on the business of Pilates, which grew into ProfitablePilates.com and is now a business coaching program called Agency. Take class from LL at OnlinePilatesClasses.com and listen to her podcast at LesleyLogan.co/podcast. When not in Las Vegas she travels, leading workshops and retreats around the world.

2 Comments

  1. Lisa

    Hi Lesley,
    just found this via your newsletter. I currently wake up a 5.45 but would love to make that 5:00 to have time for a quick Pilates workout and reading the news. Did you gradually get up earlier or have you always been an extremely early riser?
    Lisa

    Reply
    • Lesley Logan

      Hey Lisa, great question! Yes, I have been more of an earlier bird but if you saw a recent admission on my IG I am not a happy camper. It takes me my routine to make me excited to take on the day. But, I did go in increments to get myself used to the earlier time. Also so I could start to slowly get used to going to be a little earlier. Give it a try! Let me know how it goes xx~LL

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Blogs Related

Agency On Demand Office Hour Replay

Agency On Demand Office Hour Replay

[scheduled onetime="2024/02/29" time="12:00 PM" length="0:3:0:0" msg="If you're seeing this that means you are in the right place for the call replay but at the wrong time! Please note that the video is available for replay for only 3 days....

Agency On Demand Office Hour Replay

Agency On Demand Office Hour Replay

[scheduled onetime="2024/02/29" time="12:00 PM" length="0:3:0:0" msg="If you're seeing this that means you are in the right place for the call replay but at the wrong time! Please note that the video is available for replay for only 3 days....

Agency On Demand Office Hour Replay

Agency On Demand Office Hour Replay

[scheduled onetime="2024/02/29" time="12:00 PM" length="0:3:0:0" msg="If you're seeing this that means you are in the right place for the call replay but at the wrong time! Please note that the video is available for replay for only 3 days....

Agency On Demand Office Hour Replay

Agency On Demand Office Hour Replay

[scheduled onetime="2024/02/29" time="12:00 PM" length="0:3:0:0" msg="If you're seeing this that means you are in the right place for the call replay but at the wrong time! Please note that the video is available for replay for only 3 days....

You are amazing!
Success starts here!
Raise your rates!
Create your dream schedule!

Pin It on Pinterest