Make Routines Enjoyable: The Secret to Building Habits You Will Look Forward To
Written by Michelle Ong | March 8, 2025
The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do.
I used to think routines were the enemy of fun.
I wanted freedom, not structure.
So when I tried the whole “5AM productive morning” trend—complete with stretches, jogging, learning Japanese, and planning my day—it took only five days before I was smacking the snooze button and questioning all my life decisions.
Routines felt rigid. Boring. Uncreative.
But here’s what I learned:
Routines don’t kill your freedom—poorly designed routines do.
When routines are meaningful, enjoyable, and flexible, they become one of the most powerful tools for intentional living.
They help you make space for what matters and create days that feel calmer, lighter, and more you.
Here’s how to build routines you’ll actually look forward to.
1. Perfection Is The Enemy
I used to treat my routine like a strict formula.
Skip Duolingo? Day ruined. Took too long in the shower and delayed my workout? Cue panic.
If I didn’t hit every step, I felt like a failure.
Honestly, it was exhausting.
The turning point came when I stopped trying to be perfect and started being human.
Life happens. Schedules shift. Plans evolve.
When you loosen up and treat your routine as a guide instead of a law, everything feels easier.
“It’s not about perfecting your routine, it’s about making it work for you.”
Once you allow imperfection, routines become flexible frameworks that support your life—not rigid rules that control it.
You’ll find yourself enjoying the moments instead of rushing through them.
2. Ritualize
A huge reason routines don’t stick is because they feel like chores.
Rituals, on the other hand, are meaningful. They have intention.
When you add pleasure, beauty, or purpose to a habit, it transforms the entire experience.
For example: I used to dread my evening runs. But when I treated myself to clothes I loved and rewarded myself with an episode of anime after? Suddenly, the routine felt energising, grounding—even comforting.
Small rituals = big impact.
💡Articles on routines: morning and bedtime routines, ways to unwind, and why routines fail.
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” – Jim Ryun
3. Own It
Most people follow routines they saw online or heard from someone successful.
But borrowed routines rarely stick. Why?
They weren’t built for your lifestyle, preferences, or personality.
Your routine should feel like a natural extension of you—not someone else.
When I added a green rubber mat (my favourite color), lavender essential oil, and soft music to my evening yoga routine, everything changed. Suddenly, I wanted to show up for myself.
Adding personal touches reduces friction and increases joy.
Try these:
Change the order of your tasks to match your energy
Add colors, scents, sounds you love
Rotate activities weekly to prevent boredom
Add tasks that excite you.
Remove tasks that don’t serve you anymore
When routines feel personal, they become rituals of self-respect.
4. Gamify
If you enjoy games—even casually—this works wonders.
Gamification turns mundane tasks into small “quests”:
Beat your previous cleaning time
Earn a reward after hitting a weekly streak
Track progress like XP points
I once hated cleaning my room. But when I timed myself and “competed” with past versions of me?
Instant motivation. And yes, the sweet snack reward helped.
A gamified mindset adds fun, playfulness, and momentum—without pressure.
5. The Real Secret
This might sound soft, but it’s powerful.
When you approach routines with gratitude—
Gratitude for your body moving
Gratitude for quiet time to think
Gratitude for a clean space
Gratitude for a new day
everything shifts.
Your routine becomes a small moment of presence.
A pause.
A breath.
A gentle anchor.
The task doesn’t change.
Your relationship with it does.
This is intentional living at its core: designing your days with purpose, and appreciating the moments that shape you.
Appreciation > Obligation
Routines don’t have to feel like cages.
With small tweaks—more joy, more personalization, more meaning—they become habits you look forward to and rituals that support who you want to become.
Start small.
Make it enjoyable.
Let it evolve with you.
💡Check out my step-by-step guide on building effective routines and their pros and cons.
🌱 Reader Reflection
Which part of your current routine feels forced—and what small tweak could make it more enjoyable, meaningful, or personal to you?
