Why Most Routines Fail: 6 Mistakes I Made And How To Avoid Them
Written by Michelle Ong | February 1, 2025 | Productivity
Do you struggle to make routines stick and find yourself giving up when things don’t seem to be working? Find out the 6 mistakes I made with my routines, so you can avoid them and thrive like a pro.
How’s your relationship with routines? Do you start off like a hero on a mission, ready to conquer the world—only to ghost your routine when things get tough or results don’t show up by day two? Or maybe sticking to them feels harder than saying no to that last slice of pizza? I’ve been there too: super motivated at first, then totally derailed by life.
The start of a new year is the perfect time for overhauling routines or starting fresh ones. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This post will help you dodge six common mistakes that wreck routines, so you can finally stick to them and see real benefits.
1. Routines Are Inflexible
What pops into your head when you hear ‘routine’? Maybe visions of boring, soul-crushing schedules that feel like a punishment for being an adult? Same here—I used to think routines were the fun police. But I couldn’t deny that they brought order to my chaos, so I reluctantly embraced their rigidity like a necessary evil.
Turns out, I had it all wrong. Routines aren’t prison sentences; they’re customizable blueprints. We’re the architects, and guess what? We can design them to be as flexible as yoga instructors. Life throws curveballs, so why stick to a plan that doesn’t bend with us?
Routines should work for us—not turn us into human robots. When we see them as empowering tools to crush goals (and maybe sneak in some fun), we take back control. So go ahead—make your routine flexible, engaging, and worthy of a high-five from your future self.
2. Routines = Obligation
When I first jumped on the routine bandwagon, I was lured by promises of superhuman productivity. But there was a catch—I treated routines like some solemn productivity contract that I had to honor or risk being labeled a slacker by…well, myself.
Sure, my life got more organized, but after a while, the rinse-and-repeat cycle became soul-sucking. The boredom was real, motivation tanked, and procrastination waltzed in like an uninvited guest—especially with those brain-numbing, tedious tasks.
The lightbulb moment? Realizing I was treating routines like courtroom verdicts. Guilty of not finishing every task by 3:00 p.m.? Sentence yourself to guilt and frustration. So, I rewired my thinking. What if routines were tools, not chains? Instead of beating myself up, I started focusing on getting things done flexibly—shuffling tasks when life threw curveballs and ditching the guilt trip.
Now, I’m in a healthier groove. Routines help me grow, not control me. And I don’t panic if I don’t hit everything perfectly on schedule. Flexibility is part of the plan—and honestly, it’s made a world of difference (plus fewer awkward procrastination dances).
If you’re trying to build a routine that doesn’t turn into a soul-sucking chore, check out this post where I share tips on creating routines that actually last—without burning out.
3. Jam Packing
Initially, I had this ‘genius’ plan: pack my day with a gazillion tasks and stick to my routines with the commitment of a drill sergeant. Wake up, task, task, task, sleep—repeat. Sounds foolproof, right? Well, not so much.
It didn’t take long for my enthusiasm to nosedive. Instead of feeling accomplished, I was overwhelmed, procrastinating like a pro, and wondering if naps were a legitimate life hack. My rigid schedule had backfired spectacularly.
That’s when it hit me: productivity isn’t about cramming your to-do list with 17 things and checking them all off like some overachieving bingo player. It’s about doing the right things—the ones that genuinely matter and align with your goals and values.
I had fallen for the myth that more tasks meant more productivity. Trying to operate at max capacity 24/7 is like trying to sprint a marathon—it’s unsustainable and a one-way ticket to Burnout City. Real productivity comes from balance, focus, and knowing when to say, ‘You know what? Five tasks are plenty for today, thank you very much.‘
4. Rest = Lazy
A rookie mistake I made when I first started was skipping breaks entirely—because apparently, I thought I was a machine that could run on sheer determination and questionable amounts of caffeine. My brilliant strategy was to power through my to-do list like it was an Olympic sport, thinking I’d win gold in productivity.
At first, it kind of worked. I rode the high of crossing off tasks and feeling like a productivity ninja. But eventually, burnout came knocking and I was waking up dreading the same rushed daily grind, my motivation AWOL.
Breaks aren’t a luxury—they’re a necessity. What I thought was a sacrifice (resting) was actually the secret sauce to making my routines sustainable. While I still wrestle with my inner ‘get-it-all-done-now’ monster, I’ve learned that recharging is just as important as crushing tasks.
Wondering whether you’re just feeling lazy or actually burned out? Check out this post to learn the common signs of burnout.
5. Ignoring Biology
Knowing yourself is the secret to making routines actually work. And by ‘knowing yourself,’ I don’t mean deciding whether you’re a pizza or tacos person (though crucial in its own right). I’m talking about understanding your attention span and energy levels.
Some people thrive with quick 25-minute sprints followed by a 5-minute break—a productivity technique lovingly known as the Pomodoro method. But if you’re like me, stopping after 25 minutes feels like pausing a movie right at the plot twist. I prefer marathon work sessions where I dive deep for an hour or more before surfacing for air (and snacks).
Equally important? Knowing your body’s natural rhythms. Are you an early bird chirping with energy at dawn or a night owl plotting world domination at 2 a.m.? Scheduling your most brain-intensive tasks during peak energy hours and saving the mindless stuff for your afternoon zombie phase can make a world of difference. Work smarter, not sleepier.
Want to master your schedule? Check out this post for effective time management strategies.
6. Impatience
When you really think about it, routines are just tasks lined up one after the other, like a never-ending conga line of productivity. Building a routine might seem like a walk in the park—and in some ways, it is. But I learned the hard way that creating one that actually works requires a lot of trial and error. It’s like finding your favorite pair of jeans: you’ve got to try on a few before you get the right fit. And even then, there’s always room for adjustments.
If you’re hoping routines are a magic ticket to instant success, spoiler alert: they’re not. They’re more like slow-cooked meals that take patience, discipline, and persistence. Quick wins? Not in this kitchen. Routines are tools to help you inch toward your goals, not get there overnight. So, if you’re all about that fast food success, you might end up hungry for results… and hangry at yourself.
Routines are for the long haul. Mental strength is key, especially when it feels like the only thing you’re moving toward is your bed. Having the right attitude will give you the grit to stick with it and make those tweaks along the way—because, hey, even the best routines need a little seasoning!
Stuck in procrastination mode? Check out this post for tips on how to get motivated and back on track.
Final Thoughts
Which of these mistakes do you recognize in yourself and want to change? Are there any other common mistakes you think should be added to this list?
“You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.” – Richard Branson
No matter where you are in your journey with routines—whether you’re just starting, have tried and given up, or haven’t even begun yet, I hope you don’t take away from this post that making mistakes is bad—because it’s not. What really matters is learning from them and using those lessons to keep moving forward.
To sum up: “Don’t fear mistakes. Fear the absence of progress.”
If you are still in two minds about the need for routines, check out this post to learn more.
Did you find this post helpful? Please like and share it with your family and friends so they can benefit too.
