Don’t Hit the Snooze Button! The Power of Daily Habits and Routines

It is often the first decision we make each day...to snooze or not to snooze. Before Cheerios or Frosted Flakes and a clean dress shirt or one that looks "clean enough," we are faced with this timely decision (no pun intended). While Plato found a way to set an alarm in the fourth century BC, our modern version was not invented until the 1950s—several decades after sliced bread but right before bubble wrap. This modern alarm has one special feature many think they couldn't live without; affectionately referred to as the snooze button, it pretends to offer a momentary escape from all responsibility and expectations only to rudely revoke its promise nine minutes later. You’ve done it. I’m guilty, too. But together, we need to make a pact: don’t hit the snooze button. 

Our day is the cumulative result of several thousand decisions (some pose upwards of 35,000). No general would go to war without a plan, no movie director without a script, and no coach without a playbook. But we seem to approach an average Wednesday in September like buying a lottery ticket instead of like building an airplane: we play the odds, take a gamble, and hope it works out. We lack an approach, a plan, and a purpose. We wouldn’t set foot on a 747 lacking the same intentionality, but we freely treat our most valuable asset—our time—like playing blackjack: once in a while we hit 21 but more often than not, we’re busted. Much like a card game, our lives also have a certain degree of chance; we do not have full control over them. And at a speed of 35,000 decisions a day, we do not possibly have the time to prudently discern each and every choice. This is why when I speak to groups of students I offer them a simple piece of advice: don’t hit the snooze button. 

It is more of a mindset than a decree. The most successful students I have encountered over my 15 years as an educator are those with a solid foundation of daily routines and habits. Perhaps Benjamin Franklin said it better, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” The temptation to procrastinate is part of our human nature. And while I can say I don’t think I have ever met a lazy student—all behavior is about a need being met or not met—I can confidently say I’ve come across many students who didn’t have a good set of routines. And we all know that often the easiest decision to make is the one you’ve already made. 

I once challenged a team of school leaders to pick a random week in their calendar from the previous year. If our calendar represents our priorities, what message was their Google calendar giving them? Too often, we find ourselves in a reactive position—scrambling to put out fires or finish last-minute assignments. The Eisenhower principle reminds us to prioritize the things that are important, not seemingly urgent. Given the myriad roles and responsibilities we bear, this is easier said than done. Here are three practical suggestions for developing an anti-snooze button mindset and establishing daily habits and routines that will put you in the driver’s seat of your day. 

First, establish a daily list of non-negotiables. Few people go into a day having identified the most important aspects and instead look back with regret regarding what they didn’t accomplish. The first step in creating meaningful daily routines is figuring out what you need to accomplish—and sticking to it. This list should not be more than three to five items: completing all assignments, working out, eating a healthy dinner, and getting to bed on time.

Second, use backward planning. Now that you have figured out what you hope to accomplish during the day, spend some time thinking about the necessary steps to achieve those outcomes. For example, if you know you have to write a three-page essay, but you also have football practice right after school, what times of your day will you block out for writing the paper that will still allow you to go to bed at a reasonable time? Schedule it in your calendar. Many people identify certain goals but fail to enumerate the steps required to achieve them. Sometimes we can even underestimate the necessary steps, which leads to the last point.

Finally, only plan half your day. This may seem counterintuitive on a blog about developing daily routines. Yet, it was one of the most valuable pieces of advice I received when I started working a full-time job. Remember those 35,000 decisions? You aren’t in control of all of them. Things will inevitably come up throughout the day that may require us to change our plans. Be flexible and build in time for the unexpected. There is a reason people show up to airports three hours early—anything can happen!