As a campaigner, TV broadcaster and mum of two, Katie Piper knows a thing or two about time management. For her, having a consistent routine means building a good foundation for the rest of your day.
‘Sometimes the word routine can be associated with monotony or being a little bit boring, but actually it’s the opposite. I think routine brings stability and when you’re more stable you make good decisions and you can invite good things into your life.’ She says.
There’s no one-size-fits-all routine for fitness, health or any other part of wellness. But there are some strategies you can use to stick to your goals, no matter what they are.
1. Prep the night before
Katie’s approach focuses on prepping – doing as much as you can when you’ve got spare time, so you can go on ‘autopilot’ when you’re actually rushed.
For example, she recommends writing the next day’s to-do list and keeping it by your bed, so when you wake up ‘it’s like having your own personal assistant to remind you’.
She also sets out her clothes for the day along with her morning vitamins.
2. Get organised
Remembering the steps in your routine in one thing, but how do you actually get yourself to go to the gym, or cook that healthy meal? Most of us would probably say motivation, but Katie says that’s only half of it:
‘Motivation is never really what keeps us accountable – that’s always discipline. To be disciplined you need time, and to create time you need to be organised and consistent.’
3. Stick to timings
Whether your day starts at 6am or 10am, keeping to roughly the same time for things like morning workouts can help you stay consistent in your new healthy habits.
Katie wakes up at 5am for her morning routine, mainly because ‘with kids, sleeping in isn’t really an option, you just get used to getting up early.’ It also means she’s out for her morning run ‘before everyone else is awake’ while it’s still quiet.
4. Show up every day
With any part of your health or wellness, it’ll take a little while before you start seeing results. Whether you’re looking for more energy, better fitness, or less stress, both your body and mind will need time to adjust to the change.
‘Because there’s no one tablet or pill that you take once and that’s the answer – it’s about you showing up repeatedly and doing something day in, day out to get those results.’
For Katie, sticking to her routine is about more than just getting to work on time. She’s found that the discipline needed to manage all these different parts of her life has had a hugely positive impact on her mental wellbeing.
‘There’s a whole mindset thing about respecting my body, respecting my health and if I try and do it in all different areas of my life, it makes it so much easier in other areas where I lack that discipline.
‘Consistency gives me confidence. Consistently showing up, consistently treating myself well, consistently making an effort with the right friendships.’
Her routine gives her the stability she needs to cope with unexpected stress, and makes her feel empowered and in control of her own life.
‘But I’d never want anyone to think that I’ve cracked it, and I’m like that every single day. I definitely have days where I’m tired in the evening so I don’t prep a lunchbox […] or when I’m away for work and don’t pack my vitamins, it’s like my whole routine’s out of sync.’
‘For me it’s about organisation and time management, they’re so important. But it’s also about being gentle so when things do go wrong to not be hard on yourself.’
January 1st isn’t the only time you can start with a new habit. All you need is the desire to make a change and take that first step.
Try out some of Katie’s tips for sticking to your new routine and it’ll become second nature before you know it.
‘It’s never too late to prioritise yourself and it’s never too late to start a new routine’
