How To Explain Your Daily Routine In English For Interviews

Updated 23 February 2023

One of the most common questions candidates face in an interview is 'What is your daily routine?'. This is a typical behavioural question for entry-level candidates to understand their degree of discipline and their ability to handle a job's responsibilities. Learning how to formulate your response to this question can help you provide an outstanding answer that reveals your positive attitude and personality, which may impress the interviewer. In this article, we discuss how to describe your daily routine in English for interviews, explain why hiring managers ask this question and provide some useful sample answers.

How To Explain Your Daily Routine In English For Interviews?

Typically, recruiters ask to explain your daily routine in English for interviews to get an in-depth view of what your life looks like outside work. An individual's daily routine reflects their attitude towards life, their sense of organisation and discipline, their personal traits and how they manage their physical and mental health. All these factors are necessary to determine whether an individual is the right choice for a specific role, which may involve busy days or require considerable mental agility. This question gauges your overall quality of life and your ability to handle personal questions in a professional manner.

When answering this question, it is important that you only provide the details of your personal life that are relevant to your professional activities. College graduates and entry-level candidates who are entering the workforce for the first time face this question more often, as they have less experience in balancing their professional and personal commitments. With a well-crafted answer, you can convince the recruiter that you are the ideal candidate for the position on offer.

How To Answer 'What Is Your Daily Routine?' In An Interview?

Follow these steps to prepare your answer to this common entry-level interview question:

1. Discuss your morning routine

A morning routine usually involves how and when you wake up. This may mean that you wake up when a member of your family calls you or when the alarm clock goes off. You can also add what you do immediately after waking up, such as yoga or some other exercise. As morning routines can set the tone for the day, describing them in detail can give the interviewer an insight into how your day begins. You can also add additional information about why you have a particular morning routine and how it benefits you.

Example: "I am not an early riser. I do not set the alarm clock, but I normally wake up at 8:30 a.m. After spending 10-15 minutes in bed, I get up and do some light stretches. As I like peace and quiet in the morning, I drink my coffee in silence, which gives me time to mentally plan my day. Every day is different, so I usually use this time to organise my tasks. I avoid touching any electronic devices before breakfast."

2. Mention your daily activities

Mention some of the daily tasks you accomplish before going to work or college. Interviewers purposefully ask about your daily routine, as they want to know about your personal habits. To answer the question, discuss your daily activities before describing your workday.

Example: "After breakfast, I check my messages and emails to see if anything requires immediate attention. After that, I make my bed, clean my room, wash my clothes and do my daily shop at the supermarket. On busy days, I may also prepare my food for the day and visit my grandma to make sure she is well."

3. Describe your average day

This is one of the most important parts of the answer, as it addresses your attitude towards your work or your studies. It is where you describe your professional responsibilities or academic tasks. You can include specific techniques you use to maintain concentration, increase productivity and improve the quality of your work. Add anecdotes about what you like and what you find challenging about your average day at work or where you study. Your answer indicates how you may work if they hire you. Make sure to be honest and objective.

Example: "My classes usually start at 11 a.m., and I take the metro to college. On the journey, I catch up on the news, or I read the required study material. My classes end at 5:30 p.m., with a lunch break from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. For literature graduates, the classes focus mainly on the different periods and movements of Indian and English literature. I remain attentive in the lectures I attend and note down the important points. If I have classwork to do, I use the timer on my phone to ensure that I complete it by the set deadline.

During lunch, I chat with my friends and we eat together, which gives me a much-needed break and fulfils my daily quota of social interaction. I feel rejuvenated and happy after my day at college, as I feel that I have learnt something new and interesting and that I have spent some quality time with my friends. What I dislike the most is the commute back home when I feel tired and there is a lot of traffic."

4. Talk about your hobbies

Revealing any hobbies or passions to the interviewer can highlight your personality. Having a hobby also indicates that your life does not revolve solely around your work or your studies and that you also prioritise your personal needs. You can mention the benefits this has for you.

Example: "I grab some food on my way back from college and go straight to my guitar lesson. Although I do not have any aspirations to become a musician, I really enjoy playing musical instruments. Focusing on the guitar's tunes brings me inner peace."

5. Describe your evenings

Typically, your leisure time is in the evening when you have finished all your tasks for the day. How you spend the time you have for yourself can indicate a lot about your personality. Describe what you do in your free time and explain how it benefits you. This part of the answer can be brief.

Example: "On returning home, I spend time with my parents and play with my siblings. I also help out in the kitchen and do any other necessary household tasks. I read for an hour before dinner, which is an old habit of mine. After we finish dinner at 11 p.m., I may study, or I may watch a movie. I really enjoy anime films."

6. Discuss your night routine

A night routine is your process of getting ready for bed. It may involve meditating, a cold shower or simply some night-time music. Having a proper night routine shows that the quality of your sleep is as important to you as your daytime activities. This is also another opportunity to show that you have a healthy lifestyle.

Example: "At night, I write my daily journal, wash my face, apply moisturiser and put on some natural sounds or white noise to help me go to sleep. As I suffer from insomnia, I also take melatonin strips every night. I am usually asleep by 1:30 a.m."

Sample Answer For 'What Is Your Daily Routine?'

The following is a sample response to an interview question regarding your daily routine:

"I usually wake up at 7 a.m., but on weekends, I wake up at 9 a.m. I practice Pranayam exercises in the morning to start the day with positivity and vitality. By 8:30 a.m., I have tidied up, taken a shower, put on my office clothes and eaten my breakfast. During this time, I also read the news and check my messages. I leave home at around 8:50 a.m. and take the morning bus to work.

At the office, I make myself and my colleagues some coffee, and we discuss our agenda for the day. I then check my emails, report to my boss and start working on brand advertisements and website promotions. I stay focused on my work and take ten-minute breaks every 50 minutes to rest a little. During this time, I stroll around the office or have a quick snack. This kind of reward system helps me stay productive throughout the day. I have lunch at around 1 p.m. and try to leave work by 5 p.m.

Once at home, I shower, pray, water my plants and finish any chores I may have. I spend my evenings painting, which has been my passion since I was very young. Painting helps me release any stress I may have and calms me down. I make dinner, prepare what I need for breakfast the next morning and lay out my clothes for the following day. I finish dinner by 10 p.m., and then I scroll through various social media sites for an hour or so. At about 11:30 p.m., I brush my teeth, and go to bed."

How To Explain Your Daily Routine In English For Interviews