Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Rutinitas baru itu membuat saya kurang cemas menjelang ujian. - That new routine makes me less anxious before exams.

rutinitas baru = a new routine (not specified which one)
rutinitas baru itu = that new routine / the new routine (the listener already knows which one)

So itu makes the noun phrase refer to a specific, known routine.

Why is the adjective baru placed after rutinitas instead of before it?

In Indonesian, most adjectives come after the noun:

rumah besar = big house
buku lama = old book
rutinitas baru = new routine

So rutinitas baru is the normal order. Putting baru before the noun (e.g. baru rutinitas) would be wrong in this meaning.

How would the meaning change if I removed itu and just said Rutinitas baru membuat saya kurang cemas menjelang ujian?

Without itu, the sentence is more general:

Rutinitas baru itu... = That particular new routine... (specific, known)
Rutinitas baru... = A new routine / New routines... (more general or newly introduced idea)

Both are grammatically correct; itu only affects how specific the noun is.

How can I tell whether this sentence is past (“made me less anxious”) or present (“makes me less anxious”) if there is no tense marking?

Indonesian verbs do not change form for tense. Membuat can mean made, makes, or will make, depending on context.

So:

With a past-time context: it’s understood as made.
With a present-time or general context: makes.
With a future-time context: will make.

To make it explicit, you can add time words:

Kemarin, rutinitas baru itu membuat saya kurang cemas... (Yesterday, it made me…)
Sekarang, rutinitas baru itu membuat saya kurang cemas... (Now, it makes me…)

Why is it membuat saya kurang cemas and not membuat saya kurang merasa cemas?

In Indonesian, adjectives like cemas, senang, sedih, marah already function as “feel X” in many contexts. You usually don’t need merasa (to feel) in front of them.

Saya cemas. = I am anxious / I feel anxious.
Itu membuat saya cemas. = That makes me anxious.

Merasa is used when you want to emphasize the experience of feeling, but it’s often unnecessary here.
Membuat saya kurang cemas is shorter and more natural than membuat saya kurang merasa cemas.

What does kurang cemas literally mean, and is this a natural way to say “less anxious”?

Literally:

kurang = less / not enough
cemas = anxious

So kurang cemas = less anxious or not so anxious.

This is a very natural way to express “less X” in Indonesian:

kurang lapar = less hungry
kurang capek = less tired
kurang stres = less stressed

So membuat saya kurang cemas is a natural translation of “makes me less anxious”.

What is the difference between kurang cemas, tidak cemas, and lebih tenang?

They all relate to anxiety/calmness but with different nuances:

kurang cemas = less anxious / not so anxious
→ There is still some anxiety, but it’s reduced.
tidak cemas = not anxious
→ Suggests no anxiety at all.
lebih tenang = calmer / more calm
→ Focuses on calmness instead of anxiety. It implies increased calm, not just reduced anxiety.

So:

The original sentence: That new routine makes me *less anxious before the exam.*
With tidak cemas: That new routine makes me *not anxious at all before the exam.*
With lebih tenang: That new routine makes me *calmer before the exam.*

What does menjelang mean, and how is it different from just saying sebelum ujian?

Menjelang means something like as it approaches / nearing / in the run-up to.

menjelang ujian = as the exam is approaching; in the days/hours leading up to the exam
sebelum ujian = before the exam (any time before, more neutral)

Menjelang often suggests the period close to an event, not just any time before it. So it carries a slightly stronger feeling of “right before” than sebelum.

Can menjelang be used with times of day or other events too?

Yes. Menjelang is commonly used with times, days, and events:

menjelang malam = toward evening
menjelang subuh = toward dawn
menjelang Lebaran = in the run-up to Eid
menjelang akhir tahun = toward the end of the year

Pattern: menjelang + time/event = as that time/event is getting close.

Could I say aku instead of saya here? Would that change the tone?

Yes, grammatically you can switch saya with aku:

Rutinitas baru itu membuat aku kurang cemas menjelang ujian.

Difference in tone:

saya = neutral, polite, slightly more formal; safe in most situations
aku = informal, friendly, often used with close friends, family, or people your age

In writing (especially formal or semi-formal), saya is generally preferred.

Is the word order membuat saya kurang cemas menjelang ujian fixed, or can I move parts around?

The given order is the most natural:

[Rutinitas baru itu] [membuat] [saya] [kurang cemas] [menjelang ujian].

You have some limited flexibility, but changes can sound marked or unnatural. For example:

Rutinitas baru itu membuat saya menjelang ujian kurang cemas.
→ Grammatically possible, but sounds awkward.

The normal pattern is: Subject + membuat + object (person) + complement (feeling/state) + time phrase.

So it’s best to keep it as in the original sentence.

Is rutinitas a common word in Indonesian, or is there a more “native” alternative?

Rutinitas is a common and natural word in Indonesian, especially in modern speech and writing. It comes from the same root as English routine.

You could also say:

kebiasaan baru itu = that new habit
pola baru itu = that new pattern

But rutinitas baru itu specifically emphasizes a repeated, structured set of activities (a routine), and sounds perfectly normal.

How could I make this sentence a bit more formal or a bit more casual?

More formal:

Keep saya, maybe add formal context words:
- Rutinitas baru tersebut membuat saya kurang cemas menjelang ujian.
  (tersebut is a more formal version of itu.)

More casual:

Use aku, maybe a softer alternative like nggak terlalu cemas:
- Rutinitas baru itu bikin aku nggak terlalu cemas menjelang ujian.
  - bikin = informal for membuat
  - nggak = informal tidak
  - nggak terlalu cemas ≈ not too anxious

The original sentence is neutral and fits most situations.