Want to create routines, habits, and rituals that can transform your life?

A successful day often starts with intentional routines. Following the philosophy of the Indian Proverb A House With Four Rooms is an easy way to create the routines that can make a huge impact on your life...with a bit of intention and planning, you can transform your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual areas of your life.

Having routines produces a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. People who have a routine are more likely to feel motivated because they know what they need to do to reach their goals. This motivation leads them to do better in all aspects of their lives, making them more productive, healthier, and more peaceful.

Running through your daily routine will help you build discipline and self-control, which are two key ingredients for success in life. When you implement these simple and small habits, you have the potential to be more successful with everything that you do, from choosing your meals to where you live, work, and play.

The following 7 simple routines are a few examples of routines that have had a huge impact on the people who follow them:

1.  Setting goals
Setting goals is one of the single most powerful habits you can create. Think of different areas of your life that could use a boost and create goals that will address them. I recommend a process I call TOP THREE. First, identify your top 3 goals; these are long-term goals for a month, a quarter, year, or beyond. Now, break the goals into milestone markers that can be used for celebrations. These milestones should be recorded on your calendar and in your journal.

The next step is to identify the top 3 things that must be completed to make progress towards accomplishing your TOP THREE goals. I've written other blogs about using Kaizen and the TOP THREE and also include them in my updated book  A House With Four Rooms: A Guide for Intentional Living with Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellbeing.

2.  Declutter
It is best to keep every area you live or work in tidy. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen for many of us. We are often too busy to clean all the time. At the very least, strive to keep the areas you spend the most time clutter-free. The philosophy of the Indian Proverb A House With Four Rooms is to do something daily for your physical wellbeing. Most people immediately think of their health; however, your physical space must also be attended to each day for complete wellbeing. Make it a routine to clean off your kitchen counters, put away laundry, and make your bed each day. You would be surprised how great you feel when you pick up the space around you.

3. Start Meditation
The key to meditation is doing it consistently for short periods of time. A time commitment of several hours is not needed. You’ll still get the benefits as long as you commit to spending at least a few minutes meditating each day. This practice is fantastic for "airing" your emotional and spiritual rooms. Why not take some time to sit outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature...breathe in the fresh air.                                                     

4. Be More Positive
The world is a negative place, and it’s easy to revert to negative thinking. The news and the internet are flooded with ideas that will keep you in the negative space. By writing down positive thoughts every day, you reframe your mind to think in this manner. Developing a Gratitude Practice is an easy place to start that can have a major impact on your perspective.

 A wonderful challenge comes from Living in a Complaint Free World: put a bracelet on your arm and each time you find yourself whining or complaining, switch the bracelet to your other arm. The challenge is to go 30 days without changing the bracelet from your chosen arm. Give it a try!

5. Give Other People Genuine Compliments
You will be amazed at how far this will go in boosting someone’s self-esteem. But, it does more than that. In many cases, we have to depend on others. Keeping harmonious relationships with others will go a long way in making this happen. Maya Angelou once said that people might not remember your name or what you did, but they will remember how you made them feel. 

6. Start a Sleep Routine
If you are someone who doesn’t sleep well at night, it may be because you don’t have a good routine. You should strive to get up and go to bed at the same time every day. When you do this, you are resetting your body’s natural “clock” to help you get better sleep. Studies have shown that having a good sleep routine improves your health and overall wellbeing. Recent reports have even said that a healthy sleep routine can help you lose weight!

7. Commit to Learning
You can choose anything you are interested in and then look for training centered around that skill. Look for videos on YouTube to get you started. But, as you progress, try formal instruction available on websites like edx.org, or Udemy.com. You can also join programs and groups to continue a goal of lifelong learning. A daily visit to your mental room can include reading, practicing a new skill or hobby, having a deep and thoughtful conversation, or stretching your knowledge in some way.

Imagine if you made a commitment to living an Intentional Life by including daily practice and routines that allow you to grow, experience more joy, and feel more confident. 

The philosophy of the Indian Proverb is simple: do something daily for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. By practicing Kaizen, making small, consistent steps towards your goals, you will reach them. 

I invite you to learn more with A House With Four Rooms: A Guide for Intentional Living with Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellbeing available from Amazon. Download your book, grab a notebook and pen, then complete the journal exercises that will help you discover, design, and develop your Intentional Life.

Until next time,

Lisa