How To Create a Routine When You Don’t Have a Set Schedule

On this blog, I talk a lot about the importance of routines and how they work for me. I’ve learned that I perform best when I have schedules to stick to, and I’ve shared tips on how to create a routine when you don’t have any externally enforced structure.

But what do you do when your schedule isn’t fixed? How do you set routines when the structure of your days changes inconsistently?

First, it’s important to keep in mind that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Everyone’s needs are different, and not everyone works well with routines. And that’s totally fine!

But if you perform best within the structure of routines and are simply struggling to carve out that structure because of fluctuating schedules, here are some strategies that may help. 

Starting with “Why”

Before we get into the actual routine building, let’s talk about the motivation behind it. Why do you want to create a routine in the first place? What do you hope this routine will help you accomplish?

• Do you want to make time for a hobby?
• Are you trying to regain a sense of control over your shifting schedule? 
• Are you struggling to be consistent with a particular habit?
• Do you want to make better use of your free time?

Answering these questions will help you decide what kind of routine you need and boost your motivation to stick with it. 

Creating Routines Without a Fixed Schedule

Once you have your reason to create a routine nailed down, it’s time to evaluate your schedule and determine how to build routines around it. Whether your schedule changes daily, weekly, or at irregular intervals, there are a few approaches you can take.

Create Routines for Small but Consistent Windows of Time

Even if your schedule changes daily, there are probably a few pockets of time that remain fairly consistent. These might include:

• The first 30-60 minutes after you wake up
• The last few hours before you go to bed
• The start or end of your workday
• Mealtimes

Setting routines for these recurring windows of time can help you feel like you’re on top of things, even if the rest of your schedule remains inconsistent. Start by identifying when those windows occur, and then decide what you want to do with them.

Instead of trying to stuff a ton of extra activities into these time pockets, however, consider choosing a few simple habits that would make them more enjoyable and effective. 

Maybe you want to start your day by taking a few minutes to jot down a to-do list. Or maybe you want to set aside an hour or so after you get home in the evenings for mindless relaxation. 

Regardless, you don’t have to have a consistent schedule to build structure into your days — you just need to identify and take advantage of a few structured blocks here and there. 

Create Routines for Different Types of Days

If you don’t have the same schedule day in and day out, you may still have recurring “types” of daily schedules. Like work days and days off from work. Or days when you have lots of energy and days when you have none. Or days when your task list is overflowing and days when you only have a few things to accomplish. 

Take a look at your typical week (or month, even) and try to categorize the types of days you tend to have, even if they don’t always occur on the same day of the week. Then set routines based on those categories.

For example, you might create two different morning routines: one for days when you have to rush out the door and one for days when you get to sleep in. Or you might make a list of leisure activities or hobbies to pick up on days when you have unexpected free time. 

Create a Routine by Pairing Habits

When trying to form a new habit, it can be helpful to pair it with a habit you’ve already established. That way, you have a built-in trigger to kick off the new one: “After I do [Habit #1], I will do [Habit #2].” 

For example, if you’re trying to build a consistent journaling habit, you might choose to spend a few minutes journaling after you brush your teeth each morning or evening. 

Another way to stack habits into routines is to pair enjoyable tasks with less enjoyable ones, like listening to an audiobook or podcast while you do housework. 

For best results, only allow yourself to do the enjoyable task while doing the not-so-enjoyable one (or after it, if they can’t be done simultaneously). That way, the two tasks become one routine, and you’re much more likely to take time for both. 

Create Non-Time-Bound Routines

We often think of routines as something we do at the same time every day or week. But when your schedule has no consistent blocks of time to work with, you may need to separate routines from time altogether. 

In other words, create a routine based on what you do, not when you do it. 

Instead of a “morning routine,” group a few habits you’d ideally like to do sometime in the mornings and label the routine according to those tasks. Maybe it’s a mindfulness routine that includes journaling, meditation, and goal-setting. Or maybe it’s a health maintenance routine that includes things like working out and preparing a nutritious meal. 

By creating routines that aren’t time-bound, you free yourself from the pressure to complete them at a certain time. Instead, you can fit them in whenever your shifting schedule allows.

Create Abridged Versions

The more tasks you try to stuff into a routine, the harder it’s going to be to stick with that routine, especially if you can’t set aside the same block of time each day or week to focus on it. 

In that case, it can be helpful to create two versions of your routine: a full version and an abridged version. The full version includes all the tasks you would like to include in your routine on an ideal day, while the abridged version includes only the essentials. 

I do this with my weekly resets. Each item on the checklist is marked as either essential or optional. When I have plenty of time and energy, I complete everything. When I’m pressed for time or low on energy, I skip the “optional” ones. 

However, there is a caveat here. If you find yourself skipping the “optional” tasks more often than not, it may be time to re-evaluate whether they belong on the list at all.

Finding Structure in Inconsistency

It can be tricky to create a routine when your schedule is inconsistent, and even trickier to stick with that routine for the long haul. But it can be done! 

Start by examining what, specifically, you want your routines to help you accomplish. Then create a routine that provides just the right balance of structure and flexibility. 

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