*Beep – Beep – Beep* The familiar sound of your alarm pings at a probably way too early hour and then you automatically begin ticking off your daily checklist. Make your bed – check; get ready for the day – check; feed the dog – check; grab a bagel on the way out – check. While everyone’s morning routine may look a little different, you probably do the same things in a similar order most days. These steps may seem mundane and automatic but having a routine is good for you.
Over the course of our lives, almost everything is based on a routine. Starting with what time we took naps as children to what time we clock in to work, having a routine creates predictability and rhythm, and acts as a guide for us to navigate daily life. When we have and follow a routine, we can have a better idea of what outcomes to expect and, as a result, we thrive.
The benefits of routine are plentiful. Mental health professional, Rachel Blau, MHC-LP, suggests routines allow us to get better rest, make better eating decisions, manage our stress more effectively, and may be helpful in how we manage certain mental health conditions. Routines aren’t just nice to have – they are crucial to our well being.
Just as having routine has benefits, lacking routine can be harmful. Without it, important to-dos may start slipping through the cracks. You may also find it harder to identify your purpose if your hours are spent anxiously wondering about what to do instead of taking action, as is described in “The Hidden Toll of Ignored Daily Routines.” Like the domino effect, when we have structure, we can know what to expect. When we know what to expect, we can make better decisions. When we make better decisions, we can live a more comfortable life.
We have all had times or seasons where situations innately involve abandoning our routines – like moving, dealing with a crisis, or even being on vacation. Did you find yourself a bit more on edge at the end of one of these routine-free, unpredictable days? I would argue that’s a case for a predictable schedule and routine.
Our daily habits are a part of us and make us who we are. So, go ahead, start checking off that list.