I’ve recently started an experiment in rhythms and routines. For a long time I’ve been bemoaning the lack of solid routine and structure within my working week. It only took a world pandemic to force my hand to actually sit down and create a routine for myself. In this post I’m going to talk about my daily routine experiment. I’ll cover the importance of – and problems with – routines and share some ideas for how you can go about creating a routine that works for you.
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The benefits of a daily routine
The importance of routine for mental health is well known and documented. Daily and weekly routines help to keep us grounded and stick to positive habits. Happiness researcher and author Gretchen Rubin writes a lot about routine, and how her routines help her to feel freer. From an Ayurvedic perspective routine is incredibly important. Certain times of day are considered more supportive of certain activities than others, and seasonal adjustments to our daily routines are recommended in order to support our health.
Routine can be a balancing thing for all three doshas for different reasons. For earthy, heavy Kapha types a good routine can help provide motivation to get going. A routine provides fiery Pittas space to schedule in relaxation, meditation and down time. Airy Vatas are literally grounded by a solid routine. During times of change or crisis, such as the Coronavirus pandemic we see ourselves facing right now, our particular dosha or doshas can become elevated and so we can really use routine to our benefit. Vata in particular may become heightened during these times, causing feelings of fear and anxiety. Speaking from firsthand experience a solid routine is a lifesaver for heightened Vata energy.
The problems with routine
Of course routines aren’t all good. They can become limiting, restrictive and actually stop us from doing things. Whilst a big advocate for routines Gretchen Rubin has also written on the happiness boosting benefits of making a break from your usual routine. This is where the idea of flexibility comes in. In order to be helpful, a routine needs to be flexible. This is why author Brooke McAlary writes about rhythms rather than routines in her books.
“I’m a huge advocate of living a rhythmic life, as opposed to a strictly routine one. The notion of rhythm is a much friendlier, more flexible option, and it fits comfortably in our life.”
A rhythm can seem more adaptable than a routine. If it gets dropped it can be picked up again, and perhaps become a new song played in a different tempo. If a routine gets dropped, it can seem like it’s broken. This is, of course, just semantics and it’s up to you what words you use. I’ve opted for a combo of rhythm and routine, bearing in mind a full awareness that my routine is a flexible thing.
How to create a daily routine that works for you
Part of the reason it took me so long to get around to doing my daily routine experiment was I felt stuck on the how. My Pitta perfectionist nature was worried about getting it wrong, and being stuck with something that didn’t work. Two rules I had to bear in mind to create my routine were:
- This is an experiment
- I can change this as I go
Once you remember those things it becomes much easier to get started. To begin take some time to think about the things you need to feel good each day, the things you need to make sure you do each day (for me that’s things like taking breaks and relaxing), and the different tasks you need to do each day. When it comes to filling in your routine my advice is to keep it simple. I find putting different categories into different time slots (rather than specific tasks) creates the freedom I need within the structure of my routine.
Taking this time to build your routine can be a good moment to assess what you’d like your days to feel like, and how you may be able to use your routine to support that. Alternatively, you could use your routine experiments to help you figure this out.
Sticking to your routine
Once you have your first routine experiment you actually need to start sticking to it. Part of the practice here is learning to listen to your intuition around when you actually need to be flexible with your routine, and when you need the discipline to stick with it. You may want to consider if there are any cycles in your life you’ll need to adapt your routine around; for example if you work shifts, or if you’re a woman with a monthly cycle.
Above all remember that this is an experiment, have fun with figuring out a routine that works for you. And remember to review it any time it feels stale and like it isn’t serving you.