How To Set Habits & Routines Into Your Ministry
One of the things I started to realise this year (2025) was that I needed to implement habits and routines in my life and ministry to ensure that my productivity levels were back to normal. When you work for yourself, burnout is something you experience a lot of if you don’t have the right system in place.
So by making time for self-improvement I was creating a balanced lifestyle for me and my ministry as well as finding ways to stay productive when ministry wasn’t where I thought it would be after years of pursuing the call on your life. Building new or updating existing habits and routines may be something to consider. If you’re anything like me, being organised and productive and having systems that work for you is a priority goal—this is good when you have slow ministry months.
It wasn’t until June 2025 that I realised I needed a reset. This is something I used to do years ago but stopped doing for a while until this year. To help me do this, I created a strategy to guide me through this process. Before we start, here are some things to consider:
Roadblocks—are there mindsets, actions or existing habits that are stopping you from finding motivation or being proactive and productive in life and ministry? Are there people you live with who keep distracting or interrupting you or are demanding your time and energy?
Mental Obstacles—this can be negative self-talk from you or others that is stopping you from making progress. Think about the areas in your life that have been affected by what you say or what others have said to you. Has it prevented you, or is it preventing you, from taking action, and how has it hindered you from pursuing something now or in the future?
Boundaries—this is something we overlook when it comes to productivity. Mainly because we don’t notice the effects straight away, like burnout. This happens because we are trying to do everything for ourselves and others even when we should delegate, automate and tell that person no more than yes. If this is you, ask yourself: what boundaries should I be setting or putting into practice for myself and others? What activities need your attention, and which ones don’t? Who do you need to say no to more this month or year (set yourself a goal and habit)?
Productivity Tip: Another way to look at it is if someone asks you to do something you don’t want to do, it’s ok to say no. If it is something you have to do, you have control when you do it. For me, if someone comes to me and the task they want done takes less than 5 mins or no effort to complete, I will use it as a means to take a break. If I’m really busy, I tell them to come back. Remember boundaries are important; they protect your time and allow you to focus on what benefits you, so set them wisely!
Okay, now that’s done, how are you going to build the right habits and routines moving forward?
1—Create A Prompts/Triggers List
These are prompts from God or yourself to help you get back into the habit of doing something or implement a new habit. Some triggers may be simpler than others. If they are too complex to start, take your time and don’t be in a rush to achieve it—this can lead to burnout (nobody wants that!).
If you have developed some bad habits, this is a great opportunity to swap them for good and godly ones. In order to make that happen, you need to recognise the systems you have built around them, knowingly or unknowingly. Identifying your triggers is a good place to start, especially if you’re someone who finds themselves doing it on autopilot.
Here are some things you should consider:
Morning routine—Do you find it hard or easy to get up? Are you someone who goes to look at your phone first thing? Are there habits you notice are preventing you from waking up or having a productive morning—like sleep? Have you thought about having two routines—one for slow days and one for busy days? For example, if you have a lot to do that day, maybe prioritise certain morning tasks—your non-negotiables for days like these. You're not compromising; you're just being realistic and taking the pressure off.
Evening Routine—Do you have a night routine? Is it something you get excited to do, or do you dread it or avoid it altogether? Are there things you could change or implement but haven’t gotten around to, or are you trying to do too much and need to assess if they’re working for you? Have things changed, and what once worked for you isn’t working anymore?
Ministry Workday—Workflow System—what you do to get things off your to-do list. Are there things you notice are or aren’t working? Have you built some habits that are hindering you from being productive during this time? Do you have a workday routine? What are some tasks you can implement before or after to help you stay motivated and productive during this time period? Are you someone who needs to block out time first thing or time before to come up with a plan of action—a to-do list you want to prioritise or a schedule? Think about where your workday routine is right now and where you would like it to be—set yourself a goal and see what happens.
Call to action: Take some time to reflect on what your triggers are or the prompts you need to take action. This should be something that stimulated you to want to do something or a gut instinct or a person you watch. By identifying what they are and how they affect you, it will allow you to decide if you want to keep, stop or replace it with something better. Basically, you’re assessing what influences you. In addition to that:
Identify no more than 3 habits you want to change or make more productive.
Look at your main 3 routines (morning, evening and workday) and audit them. Look at where you can improve it to work for you. See if you need new ones or to adapt your existing ones. But most importantly, keep it simple!
Set yourself a timetable—give yourself time to implement these changes and test something out before you commit to them for a while.
2—Think About What You Desire
These are what make you want to do things; they are your internal navigation systems—the feelings you have towards a goal, aspiration or upcoming task or project. What you desire plays a role in how you show up in life and ministry. Some desires are stronger than others, but overall they help you set the standard and make the decision about what you want or need to do in life, business and ministry.
If you’re unsure what your desires are, here are some things to think about and pray on:
What do you wish you were doing right now? This can be on a personal, spiritual, financial or ministerial level.
Do you enjoy your life or ministry? Think about which areas bring you joy or stress.
Is there something you’re craving but don’t have the time, budget or motivation to do?
What do you associate ministry with? Is it something positive or negative? Achievable or unattainable?
Is there something you wish or are praying would happen this year, month, or week?
3—Implement a Rewards System
They are what you will give yourself when you have taken action. These can be internal or external rewards, small or big, or right after completing something or over a period of weeks or months. Depending on what you’re trying to implement, be as realistic as possible. Not all rewards have to be physical. Some can be going for a walk or treating yourself after a task or project with your favourite snack or even television show.
Rewards are meant to incentivise you to want to do something. By creating these rewards for yourself, you are renewing your mind with a habit you want to eventually do automatically without the rewards.
Call to action: What are 3 reward systems you can implement right now? They don’t have to be expensive or fancy; they just have to work for you and be enticing enough to want to obtain them. It can be something you enjoy doing that you can turn into a reward. Be creative and keep it simple—think about
A reward box you keep somewhere to bless yourself. Fill it with things you would like.
Have a list of places you would like to visit or shows you would like to watch.
Make plans to go out as an incentive to get it done—this can be a date with yourself, family or a friend.
Final Thoughts—It’s OK To Create A Routine and Set Habits That Work For You
If you want to change any of your habits or routines, you first have to identify what they are, where they are coming from, or who. Secondly, find a strategy to help you build and implement a new one or update your existing ones. Each step is going to require you to be honest with yourself so you can create habits and routines that align with you right now and how God wants you to show up in life and ministry.
