The Challenge of Creating Intentional Routines as an Entrepreneur
I recently talked about intentional routines, and honestly, I’m not sure if it resonated with everyone—but I’ll say it can be hard!
Before I became consistent with waking early and doing my morning walks, it was like a steep hill to climb. It wasn’t just about forming a new habit; it required learning and unlearning mindsets, discipline, consistency, and figuring out a rhythm that worked for me.
But nothing prepared me for how much harder it would be to create intentional routines in entrepreneurship. When I started this journey, I knew it wouldn’t be a walk in the park, but I completely underestimated how difficult it would be to build systems that support me—not just my business.
The Struggle to Build Sustainable Routines
Here’s what I mean:
1. Stepping Away from Work (Without Guilt)
Entrepreneurship comes with a certain level of freedom, but it also carries this unspoken pressure to always be on. I’ve shared before about my struggle with rest—what it means to me and how I’ve been learning to embrace it. Not just as a last resort when I’m completely burnt out, but as a consistent, intentional part of my weekly routine.
For the longest time, I saw rest as something I had to “earn” after pushing myself to the limit. But I’ve been unlearning that mindset and making rest a non-negotiable. One of the biggest shifts? My “do absolutely nothing” day.
It’s been a process, but I’m getting better at stepping away from work without guilt. When you work for yourself, the lines between working late and never stopping can get blurry. But burnout is real, and I’ve learnt the hard way that if I don’t intentionally schedule time to rest, I will crash.
2. Creating a Nighttime Routine (Instead of Just Crashing)
Most nights, I find myself crashing into bed rather than winding down intentionally. It’s like my body just gives out after an intense workday. I knew I needed a nighttime routine that signaled it’s time to slow down—something to help me detach from screens, quiet my mind, and rest. I am still working on getting better at creating a nighttime routine.
3. Making Time to Try Something New Weekly
Entrepreneurship can make you hyper-focused on business growth, leaving little room for personal growth or even fun. I realised I needed to create a habit of trying something new every Friday (or at least weekly) like exploring a new hobby, it’s a small way to break the cycle of work-work-work. Suffice to say, I haven’t been quite successful at this yet.
4. Prioritising Downtime—Because Working from Home Can Be Isolating
Working from home has its perks, but if I’m not careful, I can go weeks without really engaging with anyone except my clients and my camera. If I don’t make a conscious effort to add social interaction and downtime into my routine, isolation can creep in. That’s why I’ve been working towards actively scheduling breaks, accepting invite for meetups, or even just moments to step outside and reset.
Failing at Routine-Building (and What I’m Learning)
To help with building new routines and consistency, I’ve been using the 12-Week Year method, which is all about setting short-term, high-impact goals instead of overwhelming yourself with long-term plans. Last year, I set four major goals, but I only fully achieved one. And honestly? That’s because I had too many goals and too many tactics - yeah, I tend to do too much sometimes, a habit I am working to break.
So now, I’m giving it a third shot—but this time, I’m following the recommended approach. I believe I am better at it this time around, but the process has stretched me in ways I didn’t expect - different ways of working, goals that stretch me and adopting a new mindset. Some weeks, I stop and think, Wait… did I do what was needed to move this goal forward? And to be clear, I’m not beating myself up—I’m just assessing what’s working and what’s not.
This morning (a Wednesday), I looked at my progress and noticed a pattern: the new routines I’ve been trying to incorporate have been inconsistent.
And that got me thinking… Why aren’t these working? Why am I so inconsistent?
The truth? It’s because they’re new. Building new routines means breaking old habits and adopting new ones, which can feel unnatural, uncomfortable, and frustrating.
Why New Routines Feel So Hard
They disrupt what feels normal. Even if my old habits weren’t serving me, they were familiar. Shifting to something new takes effort.
They require patience. I want my routines to feel effortless now, but real consistency takes time to build.
They challenge my default mindset. Whether it’s stepping away from work, prioritising rest, or scheduling downtime, each routine pushes me to rethink how I operate.
So, what’s next? I’m leaning into the discomfort, adjusting where necessary, and reminding myself that it takes time. I am currently in week 4 of the 12-Week Year, which means I have over 6 weeks to keep improving and being better, the focus is consistency and persistence, not perfection.
Final Thoughts
Creating routines isn’t just about productivity—it’s about sustainability. It’s about making sure my business doesn’t take over my life. And while it’s still a work in progress, I’m learning that small, consistent actions matter more than waiting for the “perfect” routine to magically appear.
If you’ve been struggling with building new routines, trust me, I get it. But if there’s one thing I’m learning, it’s that the hardest part isn’t starting—it’s sticking with it long enough for it to become second nature.
What’s one routine you’re working on right now? Let’s talk in the comments.
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Great read, excellent tips. I appreciate content that I can relate to as an entrepreneur. Just purchased "12 Week Year Method on Audible (Thanks for the reminder...lol) This will be my book for the week! Also pinned those DOA episodes to listen!