Daily Routines When Every Day is Different with Carla from The Carla Project
Sometimes we naturally fall into routines based on how our work or life schedule naturally falls. But if you have a schedule that is different every day then you know how out of reach a consistent routine can feel! Today I'm sitting down with Carla from The Carla Project to hear her share about her daily routine – and for her, every day is different! But she still finds rhythms that bring structure and peace to her days, and the ideas she shares may just spark an idea in you! Listen in!
Episode Links
Click here for full episode transcript.
Tasha is joined by Carla from The Carla Project to discuss decluttering your home and life, making room for the things that matter most to you.
FLEXIBLE DAILY ROUTINES
Being self-employed has given Carla a lot of flexibility and freedom. This means her schedule will look differently week to week, which works great with her personality.
Struggling with chronic migraines means that while there are days she feels amazing and can get lots of things checked off her to do list, there are also days where she can’t get off the couch.
To help with productivity, Carla has a running to do list and will pick one to three things each day to get done. Getting those most important things done is good enough. Following any kind of rigid, strict plan just doesn’t work for her.
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT DAYS
Sometimes there are feelings of guilt because she isn’t able to accomplish what she wants to get done for the day. When those feelings come up, she tries to give herself grace and reminds herself that guilt doesn’t help her be more productive, neither will worry. This often helps her to be calm and know that everything will get done that needs to be done.
Often, when Carla reflects on the day, she realizes she was more productive than she thought. She got out of bed, fed the dog, took him out, answered emails, made a phone call, etc. This will probably be the case for most of us. We are more productive than we give ourselves credit for.
THE “IDEAL” MORNING ROUTINE
A lot of times, we think our morning routine needs to look like the ones we see on social media, but here’s a secret. Those routines are produced content and even those influencers aren’t following that routine every morning, because none of us are perfect. We need to view those for what they are, pieces of idealism that we can take bits and pieces of to integrate into something that works for us.
WHAT IS WORKING WELL FOR CARLA
Carla is really loving mini challenges. They are usually for things she wants to do in the morning, such as a 10 day meditation challenge. These provide anchors to her day and give just a little bit of structure without being too rigid.
She has gotten into a natural morning routine that she has been able to be consistent with that include things such as getting out for a walk every morning with her dog, but for things she would like to do that aren’t habits yet, she will do as a challenge, tracking them in her journal or notes app.
BEING PRODUCTIVE WITH AN OPEN SCHEDULE
Having a schedule that is open and flexible where everything is an option can sometimes make productivity difficult. Carla has found that having built in anchors to her day, as well as focusing on her one to three top priorities helps her to stay on track.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD MORNING ROUTINE
When Carla feels her best and is taking great care of herself, she will wake up around 6:30 or 7:00. Getting outside in the sunshine and making herself a healthy breakfast that includes protein is important for starting her day.
She also incorporates some spiritual time with meditation and journaling and follows that up with getting showered and dressed for the day.
A great morning routine doesn’t have to be exciting. In fact, it may seem pretty boring. It also doesn’t need to take a long time. Once we begin doing them on repeat, they become autopilot and don’t require as much mental energy and start to feel easy.
MINI CHALLENGES
Carla is currently doing two mini challenges. She uses habit stacking as a way to remember to incorporate them into her day.
Her first challenge is meditation, something she enjoys but isn’t consistent in doing. While chatting with friends she found out one was doing a meditation challenge and so she jumped in on that.
Her second challenge is a program she signed up for but has not been utilizing. She is challenging herself to reach out to her coach every single day as a way to hold herself accountable and get the most of out the program.
Carla has found that the challenges help her to get out of her comfort zone and stretch herself to try new things, which is a benefit whether she continues the activity after the challenge is over or not.
CARLA’S STRUGGLE
While Carla loves to organize and declutter, keeping her home tidy can be difficult. She admits to not being a person who walks in the door and puts her things away, but rather tosses things wherever as she comes in.
Carla had a moment when she realized that after taking several passes through her home to declutter, it didn’t always equal a home that was always perfectly tidy. She doesn’t have clutter. Everything she has is something she uses, but it just doesn’t always get put away.
ASKING FOR HELP
When Carla has a difficult week, she is not above asking for help. This could mean hiring a cleaning lady or asking a friend to come over. Get a referral from a friend if you want to hire someone.
If you have a friend who has their own struggle with a task, offer to trade off where they come and help you with your struggle and then you go help them with theirs. We all have things we struggle with and sometimes being the first to ask for help opens the door that will help create community and build connections.
LESS STRESS AND MORE PEACE
Carla has started using a company called Poplin. It’s like the Uber of laundry services. She throws all of her laundry into bags and leaves them at the door. Someone picks them up and within 24 hours, they bring it back all nicely folded and sorted.
The company is nationwide and is very affordable. It’s a great service for those who do not have a washer and dryer or are just too busy and could use the service.
Copyright 2025, Get Organized HQ.