Our morning and evening routines explained

I recently asked my friends on Instagram what sort of content would help them when it comes to life at home. The one reply that came back a few times was ‘routines”.

My husband Rom and I have been running our household on routines for as long as I can remember. Without them, I don’t think I’d feel as in control or that life at home would be as harmonious and as streamlined as it currently feels. Routines also help me reduce stress and as I suffer from anxiety, they’re a great way to keep me feeling calm and reassured.

Although we have never been rigid with our routines and have always allowed room for flexibility, it is important, in my opinion, to have a foundation and s framework to stick by, with space for variation and life’s eventualities.

Our children have adjusted to the routines we’ve set for them, and learned the art of good time management through them. Knowing that they only get a certain amount of screen time, for example, is a great way to teach them discipline when it comes to technology. Ensuring that homework is done by a certain time, and before playtime, is also important.

Here are our morning and evening routines, for most weekdays. Of course some days will look different – tennis lessons, tuition and other activities may affect our routines, but the ‘foundation’ tends to stay the same.

Here are few tips to get you started with routines:

1. Create a good bedtime routine.

…Especially for your younger kids. Sleep is extremely important. Opinions vary on how much sleep children actually need, and this also depends on age. But I would say a minimum of 9 hours is a good amount.

2. Be flexible, not rigid.

…And don’t beat yourself up if things don’t always go according to plan. Running a bit behind on housework? Don’t worry about it. It will get done eventually. Finding it hard to spend quality time with each of your children? It’s not the end of the world. There will always be other occasions to have s proper catch up or some time to play.

3. Make time for yourself.

Your daily routine should include your own little downtime moments, time for yourself, for self-care. Don’t just think of the children. Allocate yourself some me-time, and of course time with your partner/spouse too.

4. Plan and organise things in advance.

I find it so much easier to tackle my daily routines and tasks when I plan well in advance. It could be anything from doing some meal prep to setting the breakfast table the night before to avoid chaotic mornings. Anything to make my life a little bit easier.

5. Utilise each hour of the day in the way that suits you best.

And no, I don’t mean overwork yourself and be ultra-productive at all times. What I mean is: Make the most of each hour of the day, in a way that will make you feel good at the end of it. I know for example that if I have a lot of content to create and I’ve not really factored in any time for it in my day, I may decide to utilise some of the time I allocated to housework to get it done. Housework, content creation… I know which one I’d rather spend time doing!