Ask HN: How do you build a daily routine and stick to it?

Habits, is the number one way. Start small and build up. There is no way you'll be able to set up a long planed routine and stick with it.

Spend some time figuring out what you want and the break it down to small achievable bits. Do one at a time until it becomes a habit and build up. There is no magic. It's a long term project that will take years.

I knew of a guy that would take a walk every day, no matter the weather or his health. He would brag about the strength of his will power. But the reality was that it was a habit since he had been doing it for so long. The real test would have been his ability to stop since it's very hard to break a habit.

I have several simple rules:

1. Track it - Google Sheets, apps, counters, etc.

2. Don’t make excuses - easier said than done. But really, only outlier reasons should trip you up.

3. You won’t go from 0-100 at once - Routines are sometimes set with expectation that something will be complete or expert or entirely satisfactory but time is also important. Your routine doesn’t need to be perfect!

4. Bonus - try to do things at the same time on whatever recurring interval you use. I go to the gym every morning within the same 10 minute window. If not, the chances of not going skyrockets (see 2)

Why would anyone want to do that?