15. How To Create Healthy Daily Routines To Reduce Stress and Overwhelm

🔁 "We are what we repeatedly do." - Aristotle.

What do your daily habits look like?

Those things that we do without even thinking about …

• Brushing our teeth
• Grabbing our phone
• Working out

Did you know that mindfully choosing our habits can reduce stress and overwhelm?

The key is choosing a handful of routines supporting physical and mental health.

Changing everything all at once can contribute to overwhelm. But if we replace a not-so-good habit with a better one and then, bit by bit, add a new habit, change can feel effortless.

Establishing routines helps us develop new habits that boost our health and wellness, reducing the mental drama and the resistance that often come with change.

🧠❤️ Routines create predictability, which our brains LOVE.

But when there are no routines, or they're inconsistent, we can choose based on what feels good in the moment rather than what's best: five minutes, five hours, or even five days from now.

If you've ever tried following a new meal plan, you know what I'm talking about. Motivation is great for getting us started, but we can run out of steam after just a few days.

▶️ Consistency is essential to achieving lasting change and guarantees our success in the long run.

We often become set in our ways and feel obligated to repeat the same actions daily.

Here's some good news → Just as we learned our current routines, we can also unlearn and relearn them.

Here's a lesson my clients appreciate most 👉 Don't start what you don't want to stop.

If you're starting a new healthy habit, it demands extra effort and planning. And it may take longer than you think it will.

BUT… know that your persistence will help it stick. Eventually, it will become something you do with little effort, like brushing your teeth before bed.

In this episode of The Overwhelm Cure podcast, you're getting a hefty dose of routine inspiration to help you create healthier habits both morning and night. They're super practical too — I think you'll love them!

If you've been trying to change some routines and the mind drama doesn't seem to subside, get in touch.

Website - kimberlyknull.com

Timestamps:

00:00 Reducing Overwhelm with Habits 00:51 The Power of Small, Consistent Actions 02:48 Building Practical Routines 05:18 Overcoming Resistance and Cognitive Distortions 06:37 The Importance of Consistency 08:51 Evaluating and Adjusting Your Routines 12:55 Replacing Unhelpful Habits 16:00 Designing Your Morning Routine 20:06 Designing Your Evening Routine 28:39 Maintaining New Habits and Avoiding Backsliding