The successful people I’ve known all demonstrate a remarkable level of discipline in their daily lives. They have structured routines that maximize their productivity and effectiveness. These people don’t just plan their days; they design their lives with intention. You see, it’s not about innate talent or luck; it’s about the habits and systems people put in place to manage their time, energy, and focus.

Let’s delve deeper into routine and discipline because I’m convinced that they form the bedrock of success. And I’m convinced that the opposite is true. This fundamental difference can be a game-changer in your own pursuit of excellence.

Discovering your optimal routine is a journey of experimentation and refinement. It’s not about perfection, but rather the ongoing pursuit of improvement that yields the most rewarding and effective daily practices. I’m experiencing this firsthand as I write these essays for you. This week, I’m starting to write after dinner, aiming for 3 hours each day. Will it work? I don’t know yet. But that’s the point – you have to try things to find out.

(By the way, I may be the only author in history with a goal or reaching only my grandchildren).  You’re worth it!  

Nick Saban, the famous football coach, is known for his routine where not a minute in the day is unaccounted for.  He eats the same breakfast and lunch every day. The lack of thought about what to eat saves him 4 minutes daily, which adds up to 24 hours a year – half a work week gained just by not thinking about what to eat. While this might seem excessive, it illustrates a powerful point: routines can be time-saving superpowers. They reduce mental energy spent on useless everyday decisions, freeing up our minds for more important matters.

Benjamin Franklin swore by his strict daily schedule, which included dedicated time for reading, reflection, and planning. He credited much of his remarkable success to this disciplined approach.

In another essay I’ve written to you about the importance of lifelong learning. How can you commit to continuous growth and reflection if you don’t carve out time for it in your day? You can’t just learn when you have free time. With this approach you’ll never find time and you won’t learn and improve.

Maybe an example will help drive this home. I use daily reminders in my phone that pop up first thing each morning. I adjust them as I figure out how to improve them. My current reminders are:

• “If God helped plan your day what would it look like?”
• “Be patient”: This helps with immediate decisions as well as longer term ones. My bend is toward action, and while that has served me well, it can lead to poor temperment.
• “So what, now what”: Never look back except to learn. Once something happens that is less than positive, look ahead.
• “Speak blessings to yourself and be a blessing to others”: If you aren’t intentional about this you will miss a lot of opportunities to give yourself grace and say a kind word to someone who may really need it.
• “Be in awe”: How awesome is this world! I mean, we are tiny little ants if you look at us from space. The trees around you are hundreds of years old. We live in the greatest country in history. You have an amazing family. The list goes on and on.
• “Today is going to be a great day, and why”: Open your day with a positive outlook. And guide your actions to make it a great day. 
• “Log 3 gratitudes from yesterday”: Think you had a bad day yesterday? Maybe you did. But it won’t be hard to find things that happened that you should be grateful for. The discipline of writing them down makes you think about them.  It’s a sin not to be grateful. 
• “5 sense awareness and joy”: I write this from Holland Michigan. There is a blind student at Hope College where Patrick currently teaches. Last week I saw her crossing the street with her dog and pulling a trash cart behind her. Yet, I’m not always aware of how awesome it is to be able to smell, touch, taste, see and hear. I definitely take these senses for granted. I lost my sense of smell and taste for a short time in 2019 when I had a bad case of Covid-19. It wasn’t fun.
• “My 80th birthday party”: I write this at 59. I am challenging myself to be a blessing to others and I want to see how many people I have positively impacted between now and when I turn 80. I don’t literally expect all of these people to come to a party but I surely want them to think about them.
• “Encourage and be a fountain and an illuminator”: I want to remind myself to encourage people. And to be a light. How many times do we miss opportunities to be special to people? Too many.
• “Your wife is sacred”: Sacred is a special word. And my wife is sacred. It’s easy to take that for granted if you don’t remind yourself.
• “How can I use my time to make things just a little better today?” Better for me.  Better for you.  Better for others.

Let’s delve into the root of stress. It’s not excess workload itself that overwhelms us. It’s the lack of a clear plan and the feeling of losing control over our time that creates stress. It’s the things that hang over our head because we either don’t remember them or we don’t have a plan of attack.

Imagine this: you have a mountain of tasks looming before you. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, you’ve methodically mapped out your day, prioritized your responsibilities, and committed to following through. In this scenario, stress diminishes significantly. Why? Because you’ve taken charge. As Benjamin Franklin wisely said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” By planning ahead and organizing your tasks, you’re not just reacting to circumstances; you’re proactively shaping your day and setting yourself up for success. This approach doesn’t just reduce stress—it empowers you to tackle challenges with confidence and purpose.

When you allow external factors to dictate your schedule, you’re essentially handing over the reins of your life to chaos. But when you craft a well-thought-out plan and stick to it, you create a shield against unnecessary stress.

The simple act of knowing what to expect can be incredibly calming. It’s the uncertainty that often breeds anxiety. By planning ahead, you’re not just organizing your tasks – you’re cultivating a sense of predictability and control. This doesn’t mean your day will always go exactly as planned, but it does mean you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever comes your way.

Routines should serve you, not constrain you. Be flexible enough to adjust your routines as your life changes. As the saying goes, “The only constant in life is change.”

The power of routine lies not in rigidity, but in the consistent, positive actions that shape your life over time. As you grow and face new challenges, let your routines be a source of strength and stability.