Daily Habits List To Balance Your Day (and My Day)

This post was most recently updated on August 24th, 2023

[A collaboration post – all thoughts are my own.]

With so many people struggling with “what” to do daily, creating a daily habits list is a simple and effective way to build consistency when it comes to your health. Everything from what you do first in the morning to what you do last at night plays an important role in your overall health.

As a busy person, you’re faced with a seemingly infinite number of opportunities. What should I do next? Do I need to reply to the 25 emails in my inbox? Should I finish this project that might take me two hours working today?

These are the questions I have every morning. The problem is, I don’t have a boss telling me what to do. I began each day by working on tasks that had tight deadlines, like translating stories. Whatever it is, working two jobs is hard so I need to balance my work and life situation.

Although it can be great to experiment with your daily habits and change everything at once, focusing on small habits and doing them on a daily basis is the best way to make your daily habits list last for the long term.

Morning routine

I usually wake up around 7 a.m., regardless of how late I slept, and begin my daily routine. This routine includes a series of tasks: making my bed, washing my face, and playing with my dogs. Making your bed not only tidies up your bedroom but also helps you become mentally prepared for the day ahead. While you don’t have to rise and shine with the sun every day, waking up at a decent hour is essential for maintaining good health.

After making my bed, I drink water before doing anything else. You’ve probably heard this many times: staying hydrated is vital for our health. However, it’s often overlooked. In fact, our bodies are composed of 60% water, and not drinking enough water can lead to fatigue, headaches, and increased cravings. One of the best times to drink water is in the morning, right after waking up. So, before start sipping on your morning coffee, make sure to have a glass of water.

At around 7:30 a.m., I head out for a walk, soaking up fresh air for a minimum of 15-30 minutes. Walking is one of the most underrated daily habits lists you can do. It’s not just about improving fitness; walking has been proven to improve your mood, and posture, as well as alleviate depression. What’s more, taking a stroll allows you to spend more time outdoors and exposes you to sunlight.

If you don’t like to walk alone, take your pets to accompany you. Natural daylight does wonders for your mental health. Other than that, many of us work sitting down and relax sitting down, so it is becoming more important that we create ways to move our bodies.

From 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., I clean the house and have breakfast before taking a shower. I always make sure I’m fresh before I start working at home.

From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., I’ll do a few different things: I do my translation work or other projects like subtitling or transcription. Usually, I take 2-3 projects every month and each has a target number of words or minutes per week. I also reply to my clients or complete a number of small tasks. Sometimes, I also braindump for my own personal enjoyment.

Afternoon routine

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., I manage my blogs: writing, planning, creating, scheduling, etc. Then relax a little by eating lunch, reading a book, or making a cup of coffee.

The 2 p.m., to 4 p.m., is very flexible. Depending on the day (and deadlines), I do a number of things: write for a few hours, check emails, and clear them so my inbox doesn’t fill up with junk. I checked at least 5-6 emails in a day: an email for subscribing stuff, an email for personal stuff, two emails for blogs, and two emails more for translation work. Make sure you don’t miss anything important when checking your emails.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., my schedule is quite flexible. It varies depending on the day’s demands and deadlines. During this time, I engage in a variety of activities. I dedicate a chunk of hours to writing, and together, I check my inbox, ensuring that it doesn’t become a storehouse for unnecessary clutter.

On average, I manage to go through around 5 to 6 emails daily. This contains a subscription-related email, a personal correspondence, a couple of emails connected to my blogs, and another pair dedicated to translation work. It’s essential to be thorough while reviewing emails so as not to overlook any vital information.

Sometimes I take a nap between 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and walk my dog in the evening. Clean the house twice in the morning and evening then feed my dogs. I make sure to take a shower before 6 p.m. and then pray.

Occasionally, I find myself taking a nap between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Following that, I take my dog for a walk in the evening. I engage in house cleaning both in the morning and evening, ensuring the living space is tidy. Additionally, I make it a point to feed my dogs. Before 6 p.m., I make sure to take a shower, followed by my evening prayer.

Evening routine

From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. is relaxation time. I eat dinner, watch Netflix, read a book, brain dump, play with my dogs, and basically unwind. I also check my social media for 15-20 minutes then a little bit working on my blogs or checking if there are any small tasks I can do before going to bed.

Between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., it’s time for relaxation. I enjoy a leisurely dinner, indulge in Netflix shows, immerse myself in a good book, and conduct a brain dump to declutter my thoughts. Playing with my dogs is an essential part of unwinding for me. During this period, I also allocate about 15 to 20 minutes to check my social media accounts. Additionally, I dedicate some time to work on my blogs or tackle any small tasks that may need attention before turning in for the night.

I usually go to sleep around 12 a.m. after reading for a few hours.

The above was a normal day, but there are days that impact how my workday is structured. As an introvert, I enjoy working alone having regular 2-3 times visits to the nearby coffee shop, and working from there.

Finally, my weekends are very flexible. Sometimes, I’ll work half-day, but on the other days, I’ll go outside with my mom or alone; whether to meet my friend and see a movie together or enjoy a self-care weekend.

Basically, I focus on work stuff from Monday to Friday and take care of myself (more) on the weekends. I try to do my best by writing down the tasks so I can keep tracking them and review everything by the end of the week.

What do your daily habits look like?