My Daily Routine (An Example of How to Find Work-Life Balance)

​Many people struggle with “what” to do daily.  

Identifying what to work on is a constant, daily struggle.

As a​ busy person, you’re faced with a seemingly infinite amount of opportunities. 

What do I write next? Do I need to answer the 40 emails in my inbox? Should I pursue a new project that might take my ​career to the next level? 

These are the questions you might wake up to every morning.

The problem is, we don’t have a boss telling use what’s important. Often, we began each day by working on the tasks that seemed urgent, but aren’t critical to the success of the business—like checking email or social media.  

​So if you’re having trouble coming up with ideas for your daily routine, then ​here is an example routine that I follow as an entrepreneur.

Why Does a Daily Routine Help

I used a simple (but effective) productivity hack. I start each day by identifying two to four critical tasks and adding them to my Most Important Tasks (MITs) list.

These are the tasks I work on first thing in the morning. The key here is to use specific metrics so I know whether I’ve accomplished my goals or not.

A great way to start your daily morning routine is by identifying two to four critical tasks and adding them to your Most Important Tasks (MITs) list.

As an example, I’ll create tasks like these:

• Write 2,000 words of the daily routine book.
• Record Youtube video for my new Steve Scott Show Channel
• Complete conversations 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 (each number represents a specific meeting).
• Create a new squeeze page for the Develop Good Habits blog.

This small daily action has had a positive impact on my business and personal life.

Each day, when I complete these tasks, I know the priority tasks have been accomplished. Even if something unexpected comes up in the afternoon, I know I’ve done the important tasks that drive my business forward.

Example of a My Daily Routine

Morning Routine

Usually, I’ll wake up at around 7 a.m. and immediately start my habit-stacking routine, which includes the following tasks:

• Making my bed (just like the book says to)
• Washing my face
• Drinking a pint of lemon water
• Preparing and drinking a nutritious smoothie (like this green juice product.)
• Reviewing my goals
• Writing down two to four important tasks for the day

I end this routine by completing a new habit I’m trying to build into my life. For example, I’m currently trying to master the 10-minute declutter habit.

Around 7:30 a.m., I head out for a walk. I always bring my iPhone to use the Stitcher app to listen to a variety of podcasts on topics such as self-publishing, internet marketing, investing and other motivational podcasts.

Also, I keep the Evernote app in a key location on my phone—in case I want to record an idea from one of these podcasts

From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., I do my first (and sometimes only) block of writing. Usually, I work on a Kindle book, blog post or piece of content. On occasion, I’ll write something for my own personal enjoyment.

From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., I’ll do a few different things: work on a project, reply to messages from key members of my team or complete a number of small tasks. These activities typically relate to items on my MITs list. The benefit here is that they provide a break from writing, but they also help me improve my business.

(If you're looking for other morning routine options, check out the SAVERS method used in The Miracle Morning.)

Afternoon Routine

From 11 a.m. to noon, I’ll relax a little by eating lunch, reading a nonfiction book for 30 minutes, running a few errands or driving to a nearby Starbucks coffeehouse to get out of the house.

The 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. time-slot is very flexible. Depending on the day (and specific deadlines), I do a number of things: write for a few more hours, clear out my email inbox, work through the steps of a current project, record a few podcast episodes or outline a future idea.

Evening Routine

Six p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (or sometimes 8:30) is exercise time. I either do another walk (usually with my wife) or go for a run. If I’m training for a marathon, sometimes the long run will extend into the evening.

After 8 p.m. is relaxation time. My wife and I will eat dinner, do a little cleaning and basically unwind for the rest of the night.

At 11 p.m., I’ll go to bed and do a little bit of fiction reading. I usually fall asleep around 11:30 p.m.

Exercise is an important part of my daily routine. 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (or sometimes 8:30) is exercise time.

If you want to learn about improving the way you spend your evenings, here's our guide on how to create a good evening routine.

Special Considerations

The above was a “normal” day, but there are few weekly events that impact how my workday is structured.

I like to time-block my week so all conversations (podcast interviews, masterminds, collaborative sessions, and networking) happen on Wednesdays. I typically have anywhere from two to six conversations on this day. As an introvert, having regular conversations requires a lot of energy, so I prefer to get them all done in a single day.

Every other Thursday, I drive down to my parents’, which is an hour and a half from my home. Once there, my entire family goes to dinner. Then I spend the night at their place and we see a movie together the next the afternoon.

Finally, my Fridays are very flexible. Sometimes I’ll work the whole day, but on other days I’ll do a few things in the morning, then relax for the rest of the day and most of the weekend.

What Does YOUR Daily Routine Look Like?

Now that I have told you my daily routine, I’d love to hear about what YOURS looks like.  In the comment section below, describe the habits you use every single day…

To learn more, I encourage you to check out Level Up Your Day: How to Maximize the 6 Essential Areas of Your Daily Routine to find that balance in your daily activities. It is far more than me talking about my daily routines but dives deep into the things that any successful self-starter, work-at-home, freelancer or entrepreneur can use to achieve success.

For more help in maintaining your daily routine, check out this post showing different printable daily checklist templates.

Finally, if you want the perfect morning routine, then check out this seven-step process for creating a morning routine that will become a vital part of your daily life.)

Like this post?

Then share the below image on your favorite social media website (like Pinterest)!