Discipline Task One | Master Your Routine
TASK ONE of the 14-day restart is Master Your Routine. I need to reset my routine because my life is currently full of procrastination and wasted days. I’ve realised that these patterns aren't helping me make progress towards the life I want. So, I need to create structure and consistency. One way to do this is to build a solid routine. Routine is essentially a way to train me to prioritise what matters.
According to Irish Defence Reddit, in recruit training, they’re expected to be on programme from 7:30 until at least 22:00. After that, they get their phones back for personal time. Creating a routine where I am productive between these times would help cut out a lot of my time-wasting habits. Without the stimulation of a phone, I will be forced to pick up actual hobbies and maintenance tasks. Once the habit pattern is set, it’s easier to keep moving forward.
That’s when the future starts looking brighter.
Being able to master a routine shows stacked-up progress.
A routine can be ticked off, which shows the steady daily effort put into a goal and daily obligations. For example, one of my main goals is to become fitter by building muscle. This requires me to both meal prep each week and do daily fitness activities. Visually seeing my daily effort is also a good motivator to keep trying.
Another massive goal of mine is to be self-employed and completely financially free. In the beginning, everything can feel overwhelming as there is no sight of success, but routine is one way to break a goal down into something achievable. Each new habit achieved will chip away at the current person I am and shape me into someone better. Habits formed through routine become automatic, so eventually, the new habits feel less like chores and more like instinct. I won’t be grappling with my emotions every day. I will be making the change needed in my life.
These goals don’t feel huge right now. However, brick by brick, I will build a stronger body and possibly a business. Anyone who’s achieved something big leans on routines to turn ambition into results, so I’m on the right path. Not necessarily the shortest route, but it’s progress.
On a last note, it's important to understand that flexibility matters because I must be adaptable to the unexpected. No two twenty-four hours are the same; each day brings its own issues, mistakes happen, and life changes based on what God wants to throw at me. When routine is intentional and tied to my goals, it’s a tool to shape tomorrow. Through this, I deal with procrastination and create a better future. So I'm giving myself a chance of success by building a routine aligned with who I want to be.
