My Daily Routine Checklist for Becoming My Best Self This Year

Looking for a daily routine example to inspire yours? Here’s my daily routine checklist, step by step, for this year.

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A few of my friends asked how I was planning for the year, and my response was, “I’m going to be my healthiest, most productive, and relaxed self.”

Now, while that sounds vague, I know exactly what I mean—and you will too in a bit.

In fact, a week before last year ended, I started thinking about the dream life I want to create in the next 12 months and what productive habits would get me there. 

Today, I’m spilling the tea on how I’m structuring my days to become the best version of myself this year. 

And no, this isn’t just another aesthetic morning routine. This is the mindful strategy I will use to improve my life.  

Ready for my step-by-step daily routine checklist for productivity? 

Note: This only applies to weekdays, as I now spend my weekends resting, hanging out, and resetting. 

6:45 AM: Starting with Intention

The first few moments of our day set the tone for everything that follows. 

When my alarm goes off at 6:45am, I know it’s time to get up. 

I’ve learned that being intentional means being present. So I start by observing reality, pausing in bed for a couple of minutes to acknowledge my surroundings, the chirping of birds, and the smell of a fresh, new day.

The next thing is to go through my devotional app and say my morning prayers. If you’re a Christian who’s interested in morning worship, you’ll love the YouBible app.

And finally, as I get out of bed, I always make my bed. It’s such a small act, but it gives me that first little victory of the day.

6:55 AM: The Warm Water Ritual

One of my game-changing discoveries during the holiday season was the amazing benefits of warm water for my digestive health. 

So, immediately after I step out of bed, I head to the kitchen to boil some water or get it from my new water dispenser (I’m obsessed!). 

While the water’s heating up, I brush my teeth and wash my face.

7:05 AM: Journal Time

With my warm cup of water in hand, I settle into a corner of my workspace with my journal. 

I’m naturally a paper-and-pen type of girl, but this year, I’m using an app. The Journal app on my iPhone is so cool. 

The app gives you prompts, but I’m not using theirs because I’m following these 365-day self-discovery prompts. Every daily entry is a mix of these prompts (in the morning) and a summary of my day (in the evening).

On this app, I can choose my mood (based on a list of criteria), add a voice note, include an image, and tag a location. And for privacy’s sake, I can lock my journal. 

The best part is that it counts streaks, the number of words written, and the days journaled.

I set a timer for five minutes, paste in my prompt, and answer honestly. If I need to express myself beyond words, I add a voice note.

Five minutes might not seem like much, but what matters is starting a journaling habit. It’s amazing what can flow onto pages when you make space to express yourself. 

7:10 AM: Metabolism Triggers

You might be wondering why I’m not talking about my hyped 2-hour productivity sprint. This year, I plan to give it a rest because I’ve reached a comfortable level in my career. Now, I’m focused on starting with mindfulness. 

I wasn’t in the best of health last year, and the core of my problem was low metabolism, poor eating habits, and little movement. 

Now, I start my days with exercises that boost my metabolism and energy. 

Here’s my current workout split:

• 250 jump rope skips—done in 5 sets and usually takes 10 minutes max. It’s amazing for cardio. After three months, I’m looking to try a weighted jump rope for enhanced results.
• 5-minute targeted workout (I rotate between booty, legs, back, core, and especially arms)
• Breathers between sets while hip-hop music plays from my headset.

Before I start, I take pre-workout supplements—Oxyshred (try the mango or kiwi strawberry flavor. They taste amazing!) or Creatine. But sometimes I’ll switch things up with some high-protein smoothie or eat fresh fruits, preferably 2 bananas or an apple. 

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Remember when I mentioned being intentional this year?

This life planner is literally “intentionality made simple.” It’s the command center (in the form of one simplified, aesthetic spreadsheet) that will help you:

• Map out your “that girl” journey step by step
• Track daily wins (like morning workouts and daily steps)
• Monitor your progress in every area of life (because real growth is holistic)
• Stay accountable to your goals

7:30 AM: Making Breakfast

I prep my meals in advance on my weekly reset days to avoid spending so much time cooking during the week. 

But, sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. Plus, prepping meals doesn’t always mean the food is “ready to eat.” It just sometimes means, “It will be faster to prepare because you’ve made all the necessary things ready.”

If I’m making something that needs cooking time, like rice and chicken sauce, I use those precious minutes to tidy up my house while the food cooks. 

On sandwich or noodle days, I flip the script and clean the house first, then prepare my quick meal.

8:00 AM: Self-Care Time

The “old” me would allot 15 minutes (max) to this. I can bathe in 5 minutes. I can be ready in 5, for real. I can eat in 7 minutes. It’s my rest time after meals that takes time. 

But I’m not this girl anymore. 

I want to be more mindful about my life, body, feelings, and routines. I want to also feel more feminine because, well, I am.

And that includes taking time to actually enjoy self-care. It includes eating slowly enough to enjoy the taste of my food. 

Once I’m done taking a shower, I slip into something that inspires me to work but is still super comfy. How you dress to work (including your home office) matters. It’s a contributing factor to a productive work day or week.  

Then, I sit down to eat my breakfast—no rushing, no scrolling, just me being present with my food and thoughts.

8:40 AM: Work Mode Activation

By this time, I’m energized, centered, and ready to tackle my workday. 

The first thing I do before heading into my home office is to fill up my 3-litre water bottle. That’s because staying hydrated throughout the day is non-negotiable.

One of my biggest work productivity hacks as someone with ADHD is:

Keeping a “reward station” right at my desk! 

I always have a cold drink (usually infused water, yogurt, and teas—ginger tea, green tea, or matcha tea), some sweets, and healthy snacks within reach.

These little treats work like mini rewards throughout my afternoon work session, helping me stay focused without getting distracted by kitchen runs. 

12:00-12:45 PM: Mindful Break & Lunch

Let’s be real—sitting at a desk all morning can make anyone (me) feel stiff and tired! 

That’s why my midday break is crucial. I make it a point to get up, stretch those muscles, and do something that brings a smile to my face—and, of course, some strength to my stomach.

Sometimes it’s a quick Instagram getaway (don’t judge), reading an episode on Cosmopolitan, catching up with my friends in the chats, or re-reading some of my best posts.

Preparing lunch is an important part of my day because it’s when I eat my biggest/heaviest meal. And I love to do it on my couch (and sadly, not the aesthetic dining set I got for that very purpose). 

I’ve noticed that taking actual lunch breaks (not desk lunches) makes such a difference in my afternoon productivity and overall mood.

4:00 PM: Mindful Work Close-Out

By 4 PM, I start wrapping up work for the day. 

This isn’t just about closing laptop tabs; it’s about creating a clean slate for tomorrow. That means clearing my desk (bye-bye, random sticky notes!), organizing my drawers and pen cups, carrying used mugs to the kitchen, and emptying my mini bin.

For the next 30 minutes, I do absolutely nothing work-related to let my mind transition from work mode to me-time. Sometimes I just lay on my yoga mat and breathe. Other times I scroll through Pinterest to save aesthetic inspo.

4:40 PM: Kitchen Therapy

This year, I’m being super intentional about my relationship with food. No more random snacking or skipping meals! 

I use this time to prepare dinner. While my food is cooking, I tackle any dishes that have accumulated (because waking up to a clean kitchen is literally one of the best feelings ever). 

Between stirring pots and washing dishes, I catch up on my favorite podcasts or just put on my music playlist.

5:30 PM: Evening Walk Adventure

I started this year with the 75 Soft challenge, and I feel proud for taking this step. 

As someone who spends most days at my desk, these evening walks are my way of showing my body some love. I’m doing all I can to up my metabolism, shrink my waist, and have a flat tummy—in summary, be in my “fit girl” era. 

A core part of my 45-minute workout is getting 10,000 steps every day. My workout time is actually 60 minutes. The walk takes 40 minutes, and my morning workout routine (as explained above) takes 20.

I use this (evening walk) time to appreciate nature and enjoy the cool evening breeze.

6:15 PM: Shower, Dinner & Netflix

Once I get home, I head straight into the shower for a refreshing evening bath, followed by dinner. 

This is when I allow myself to fully unwind with some Netflix series. There’s something so cozy about enjoying a warm meal while watching your favorite show. 

8:30 PM: Gentle Wind-Down

As the day starts winding down, I prepare for sleep. Lay my bed, set my pillows, include a summary of my day in my journaling app (it takes roughly five minutes), and read a chapter of a book. 

I read a chapter, which is usually 7-8 pages, as opposed to reading 10 pages like the 75 Soft Rules states because starting chapters without finishing them confuses me and affects my next read. 

Reading books is such a lovely way to disconnect from screens and get lost in another world for a while. And, I mean, any genre. Romance books. fiction novels. self-improvement books…

10:00 PM: Connection Time

This might be my favorite part of the day—nightly catch-up with my partner. 

While we text throughout the day, this is our special time for real, uninterrupted conversations. 

Sometimes we share our day’s highlights, plan future adventures, or just laugh silly about random things. And these deep conversations and questions fill my heart with so much joy.

11:00 PM: Sweet Dreams

I like to wrap up my call some 10 minutes before 11pm. This gives me time to log out of chat mode and settle into sleep mode. Then, I enjoy a precious 7 hours and 45 minutes of sleep. 

I’ve learned that quality sleep is the foundation of everything else in my routine. You wake up feeling productive and less anxious when you get adequate sleep. So, I protect these hours fiercely.

The Gist Summary: My Daily Routine Checklist

And there you have it—my complete daily routine! 

Becoming “that girl” isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating sustainable habits that make you feel amazing from the inside out. 

This routine works for me because I’ve built it around what truly matters to my well-being. More so, it has evolved over time, and I’m sure it will continue to change as I grow and learn more about myself.

The vital thing is to find what works for you. So, take inspiration from my checklist and create a daily routine that makes you super pumped about your life goals. If you love this routine and want to create your own success system, get the All-in-One Life Planner to achieve your dream life with intentionality.