Let me be honest with you:

I used to be TERRIBLE at sticking to routines.

I’d get inspired, create this perfect daily plan, wake up at 6 a.m., run 5 km, read 30 minutes, work in deep focus for hours…

And then, reality would smack me in the face.
By day three, I was already “adjusting” the plan. By day 10, the routine was gone.

If that’s you right now, you’re not broken.
It’s not that you “lack discipline” or “aren’t cut out for routines.”

The truth is: most routines fail because they’re built for perfect days… and perfect days are rare.
Real life is messy, and your routine has to survive that.

Why your routines keep falling apart

Let’s break down the three biggest mistakes people make:

1. You build routines for your ideal self, not your real self.
When you plan your routine while feeling motivated, you design it for the “perfect” version of you, the one who has unlimited energy and zero distractions. But that’s not the version of you that shows up every day.

2. You try to change EVERYTHING at once.
You want to fix your sleep, start a workout plan, read daily, meditate, journal, and learn Spanish, all starting Monday.
That’s not discipline. That’s self-sabotage.

3. You don’t have a backup plan.
Most people only have one version of their routine. If something interrupts it, they throw the whole thing away.

I used to think missing one workout meant my “streak was broken,” so I’d skip a few workouts more that week. Big mistake…

How to build a routine that survives real life

Here’s the system I use now, and it’s the only reason I’ve managed to keep certain habits for years, not weeks.

1️⃣ Start embarrassingly small

When I rebuilt my morning routine last year, I didn’t start with a 6:30 a.m. run.
I started with five push-ups. Yes, FIVE.

Why? Because I wanted to win every single day.

Your goal isn’t to impress anyone, it’s to create a habit so easy you can’t fail. Once it’s automatic, then you can grow it.

2️⃣ Have a “minimum version” for bad days

Bad days happen. You’ll oversleep. You’ll get sick. You’ll have no time.
This is where most routines die, but they don’t have to.

Create a minimum version of your routine:

• Can’t do a 1-hour workout? Do 10 squats.

• Can’t meditate for 10 minutes? Take 3 deep breaths.

• Can’t read a chapter? Read one paragraph.

The point is to keep the habit alive, no matter what.

3️⃣ Tie habits to existing anchors

When I tried to “just remember” to journal, I failed every time.
When I started journaling right after breakfast, it stuck.

Your brain loves patterns. Attach new habits to existing ones:

• After brushing teeth → meditate for 2 minutes.

• After lunch → take a 5-minute walk.

• After starting coffee → write your to-do list.

This way, your routine doesn’t rely on memory, it runs on autopilot.

4️⃣ Track it (but keep it visual)

When I started marking a big ❌ on my calendar every day I stuck to my routine, something clicked.
I didn’t want to break the chain.

You can use apps, a whiteboard, or even sticky notes, but make your progress visible.
What gets tracked gets done.

5️⃣ Forgive yourself faster

This one changed everything for me.

Before, missing one day made me feel like a failure. Now I know:
The people who win aren’t perfect, they just get back on track faster.

Miss a day? Fine. Just don’t miss two.
One bad day doesn’t ruin you. Quitting does.
This reminds me of the quote from James Clear: “Missing once is an accident. Missing twice is the start of a new habit.”

Let’s wrap this up

If you’ve failed at routines before, it’s not because you’re weak.
It’s because your routines were built for a life you don’t actually live.

So here’s your new approach:

• Start small enough to win daily.

• Have a minimum version for bad days.

• Anchor habits to things you already do.

• Track progress visually.

• Forgive yourself and restart instantly.

You don’t need the perfect routine, you need a survivable one.

Next tuesday:

“How to Train Your Brain to Work for Hours Without Getting Distracted”

I’ll share exactly how I went from 15 minutes of “work” before checking my phone… to sitting down and crushing 2–3 hours of deep work like it’s nothing.

If today’s newsletter helped you, forward it to someone who’s “starting over” again (and again).

Also, check out my YouTube channel The Weekly Growth for more content like this in video form.

Thanks for reading.
Until next Tuesday, stay focused. Stay growing.

— The Weekly Growth