I’m paraphrasing but there’s an old saying:
“Adventure is dangerous, but routine will kill you”
Yes and yes. What if adventure is dangerous? What if routine will kill you? What if you need both to get by?
I can be incredibly spontaneous, I fall in love (with shoes) at first sight all the time, my desires can change, there are days when I feel like someone different every few hours. And yet, I thrive best when I have a bit of a routine. I need a bit of structure, I do my best work when I’m secure, without a plan I waste time like a champ. Balancing all of that is my greatest struggle.
This past year, and really all the time as I’ve always worked from home, has been hard as I’ve felt that no routine has lasted more than a few weeks. Yet, with the start of the new season, and the new year (Jewish!) I’ve been determined to find (and stick to) a routine that works for me. With just enough structure to keep me thriving and just enough adventure to keep me on my toes (and creative). Some of my goals? A sleep routine (go to bed a bit earlier, wake up a bit earlier), some schedules (workouts, shoots, etc), and some other goals (all the water drinking, walking, etc). Some routines have been easy to fall into. Some others? Not so much.
So what is it about routines that make them difficult? Both sticking to them and not getting drowned by them. I’m not sure that I have all the answers. There are days when I feel great about my progress and days when I wonder what I’m doing. On both kinds of days I’m attempting to give myself grace.
What else am I trying?
*lists. Which is weird, I know. But when I give myself detailed things to do and accomplish that I can cross off (if you tell me that crossing something off a list doesn’t feel good, I don’t know that I believe you!) I tend to get more done. Which leads me to :
*alarms. To get up, yes. But for tasks, for time lines, for all my little goals
*measuring. My steps. My glasses of water. My writing. Outfits. Shopping. It’s both daunting and helpful
*rewards. Corny? Perhaps. But they help keep me motivated and on the right track. From a glass of wine to revising my Wishlist, I pick both small things and work towards large things. These things keep me working towards my own best interests, even when it’s difficult or I stray a bit.
I would love to know: what are your tips for switching your routines up and sticking to them? What are your current routines? Your current goals?
Wishing us all a week of routine, progress and amazing shoes! XO RA