[MzSchell]

Hi all! I hope everyone is doing well today. I am trying to put myself on a schedule - a time to go to bed, to get up, to go to work, workout, dinner, etc... The problem is... I live alone. Does anyone have any trips/tricks they can share with me to help me keep myself on track?

Thanks in advance. You're all amazing!

[Nessa213]

For the longest time I had to write down my entire schedule for the day... like pretty much down to the minute. And literally write it down and hang it on the fridge. (mine was always in the form of post it notes sprinkled randomly throughout the house... it was an organized type of chaos)

Like:
8:31am: wake up (no no literally... I have this weird superstitious thing about setting my alarm for a "normal" time... don't ask)
8:32 to 8:40: read emails on phone
8:41 to 9:15: shower/brush teeth

And so on and so on. It really helped me feel like I was accomplishing something particularly when I was unemployed and everything in my life was just sort of... drifting. Going to bed at a reasonable time was always the hardest thing for me. Still is. I always find that I'm far more motivated at midnight or 1am than I could ever hope to be during the day. So sometimes I give in to that. Even though I know I really shouldn't.

I just recently got out of this habit actually. But I did it for YEARS. Really once I had my daughter my schedule just didn't stand a chance!

[A Red Panda]

I live on my own too. I find that it's best to keep things as simple as possible.

I know what time I naturally wake up at and what time I need to leave for work at. So my alarm is set for around the time I wake up naturally - as it gives me 2 hours to get ready and relax in the morning. Of course, I rarely wake up to the alarm because I'm already awake!

Knowing that time, I worked back roughly what time I would need to go to sleep at to get my 8 hours - so I go to bed before then and read to relax so that I'm ready to sleep.

I typically have a 5-6pm supper time because that's what I was raised with - figured I may as well stick to what I am used to.

Just see what's pretty much a habit already, and then try to keep to it even on days when you might not feel like it!

(You could also put up a to-do list somewhere)

[MzSchell]

Thank you for the input. I, too, have a hard time going to bed at a decent hour. Night time is really when my mind goes into overdrive (go figure). Cheshire, I wish I had a natural wake time, LOL. I like both of your ideas though... make a schedule that doesn't change my "normal" routine too drastically, and post it! PS - I love post-it notes. Especially the colorful ones. *smiles*

[sugahorse1]

Set all of the times as an alarm on your phone. With regards to working out - get together with a partner to maybe run/walk/gym

[MzSchell]

sugahorse1 - fantastic idea! Thank you!