We’ve all done it.
Set the alarm. Promised ourselves we’ll start the day right. Planned out the perfect morning routine.
5:30am: Wake up
5:45am: Workout
6:15am: Meditation
6:30am: Smoothie + journaling
7:00am: Ready to crush it
It looks beautiful on paper.
But here’s what actually happens:
You sleep through the alarm.
The kids wake up early.
Your phone’s already pinging.
You skip breakfast.
And the “perfect” routine gets abandoned before Wednesday.
Then you blame yourself.
But here’s the truth:
You don’t need a stricter routine. You need one that works when life doesn’t go to plan.
Because let’s be honest — when does life ever go to plan?
THE ROUTINE PROBLEM NO ONE TALKS ABOUT
The internet is full of routines that promise to change your life.
But most of them were written by:
- Single 22-year-olds with no kids
- Full-time influencers with flexible schedules
- Productivity bros who thrive on discipline and dopamine
Real people — parents, business owners, managers, freelancers — need something else entirely.
You don’t need a “miracle morning.” You need a routine that works when your kid is sick, the client’s late, and the dog just threw up on the carpet.
Rigid routines break when real life shows up.
So let’s build one that bends, not breaks.
WHY MOST ROUTINES FALL APART
Let’s break down what’s really going on when your routines disappear:
1. You’re Trying to Copy Someone Else’s Life
What works for a YouTuber in Bali won’t work for you in a cold British school term. You need a routine that fits your season of life.
2. You’re Overcomplicating It
You add 9 new habits at once, forget half of them, and feel like a failure by day three.
3. You Don’t Account for Chaos
One unexpected meeting, one flat tyre, one broken boiler — and the whole day’s derailed.
4. You Think a Routine Has to Be Perfect
It doesn’t. It has to be resilient.
And that’s where the DROP System changes everything.
THE DROP SYSTEM APPROACH TO BUILDING REAL ROUTINES
DROP stands for Dump, Review, Offload, Plan — and it’s designed to help busy people stay consistent even when life kicks off.
Here’s how it applies to your daily routines:
DUMP: CLEAR OUT THE GUILT-BASED HABITS
Start with a brain dump of what you think should be in your routine.
Write it all down — the stuff you’ve been told you “should” do. Then ask yourself:
- Do I actually need this?
- Does it help me?
- Am I doing it for me, or because someone said I should?
This gives you a clean slate to build from — not someone else’s expectations.
REVIEW: DECIDE WHAT ACTUALLY MOVES THE NEEDLE
Not all habits are equal.
Some are energising. Some are admin. Some are draining. Some just sound good.
Pick the habits that:
- Help you lead better
- Improve your energy or mindset
- Create momentum early in the day
- Are realistic in your current life
That might mean a 3-minute stretch instead of a 30-minute workout.
It might mean writing one bullet journal line, not a full page.
The key is to start with small, repeatable wins.
OFFLOAD: REMOVE FRICTION AND DECISION FATIGUE
Want to know why most people skip their routines?
Because the routine takes too much effort to start.
You have to find the right clothes. Choose the right playlist. Decide what journal prompt to use. Get the mat out. Remember the next step.
That’s a problem.
Great routines are frictionless.
So remove as many barriers as possible:
- Lay your clothes out the night before
- Use the same playlist or video every day
- Automate the steps where you can
- Prep your workspace, desk, or kitchen in advance
The goal is to make your routine easier to follow than skip.
PLAN: LOCK IN THE ROUTINE DURING YOUR REAL PEAKS
Stop trying to fit your routine into someone else’s golden hour.
Not a morning person? Don’t force it.
Got kids under 5? You need a shorter window, not a stricter plan.
Work with your natural rhythm and energy levels — and schedule routines when you’re least likely to be interrupted.
Even 15 minutes can change your day if you protect it.
Routines don’t have to be long. They have to be yours.
BUILDING ROUTINES THAT SURVIVE CHAOS
The goal isn’t to have a routine that works when everything goes right.
The goal is to have a routine that survives when:
- You didn’t sleep well
- Your schedule shifted
- You’re travelling
- Someone’s sick
- You’ve had a stressful week
That means:
- Keep it simple
- Keep it flexible
- Keep it visible
- Keep it connected to your why
Because a powerful routine isn’t about control. It’s about rhythm.
And rhythm brings clarity — even when life gets loud.
WHAT A DROP-STYLE ROUTINE FEELS LIKE
It doesn’t overwhelm you. It anchors you.
It doesn’t punish you. It supports you.
It doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be consistent enough to make a difference.
That’s how you create real change — by showing up for yourself, even when it’s messy.
And that’s what the DROP System helps you do.
It creates a structure you can trust — a framework you can lean on when your willpower is gone and your day’s gone sideways.
It’s not about building the perfect day.
It’s about building the one you can actually live.
FINAL WORD
If your routines keep falling apart, the problem isn’t you.
It’s the rigidity, the pressure, the perfectionism, the guilt.
You don’t need a stricter routine.
You need one built around who you are — not who you think you should be.
That’s what the DROP System gives you.
Buy the book →
Buy the book
Join the DROP System training →
Join the DROP System training
Structure creates space.
Routines create rhythm.
And rhythm creates calm, even in chaos.
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