The monthly routine to create (and maintain) your best life!

Do you have a monthly routine? Or are you, like so many others, just winging it and trying to keep up every month?

If your days and weeks are packed with to-do’s and appointments, chances are you don’t get to spend as much time as you want with loved ones or taking care of yourself. And — while you may be nailing your task list — not prioritizing quality time with yourself and others is no way to live your best life!

The trick to fitting all of your priorities into an already-packed schedule? Establish a monthly routine to maintain your relationships, take care of yourself, and get everything done.

Why is it important to have a monthly routine?

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, there’s no denying that we’re busier than ever. The best way to ensure you meet all your obligations and make the most of your life? Create a monthly routine you can plan around.

Routines are essential for developing habits for the long term. Establishing a monthly routine will not only help you prioritize all the things that matter to you in life, but it will also help you stay organized and focused to accomplish these priorities better. This can ultimately improve your productivity, help you stay disciplined, and enhance your overall well-being. 

How do you create the best monthly routine for the life you want?

In order to create a monthly routine to ensure you stay on top of all your obligations AND take care of yourself and your relationships, you will need to do some initial planning. 

The first step in creating your best monthly routine is to do a brain dump of everything you need and want to accomplish every month. Try to categorize all these to-do’s into buckets for tasks, relationships, and taking care of yourself. (More on that in a minute.)

Write it ALL down so you can create a routine that fits in all your priorities!

It’s important to include all aspects of your life when setting your priorities. Do not just focus on your obligations! Really take the time to reflect on activities that nurture your relationships and enhance your happiness. 

Ask yourself if you need to make quality time with your partner, your children, or yourself a more frequent part of your routine. What activities can you engage in and how often to really improve and maintain these relationships?

Set attainable monthly goals to motivate you to cultivate new skills or focus on self-discovery. Break down your long-term aspirations into small, bite-size steps and incorporate these into your monthly routine. 

By being intentional and defining your “why,” you make your monthly routine more meaningful and, therefore, more effective.

Lay out your priorities with your monthly calendar and start planning your month. I find it best to create a standard schedule for monthly recurring priorities that you can add to and edit each month going forward.

If you live with a long-term partner and/or have a family to care for, it’s crucial to set a routine that the whole family can count on. And, of course, work with your partner to “divide and conquer” the many parenting and adulting obligations.

How do you schedule your priorities?

If you need two half-day “life admin” sessions to get caught up on that growing pile of bills and paperwork, mark the first and third Saturday morning on your calendar to work on this while your partner takes your kids to run errands or attend sporting events.

If you want to plan a lunch date or happy hour with your girlfriends once a month, coordinate a set day of the month (On Wednesdays we [wear pink, and] lunch …) with your besties that everyone can plan for.

Do you need one day a month to yourself without work, kids, spouse, and adulting responsibilities? (Don’t we all?) Set the last Friday of every month to take the day off work. Or arrange for a babysitter or family member to commit to one weekend day per month to get the kids out of your hair while you get a pedicure and go see a movie. 

If you plan for it, you can make it happen!

The key to scheduling a monthly routine

The key to setting a schedule for your monthly routine is to plan for your priorities while allowing some flexibility. Use tools like a digital calendar, planner, or wall calendar to visualize your commitments and set reminders to keep you on track.

Will setting a monthly routine allow you to magically do everything you want and accomplish all the things you need to do? Nope, I’m sorry, but probably not. 

Will setting a monthly routine allow you to do more of the things that fill your cup while accomplishing your priorities? Absolutely!

Once a month, take time to reflect on the last month.

What went well, and what was more challenging than you anticipated? Which priorities were you unable to incorporate into your routine, and how can you plan better for the future? Did you experience any signs that it might be time for a change in your life? Do you need to work with your family or partner to get help tackling your never-ending task list?

Use your monthly reflections to reset for the next month. Rinse and repeat for each new month, refining your monthly routine as your priorities and schedule change. These monthly reset routines are essential not only to creating the best approach for your life, but also to acknowledge all that you have accomplished in the previous months.

What types of activities should you include in a monthly routine?

As I mentioned above, it’s helpful to list ALL your priorities and categorize them by tasks, relationships, and taking care of yourself. This ensures you can plan for your to-do list while maintaining your relationships and well-being.

Let’s dive into the three categories and all the priorities you can incorporate into your monthly routine.

Get Stuff Done (Tasks)

Whether you are employed or manage a household, are married with kids or single and mingling, one thing is for sure — we are all busy! Welcome to adulting, 

The best way to ensure you take care of all your obligations? Make a list and plan the time to tackle it in order of priority.

Personal Obligations (ie. Life Admin)

Bills, appointments, and phone calls — Oh my! Manage all of your personal obligations by scheduling time in your monthly routine.

Set routine appointments to manage life admin

Plan to manage all your life admin at once on a routine basis. Whether once a week or once a month, set a date and time to tackle all the errands, paperwork, phone calls, and other personal administrative tasks that have been piling up.

Keep things neat and organized on schedule

Keep your residence clean and tidy by incorporating small tasks into your daily/weekly routine. Run the dishwasher every night and unload it every morning. Clean the shower once a week while your deep conditioner sets. Plan to do a deep clean or declutter one living area every Sunday to maintain your tidy space. Do something today that your future self will thank you for. You get the picture.

Work Obligations

No matter what you do for a living, setting a schedule is essential in creating a monthly routine that works and establishing boundaries for work/life balance.

Establish specific times to focus on work

For anyone working a 9-5, this may seem unnecessary. But for anyone who is self-employed, works on contract, or has a work schedule that consistently changes — you need to ensure that you have time blocked off on your schedule to complete your work. 

Note any “off-hours” professional obligations

Plan for any business travel, networking events, or big projects that require additional hours that aren’t part of your regular schedule. Make sure you have coverage at home if necessary.

Use your magic time wisely

Everyone has a certain magic time of the day and or month (thank you, cycle syncing!) that they are more focused, creative, and generally able to get sh*t done. Do your best to plan your intense work around your magic times.

Health & Fitness

Taking care of your body is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. Create a monthly routine to ensure your health stays at the top of your priority list.

Establish a workout routine

Depending on your athletic ambitions, create a plan for the upcoming month to hit these new goals. Set appointments on your calendar to hit the gym or go for a jog to make it a non-negotiable!

Make any necessary medical appointments

Are you overdue for your annual well-woman exam or dental cleaning? Call them up and put it on the calendar. (This is an excellent task to incorporate into your life admin time!)

Plan for meals 

Figure out a routine to plan and shop for your meals. Do a weekly meal planning session, use a meal prep delivery company — whatever makes sense for your life and budget. By planning ahead, you can avoid the dreaded “what’s for dinner?” debate and keep the local pizza joint off your speed dial.

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Make Time for Your Relationships

Strong relationships are integral to creating and maintaining a happy life. Make the most of your time by creating a monthly routine with your loved ones.

Family

Create family memories and prioritize your children, parents, and other family members with designated monthly routines.

Plan time for fun

All work and no play makes any family bored. Schedule a few fun events for the whole family every month so you always have something to look forward to!

Make your own family traditions

Sunday Church and Lunch. Friday night Pizza and Movie Party. Monthly Local Scavenger Hunt and Adventure. Have fun creating your own family traditions to incorporate fun and connection into your routine.

Embrace one-on-one time

If you have more than one child, try to split them up occasionally to get quality time with each individually. Even a quick trip to the store can be a bonding experience if you prioritize communication and bonding.

Plan a monthly family dinner

Have a lot of extended family in town? Take turns hosting a potluck or choosing a restaurant to meet at once a month to stay in touch.

Spouse/Partner

Maintain a healthy relationship and keep that spark alive by creating a monthly routine with your partner.

Connect daily

Make time every day to focus on each other, even if only for 5-10 minutes. Check in on each other’s days, do something enjoyable together, and stay connected as a duo.

Date your spouse

Schedule date nights with your spouse each month. Plan for a babysitter, get tickets to a show or reservation at a restaurant, and enjoy each other’s undivided attention!

Get physical

Sexual intimacy and physical touch of all kinds are proven to enhance connection. Make a point to hug, kiss, hold hands, and engage in sexy activities often. Make Wednesday Hump Day a recurring calendar appointment if you need to!

Friends

Making and keeping friends as a busy adult is hard. Don’t let these invaluable relationships fall to the wayside by prioritizing them in your monthly routine.

Set monthly meet-up dates

Establish a recurring appointment to meet for lunch or happy hour with your friends. 

Block time on your calendar to reach out

Set a reminder on your calendar every month (or week) to text or email a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Or even better, plan a phone date to reconnect!

Multi-task chores and connection

We all have to run errands, so why not make it a group event? Make plans to grab lunch and go grocery shopping with a friend to stay productive while you nurture your friendship.

Prioritize Yourself with “Me Time”

Incorporating activities to take care of yourself and for personal growth in your monthly routine is the best way to make sure you are always a priority in your life.

Practice self-care

How you choose to practice self-care is a personal decision. Whether it’s indulging in a relaxing bath, practicing mindfulness or journaling, or spending time on a creative hobby you love, self-care should be non-negotiable in your monthly routine.

Remember, self-care is more than just the occasional pedicure or massage; it is taking care of your overall well-being — your mental, emotional, and physical health.

Disconnect from technology

Having time without social media and technology allows your mind to rest and provides more time to focus on what (and who) matters the most in your life. Schedule tech-free days once or twice a month for a periodic digital detox. Maximize these analog days to go on a family adventure in nature or date your spouse to focus on connecting with your loved ones!

Incorporate learning into your routine

At every stage of life, it’s essential to make learning a part of your routine to keep your mind sharp, stay motivated, and find new inspiration. Incorporate reading different types of books and blog articles, listening to podcasts, and even taking live or digital courses into your monthly schedule to keep your learning journey going.

Design the monthly routine to create your best life

Crafting and maintaining your best life requires more than mere spontaneity; it demands intentionality. By setting (and frequently resetting) a monthly routine to account for all the priorities in your life, you can make the most of your time, nurture relationships with your loved ones, and take care of your overall well-being.

The life of your dreams is not a distant fantasy but a series of intentional choices. What will you include in your monthly routine to achieve your best life?

Do you have a monthly routine? How do you reflect and reset over time to create the best schedule for your life? We would love to hear your experience in the comments.