In this final installment in our series about getting your life in order, I'm going to discuss the importance of having a routine. Contrary to your expectations, having a routine creates a basic order in your life that will give you the freedom you need to do the things you want.

Any routine has to fit the way you live. There is no point in developing a routine you can't keep. Scheduling a batch of chores for the morning when you know you hit the snooze button multiples times just sets you up for failure.

By creating a routine for yourself, certain activities become second nature. You don't have to wonder about what you need to do, you know that, if it's Tuesday, you have laundry to finish. You don't have to worry about being late with your bills. You know that you check your electronic bill pay or you write your checks every Wednesday.  A routine creates a rhythm in your day or week or month that helps create serenity and order in your life.

Of course there are some times you'll disrupt your routine and that's fine.  No one expects you to skip your best friend's birthday party because it's laundry night.  But you'll know that you need to reschedule doing laundry so you won't be caught without clean socks.

To create your routine, make a list of your necessary tasks. Then, categorize them as daily, weekly, or monthly. You can also designate if they are morning or evening tasks. (For example, you may find it easier to pack Friday's lunch on Thursday evening.) Use a four week calendar and start by filling in the most important tasks — no matter how long they take or how often they occur. Fill in the calendar working from most important to least important. Always try to leave at least one (preferably two) days a week with no non-daily chores. That will give you rest and catch-up days when necessary. 

Give yourself time to get used to your routine — at least two months. The more you follow your routine, the easier it will become. Remember, your routine isn't set in stone. You can realign tasks if you find an order you like better. Or you might realize that you need to do something more or less often. Routine doesn't mean never changing what you do. It means having a basic structure around which you build your days.