Page last updated on 7th July 2026
Routines help Brits bring order to busy lives
Three-quarters of Brits say their regular habits have helped them save money, with those who saved putting away an average of £320 in the last year.
Why routines matter
Whether it’s making your morning coffee, planning meals for the week or checking your bank balance, routines can help bring structure to our hectic lives.
Our research found:
Three in four people say routines help them feel more organised and in control.
People follow an average of six regular routines to help manage everyday life.
81% say their morning routine helps them start the day in the right way.
90% believe regular habits are important for managing household finances.
It’s proof that even small habits can add up over time.
The power of everyday routines
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Harry: Brits rely on so many different routines to help get the most out of life – from exercising, morning rituals, even to how we manage our money. It’s safe to say, we’re a routine nation.
Harry: I’m here to meet Sarah to see what we can learn from each other about our routines.
[Knock on door]
Sarah: Hello!
Harry: Sarah, thanks for having me in your home. Appreciate the invite. Talk to me about your daily routine, what does it look like?
Sarah: We’re up early, I get Jack up ready for school, get ready for work myself, then come home, Jack’s home, dinner, bath, bed.
Harry: So how do your routines help you keep towards your budget?
Sarah: I’ll go onto like the loyalty apps for the supermarkets, see if there’s any money off, any vouchers, anything like that.
Harry: So a little source told me that you’ve got a bit of a to-do list.
Sarah: Yeah I like to keep track on everything that’s going on in our day-to-day lives.
Harry: So keeping your house in check sounds like a bit of a mammoth list, do you ever get any help with it?
Sarah: Never!
[Harry laughs]
Harry: Do you fancy some today?
Sarah: Absolutely, yes please!
Harry: You got your man.
[Harry helps Sarah with household chores – vacuuming, hanging laundry, cleaning the kitchen counter.]
Sarah: So this is something else that helps me manage day-to-day things, and that’s my smart meter display over there.
Harry: I know exactly what that is because I’ve got one at home myself.
Sarah: Oh you have?
Harry: Yes. How does this work in your routine?
Sarah: Every day I check it, see what’s going on. I can see exactly how much [energy] we’ve used every day, and keep a track of it that way. It really does help.
Harry: Sarah thank you so much for having me in your house today. It’s genuinely been a bit of a learning lesson for myself just to know how a routine and your smart meter display can help you save money, and also manage your life so much better.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey knows how important consistency can be.
TV personality and Olympian Harry, also known as Nitro from Gladiators, says, “I’ve always believed that success comes from doing the simple things consistently. Life can get hectic, so routines help me stay focused and moving in the right direction. You can’t always control everything that happens in a day, but you can control how you start it. Movement in the morning wakes me up, clears my head and sets the tone for the rest of the day."
How smart meters can become part of your routine
Many people are already making tracking their energy use part of their everyday habits.
Our research found that:
65% of people with a smart meter say it helps them keep track of how much energy they’re using and what it’s costing.
Almost half say their smart meter has encouraged them to build energy-saving habits at home.
Checking your in-home display can become just another quick part of your day, helping you understand your energy use and make informed decisions about your household.
Sarah Fitzgerald, a busy mum-of-two from Essex, knows how important routines are when it comes to managing family life.
Sarah Fitzgerald, a busy mum-of-two from Essex, knows how important routines are when it comes to managing family life.
For Sarah, routines help keep family life running smoothly – whether that’s managing her home, keeping track of their budget, or having an eye on their energy use.
Sharing, “I check my in-home display regularly as part of my routine and it helps me keep an eye on things without having to think too hard about it.”
Sarah has also found that the smart meter display has helped her children become more aware of the energy they use around the home.
Small habits. Big difference.
Feeling more in control doesn’t always mean making big changes.
Whether it’s preparing for the day ahead, staying on top of your finances or understanding your household energy use, building simple routines can help make everyday life feel more manageable.
For many households, checking their smart meter display has become one of those small everyday habits, providing useful information that can help people track and manage their energy use and stay on top of household spending.
Saving money
You can use a smart meter to help you save money by using an in-house display to monitor your energy use in near real-time. Read about money saving with a smart meter.
Saving energy
If you're looking to reduce energy consumption and stay on top of what you spent, a smart meter could help. Read about monitoring your energy usage with a smart meter.
Saving the environment
A smart meter is a small step for households but could help reduce our carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. Read about how a smart meter could help our environment.