How to BUILD A ROUTINE That Will CHANGE YOUR LIFE & Stay Consistent

Building Routines That Last

Dr Faye Bate shares these principles for creating sustainable routines:

Connect Habits Into a Habit Loop

Don’t treat a habit as an isolated task. Link it to a cue, a rewarding craving, and a response. For example, Faye wakes up, makes a smoothie she enjoys, and drinks it at her desk while working. Crossing completed tasks off a list adds another reward.

Start Small and Focus on Your Own Goals

Social media may promote many habits, but choose ones that support what you personally want to improve, such as mental health, physical health, or productivity. Work on one habit at a time—or at most three—and add more only after they feel established. Slow, steady progress is more sustainable than trying everything at once.

Forgive Yourself When Your Routine Slips

Travel, celebrations, and other parts of life can interrupt habits. Rather than feeling guilty or giving up, recognize the progress you’ve made and restart gradually. After jet lag disrupted her early-morning work routine, Faye tracked her wake-up time and moved it earlier by 15 minutes each day.

Let Routines Coexist With Life

Routines will sometimes be disrupted by meaningful experiences. Enjoy those moments, appreciate the habits you maintained, and return to your routines when you can.

Presenter and Sources Mentioned

• Presenter: Dr Faye Bate
• Sources: Habit-loop ideas (no specific source named); online examples found through Google.