From Doomscrolling to Doing: Having A Weekly Routine Reclaimed My Life

Hey girlfriend! Recently, I did a self analysis and I found some shocking and disappointing stats: my screentime was at an all time high, taking up literally half my day. A whooping 11 hours spent on an addictive steel box of technology. I mean, it’s not like I didn’t know I was wasting my life away, but having the numbers right there to prove it did something to myself perception. So I decided to try something completely different. Drum roll please! I booked my whole week.

Usually, my schedule feels like a pendulum. I’ll swing in the direction of a few chaotic days or back-to-back busy weekends, followed by stretches where my schedule is not existent. I work, eat, sleep, and… vibe? Literally, the rest of the time is a blur. I think I watched a show, probably called or texted a friend, definitely took a nap though.

To combat this unfortunate sense of limbo where the days blended together and the only marker of time is payday, I decided to fully book myself for a week. Every weekday had an intentional activity to help fight the late evening lag that usually leads to a rabbit hole of unhealthy habits, like staying up late to watch TV shows or the insomniac side effect of a midday nap.

Here’s what my new and improved schedule looked like:

Monday: Movie night (it’s $5 day in my area)

Tuesday: Run club or line dance class

Wednesday: Personal/professional projects (I tutor and work on my course assignments)

Thursday: Xtreme Hip-Hop step class

Friday: Free day (usually reserved for a good ol’ hoodrat reset)

Weekends are for cleaning, family time, and a few football games, of course. This is also a great time for volunteering or participating in personal spiritual practices.

My schedule came together naturally by exploring what was already around me and recommendations from friends. I love working out, so I joined local fitness clubs and classes. And $5 movie nights? Well iykyk, but that’s a tradition I’ve kept since my Las Vegas days. You can find fun community events on Eventbrite, Facebook, or even through your local recreation centers. Depending on your hobby, there’s probably a virtual option too! If you’re more into solo dolo things, you can schedule time blocks to read, run, bake, crochet, whatever your thing is. The possibilities are almost quite literally endless.

On a more “woo-woo” note, some people believe the days of the week are ruled by the seven planets. So if you’re into astrology, you can totally plan your week around that energy, too.

While my week looked intimidatingly busy on paper, taking it day by day—even hour by hour—and showing up (especially when I’d rather nap or doomscroll) turned out to be incredibly rewarding. The first week was slightly draining, but by the second week, I felt grounded, energized, and genuinely more in control of my life.

In today’s world, that kind of stability feels like a small miracle. So whether you’re hitting the gym, meeting friends, or diving into creative projects, remember making time for yourself, your community, and your joy isn’t just productive, it’s essential.