Hallo! I'd like to share my daily routine, a set of habits I perform every day for continuous self-improvement. I was first inspired to build this routine after reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. It was further shaped by other great books I've read, including Getting Things Done by David Allen, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, and Deep Work by Cal Newport.
The main habits I do daily for self-improvement are:
- Continue Duolingo Math Lessons
- 1 Hour of Deep Work
- Solve 3 Programming Problems
- Write a Journal Entry or Blog
- 15-Minute Reading Session
These are the minimum thresholds I've set for myself each day. I keep them achievable to avoid mental resistance, especially on days when motivation is low and I have to rely more on discipline. Setting low thresholds helps prevent "zero-days," when procrastination wins and nothing productive gets done. As James Clear emphasizes in Atomic Habits, consistency is key to building strong habits, small actions really do snowball into significant change over time.
I often exceed these minimums. For example, although my daily goal for reading is at least 15 minutes, I usually go beyond that, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour on a normal day, and 15 minutes when I'm sick or exhausted. Currently, I'm reading The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman. Along with reading, I summarize each chapter to better internalize and retain what I learn.
For deep work, I typically spend about 3 to 4 hours on most days, and around 1 hour when I'm feeling burned out. I follow the Rhythmic philosophy of deep work scheduling, which fits best with my responsibilities as a college student. I use Google Calendar to time block my deep work sessions, reinforcing that rhythm and structure Cal Newport describes in Deep Work.
I also make it a point to solve at least three algorithmic programming problems each day on platforms like CodeWars, LeetCode, CodeForces, CodeChef, and HackerRank. I believe the core of being a good software developer lies in your ability to solve problems and think logically, not just in memorizing syntax or chasing frameworks. While not every algorithm I practice directly applies to the software I build, the act of problem-solving strengthens my mental processes and improves my ability to think critically and creatively. Over time, it sharpens my foundation in data structures, algorithms, software design patterns, and clean code principles.
Alongside these habits, I complete at least three Duolingo Math lessons daily. They may not be overly difficult, but they help keep my mind sharp and reinforce my mathematical intuition. It's also a refreshing way to revisit key concepts in math.
Lastly, I write at least one journal entry or blog (like this one) every day. Writing, to me, is thinking. Writing consistently has noticeably improved my ability to express ideas clearly and organize my thoughts. It gives me time to find the right words and process what I've learned, strengthening both my written and verbal communication.
Those are the main habits in my daily routine. Of course, I also have smaller habits that I didn't list here, things like brushing my teeth, using face cleansers, and other routine activities that are second nature by now.
Anyway, onwards to continuous self-improvement, and to whoever's reading this, I hope you have a wonderful day!