About the Author:

Tyler Durbin is the lead author and editor here at GenYJourney.com.  Tyler shares his daily experiences as a recent college grad and young professional and loves to talk with readers and followers about theirs. Say something below in the comments or stop by Twitter and connect with @TylerDurbin.

Routines get such a bad reputation. So many people think that routines are restricting and keep us from living outside the box (what the hell does that mean, anyhow?). Having a routine actually allows us to accomplish more, in a more organized fashion, and a more timely matter — and helps to keep our sanity throughout the process. From that perspective, routines actually add value to our lives and let us, in fact, live our lives to the fullest.  We on the same page now? :)

Dedication > Motivation

Motivation is powerful! Motivation is also very hard to sustain. Dedication, on the other hand, is another monster and is something that is much easier to sustain over a period of time. You already know this but there are going to be times when you don’t feel like doing something. But when you put the time in to become dedicated to something, it becomes not just a habit but an unconscious addiction. After a little bit of time and effort, these undesirable responsibilities and tasks become as routine as your morning cup of joe!

Delegating Time

If you are anything like me, new stuff pops up all day long: emails, ideas, meetings, and numerous other la di das. Often times, these things require their own time to be thought out and considered. Do you really have extra time during your work day to take on all this extra stuff? Me neither…but this is important stuff so you can’t just forget it. Personally, I write everything down so that I can come back to it.  Sometimes that’s a sticky note but more times than not technology plays a role in helping me keep my shit together.

Digital To Do Lists:

Blackberry: Lister is a relatively easy to use Blackberry app that allows you to create and manage multiple lists. The app has a focus on usability so the entire process of creating lists is pretty user-friendly.

Android: I use Astrid on my Samsung Galaxy (Android Operating System).  The cool thing about Astrid is that the latest version has a widget you can put right on one of your main screens. Always visible!

iPhone: TeuxDeux is a super sweet app that has a ton of great reviews.  It is self-described as “designy” but its simplicity yet functionality makes this app awesome.

Gmail: You can’t go wrong with Gmail tasks. Plus, we all have Gmail accounts, right?

Since my phone is always with me, I stick to the mobile applications for management of my to-do list.  No matter where I’m at, I can pull out the phone and instantly create a note.

Find an Enabler

It may (or may not) be the same for all of us, but often times I find it hard to commit to a certain routine (i.e. working out each night after work). Knocking out difficult and important items takes momentum.

Creating Momentum:

Being in sales, everything I do is centered on momentum. When I make a sale, I use that excitement and confidence to go out and hit the streets to drum up more business. When it comes to working out, I always try to start my day with a solid breakfast and be sure to grab a healthy lunch; hopefully that will propel me into the gym at 5 p.m. Using that momentum makes these things more of a “want to” as opposed to a “have to”.

Break Down Barriers

We all have things in our life that hinder us from going above and beyond. Some of us have part-time jobs, pets, significant others, homes and possibly even children. We have more reasons not to do things than we even realize. So unless we break down those barriers we are holding ourselves back from accomplishments.  What can we do?

• Find an “accountabili-buddy”
• Mix up your routine to avoid boredom
• Reward your efforts!

Routines keep us sane. Routines keep us on the right track.  More importantly, we can use routines to help us accomplish the things that make our lives and careers much more fun and fulfilling.  How are you using routines?  What routines have you struggled to keep going?