This is part of the series How To Develop A Daily Routine. Check out more from the series!

As a minister, developing a daily routine is crucial. Most of the time, in ministry, there is no one really watching over your shoulder to see if you are getting the work done. As a result, ministry can be a target for the lazy; and often the lazy get away without doing much.

As a minister, I’ve had to develop a strict routine over the years, but keep it in such a way that it can be flexible as needed. For example, I work on my sermons early in the week, blocking off Monday and Tuesday to do the bulk of the study and research. But what if someone comes into the office needing to talk? Or needs financial assistance? My routine is flexible enough to accommodate these types of interruptions, and I still have a significant portion of the week left to get back on track.

But for a long time, I simply had a list of things that needed to be done each week, and no rhyme or reason applied to when I did what. I would catch myself working on things with a very low priority, or getting distracted by social media, and suddenly my week was gone and I felt the pressure of the immediate deadline of the weekend.

In order to combat this, I developed my routine. And to keep me on track, I developed a chart depicting what my ideal week looked like, structured out enough to accomplish what I need to accomplish, while leaving enough flexibility and margin in to keep myself balanced and healthy. Along with this, I developed my Life Plan, identifying the most important aspects of my life, and becoming intentional about growing in these areas. (Thanks to Michael Hyatt for the inspiration and resources for these two items.)

Knowing what I was meant to do, and knowing what I needed to do to make those priorities happen freed me to focus on the truly important things without agonizing over whether or not I was doing the right things, or feeling the stress and pressure of procrastination.

Here are three things I’ve found to be beneficial when it comes to a daily routine.

Routines reduce the amount of decisions to be made

Routines eliminate the need to decide what to do and when to do it. Those decisions have already been made, for the most part. Sure there will be a few things that need more direct attention, but those are much fewer with a routine in place. With these decisions in place, I don’t need to agonize about when I study and write a sermon; I already know that I do that early in the week. I also know that I need to have several articles written and when I want to post them on my blogs. One of the best tools that I’ve found to help me with this is Nozbe. As a task list, it has no equal. But more than that, it helps me see at a glance what aspects of my routine need to be done today, and if I’m behind in an area.

Routines make actions automatic

Granted, this doesn’t fit every circumstance; my actions can’t be so automatic as I write a sermon. But in other areas, it’s perfectly applicable. When I walk into my office, my routine looks something like this: I set my bag down near my desk, reach down and power on my computer, and then turn to my coffee station. I pour a bottle of water from my filtered pitcher, and then pour the rest into my Hario kettle. While that is heating, I take the pitcher to the kitchen for a refill, to be ready for the next cup. All of this is simple and rote; while I am performing these functions automatically, my mind is free to think about other things, such as what is on the agenda for the day. Since these actions are automatic, I waste less time thinking about them, allowing more time for things that need my attention more.

Routines save time

Routines save time in the short term because they remove the need to make a decision. Routines save time in the long term by making these actions automatic. For example, I occasionally need to perform some repairs around the house. In order to do this, I usually find that I need a screwdriver or some other simple tool. But often I can’t find the tool I need. I have to think back to where I was last working with it, and go look there. Developing the routine of putting my tools away after every use save time the next time I need the tool, because it’s right where I expect to find it.

Developing a daily routine can help you accomplish more day to day and be more effective in what you do. Routines are strategic in nature, when you take the time to put them in place.

However, a word of warning, routines can also become ruts. You can trap yourself into a specific line of thinking and start to stagnate if you’re not careful. In this regard, it’s important to continually monitor your routines, using a chart like I described a moment ago. It will help you stay in control of your routine, and not allow your routine to control you.

What other benefits have you discovered that come from a healthy routine? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.