The Power in a Routine

I remember a time where I hated routines. The monotony of a routine and being predictable. So for me, every day would be different and I was determined to never fall into the trap of a schedule and become boring. It’s how I associated it. 

There was still a list of tasks to complete for each day, but I would do so depending on the how I was setup for  work for that day. I had a schedule for work that afforded me flexibility which was perfect in mirroring an unscheduled day. 

As time passed though, and maybe only now in my life do I see how critical a routine can be. Through the lockdown periods, to keep the mind in an ok state, I realised that a schedule to keep time occupied was crucial to have some semblance of what was remaining the same when so much around us was in a state of unpredictability. 

I see it valid too, for people who are sick and house bound and uninspired to do anything. The simplest of tasks like having breakfast, brushing your teeth and making your bed can force you to pick yourself up and move, even if it’s a little. And while we may dread them, they start to form some structure for our day and help us decide or plan how the rest could loook. 

Repetitive behaviours are critical in resetting the mind and creating a life of success. The thought pattern is that the most successful people in the world maximise the hours of their day because they stick to a routine each day. And if something isn’t working, it is tweaked to allow for greater performance and output.