Routines: The Real Source of Sustainable Happiness

How structure, not motivation, creates happiness, stability, and progress.

Did you know a routine will skyrocket your mental health, and more...

I’ve struggled a lot with my happiness.

I, like most people, have tried to chase happiness and joy.

And society continues to promote this ideal of being happy, do what makes you happy, aspire to achieve happiness, but no one ever tells you HOW to CREATE happiness.

Turns out happiness is developed in productivity, whenever you feel like you’re making progress in life and becoming an active participant in building a life worthwhile for yourself you will create happiness.

Happiness comes from your consistent focus on growth and development as an individual.

Identity First, Then Routine

A good routine is based on a good identity:

A good routine is based on who you are.

I don’t wake up at 5 am because it's fun.

I wake up at 5 am because.

I'm an entrepreneur and I need the additional time in my day to get more things done because I don't operate in a 9-5 schedule.

As you stay in a routine, it develops further.

It becomes a cycle where your routine reflects who you want to be until it becomes who you are.

The Science of Achievement and Happiness

Scientifically speaking Dopamine is released whenever you accomplish a task, it lights up what’s called the achievement center of the brain.

This is responsible for making us feel great, whenever we can complete a specific task.

Being able to achieve on a consistent basis is a sustainable form of happiness.

Does it mean you need to over exert yourself to find happiness?

No, but it does mean you need to show up daily and challenge yourself to be productive to create sustained happiness.

So go out, build a routine and achieve things daily, watch how quickly your life and mental health shift!

Why Routines Improve Mental Health

Like I said, routines help with mental health.

Carrying out routine activities reduces stress by making the situation appear more controllable and predictable.

Daily routines improve workflow organization, boost focus, and lessen stress.

Additionally, routines help people form healthy habits, provide a framework for managing their time and daily tasks, and create a sense of continuity—even in the face of challenges.

The Primer on the Wall

A routine is the primer on your wall before you add the paint.

It gets you ready for the hard work to follow.

If you don’t add primer to the wall, your paint soaks into the wall and it is messier.

If you put the primer, you are ready to have an easy job ahead of you.

Your day is set up for success by minimizing distractions when you follow through with your plan, act consistently, and match your actions to your goals.

When you develop a good routine, you are able to handle anything that comes your way because you are primed and ready.

Match Your Routine to Your Goals

Your routine should be an enhancer to everything that you are doing.

If you want to be fit, drink water, go to the gym, and sleep more.

Your routine should match the goals you have set (aka your identity you want or are on the way to achieve).

How to Build a Routine

A routine is formed in a few easy steps:

Audit your current life, define what your life is currently like.

Clearly Define the Outcomes you want to achieve.

Identify actions to take daily to help you achieve the outcomes.

Match your environment to your desired outcome.

Create an action plan & outline the routine to build.

Do it.

Routine leads to habit formation.

Routines are standards.

Your standards are reflected in the life you are currently living.

Routines allow you to organize your schedule and stay task oriented.

What Successful People Do

Notable stats on routines:

92% of highly successful people have a solid morning routine.

88% of wealthy people dedicate at least 30 minutes daily to reading.

63% of successful people set an alarm at night and wake up early.

The 21-Day Habit Myth

Lastly, stop believing in the lies you've been told:

It doesn’t take 21 days to form a habit, research shows it can take between 18 to 254 days to form a habit, it really depends on the kind of person you are, the average is actually 66 days.

I made an instagram reel (1min video) on this and it was my first video to ever go viral.Check it out here: It Doesn't take 21 days to form a Habit Reel

It doesn’t take 21 days to form a habit, that's a buzz number that people put out to encourage you to stick to something for a month.

The truth is you most likely will not create a habit in 21 days, but you will 100% be on the road to better results!

If you're a nerd like I am, check out this really cool research on the science of habit formation.It breaks down some FUNDAMENTALS you'll need when creating a better life for yourself!Click here: Science on Habit Formation

Closing Thought

Until next time, I'm rooting for your success, and I encourage you to keep striving for that version of you that you know you can become!