May 4th, 2020
“The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.” - Mike Murdock
You may have heard the saying, “Humans are creatures of habit”. This saying has some truth to it and if one examines their life, they may see this saying come to fruition. What does this phrase mean? What does it mean that people are creatures of habit?
To start, it would be helpful to define and describe what a routine is and how it is utilized by people. A routine is a process of doing the same thing over and over again on purpose. While this may sound miserable and monotonous to some, it can be extremely beneficial to one’s life to have and develop a routine.
Now that there has been an established definition of a routine, the conversation can turn to why a routine is beneficial. There are a number of reasons why developing a routine can be helpful in one’s life. Developing a routine can help with a wide range of things including productivity, sleep, energy levels, mood, and attitude, and possibly with one’s overall quality of life. In the following sections, the range of benefits that could come from developing a routine will be discussed and highlighted.
A routine can help those who have trouble keeping a schedule, do just that, and keep a schedule. Sometimes, people who have trouble keeping a schedule have difficulty with it because there are so many things going on in their lives. With today’s society and all of the options for things to do, places to go, and things to interact with it is easy to get lost in all of the chaos. Developing a routine that one can stick to day in and day out can help individuals stick to a plan and keep that plan.
Creating a routine can help one increase their productivity as well. Developing a schedule can help one prioritize the things that need done in one’s life and allow the most important things to get done. Instead of wandering through life without a plan, a routine can give a roadmap for getting things done day in and day out. If you don’t believe that developing a plan can help increase your productivity, then try it out for a few weeks and see how much more you can accomplish!
We began this discussion by noting that, humans are creatures of habit. Humans like consistency and a routine gives us just that. By having a routine scheduled out, we can plan ahead for what is to come and have fewer surprises in our days and weeks. By doing the same things at the same time each day, it is possible to develop a sense of normalcy and comfort in the pattern that is developed.
If you are someone who has difficulty with scheduling and sticking to a plan, the thought of developing a routine could illicit some fear or hesitancy. Fear not, as developing a routine is simple if you follow just a few easy steps…
The first step is identifying what is most important to you. What is something that you need to get done every day to be productive or to feel good and accomplished? Or, what kind of things do you have to get done on a daily basis? These things that come to mind are elements you can put into your routine. For example, brushing your teeth is a good thing to do daily. Putting this in your routine is a start for establishing a pattern and routine.
It can be helpful to make a list of these things that you need to do and then plot the elements into different times in your day on your schedule. Once you have planned out your schedule for most of your day then you can set reminders to hold you accountable to your routine.
Finally, it is important to stick to your routine even if you miss something on your schedule. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss something in your routine, just continue on with the routine and stick to the schedule as best you can!
Plans change. Things come up. Be flexible with your routine and make adjustments to your schedule and routine when necessary. Learning how to adjust, whether it be in advance or at the last minute, is an important part of figuring out how to go with the flow. If you need to adjust, it is okay, just get back to your regular routine when available and continue onward!
There are many reasons to develop and stick to a routine. Having a routine can help with sticking to a schedule, being more productive, and helping with sleep, to just name a few benefits of a routine. A guideline has been provided for how to develop and stick to a routine. If you are struggling with anything from organization to anxiety and are looking for some relief, try setting a routine. Give it a try and stick with it even if it is hard; over time you will develop a routine that works for you!
At Clarity Clinic, we have highly trained staff who specialize in therapy and psychiatry services. To learn more about how we can support your mental health, call Clarity Clinic at (312) 815-9660 or schedule an appointment today.
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