The Routines of Life

Routines. Does that sound a little boring? Are you more excited when you think about the unexpected? Or when you think about getting out of the “routine” to do something new or different? Yes…I get it! And at the same time, I have come to understand that routines in our lives should not be despised.
Let’s think about this word…routine.
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Routine: a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program.
Regular and fixed are the words I pick up from this definition.
Regular means something is constant or a definite and specific pattern in your life.
​Fixed means it’s fastened securely in position. Something is firm and stable.
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There are many things in life that are not stable or fixed. There are surprises that pop up! So what is the big deal about routines. Why should we consider this topic?

My morning

Routines in life—especially in our day-to-day life—can help us manage the stressors of life. There can be a comfort in the “known” things of our lives when other things feel in flux and in chaos. I can count on that morning coffee time. I can count on the nighttime journaling time. I can count on that Friday night movie with my friends, etc. Though things at work or other areas of life may feel out of sync, these routines are stable and fixed. The stable and fixed (even the simple stuff) can remind us that not all of life is out of sync.

Routines can organize our thoughts, our typical tasks, our repeated behaviors (brushing teeth, bill paying, etc.). With this organization, we can identify open time/space in our life for other things…maybe with some adjustments. We can make better judgments about what we can say “YES” to and what we need to say “NO” to.
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Routines can cover our weaknesses and make us look smart! Hehehe! What do I mean by this? Well, if I have a routine of putting my keys on a specific hook when I get home, then I will have less times of madly looking for my keys and seeming like the bumbling woman who forgets where her keys are!

What are some routines we can create that will help us work towards a more stable and peaceful life? Here are some of my thoughts…

• Organizing the cash in my wallet. Clean out the receipts. Put the bills in order (smallest to largest). Put any coins in a specific section.​
• Having a specific spot for my phone and reading glasses in my purse.
• Having a specific hook, chain, pocket, etc. for my keys in my purse.
• Weekly/Daily tasks/To Do Lists. Writing it down. Putting it on my digital calendar. This keeps me accountable and offers me reminders, especially when life is moving at a fast pace.

Afternoon coffee breaks are a routine

• Establishing “wake up” routines (readings, journaling, daily declarations, prayers, listening to music/pod casts, showering, breakfast routine). Create a routine. You may have a couple of different routines depending on your days. You may have a work week “wake up” routine and a weekend “wake up” routine.
• Establishing “goodnight” routines (readings, journaling, listening to soothing music or sounds, turning off your devices, stretches, a hot shower, prayers). Create a routine that helps you relax and begin to signal to your body you are preparing to sleep. You begin to shut down. You put all the planning, thoughts of worry, etc. on the shelf to wait for another day. Journaling can be a good way to get those thoughts out of your head and close the book on them until the next day.
• What would you put here?? What are your ideas??