Routine

This past week I have been at home but out of practice of my normal routine in a profound way. It was an odd juxtaposition of being in my normal habitat but seeming to live another's life. Once my engagement was over, and I could return to my normal daily routine, I was hit with how crucial it is for a grounded, creative, and nurturing. 

Routine is a safety net we create for ourselves. It eliminates unnecessary questions so we can focus on creativity and growth. It's a solid foundation from which we can observe the changing world. Almost like a daily experiment, keeping as many variables constant as you can allows you to process changes and react to them appropriately. Being a parent, you know how important routine is for young children. Predictability is a tool to make you feel safe.

On a daily scale, routines are stable, but over years, they may evolve. You'll naturally drop things that don't serve you and pick up new rituals. Sometimes these are ones you've read or been told about, the newest habit fad every influencer is peddling. These come and go. I have certainly fallen for these in the past. A morning run, protein coffee, overnight oats, protein overnights oats, a cold shower... Sooner or later they begin to fade away, with only faint remnants gently moving my equilibrium to a new normal.

Routines can have a bad rap, especially simple routines. They may be perceived as boring, or a waste of time. You could be more productive! You could be habit stacking! You should be doing more!

I see them quite differently now. It is not the mechanics of your routine that matter, it is what it enables that is profound. Because a routine is not simply unconscious habit, it is a daily devotional practice to an observant life.