Routines: The Building Blocks of Our Day

Take Pen to Paper: Edition 94

Jul 11, 2024

Welcome back, Friends!

If you are new to Take Pen to Paper, I’m glad you’re here.

My beach vacation ended almost two weeks ago. As I worked to get back into routine, I realized that the rhythm of the ocean waves is like the ins and outs of our daily activities. They lull us into the safety of their rhythm. But, occasionally, a big wave will come along and knock us off our feet. Sometimes, we struggle to get back on our feet and recapture the rhythm.

The same is true for our routines. Where would we be without them? We depend on the rhythm of our routine to carry us through the day and from day to day. Then, something comes along to throw us out of rhythm - like a vacation.

In this newsletter:

How does routine make you feel?
Do you get vacation hangovers?
Getting back into routine takes time.

Routines: The Structure of Life

You may think routines do not rule your life. Think again. Do you do the same thing when you get up in the morning? What about when you get home from work?

Chances are, you follow sets of routines throughout the day, whether you planned it or not. They give us structure, reduce decisions, and, in many situations, tell us what comes next. We build our day around our routines.

I have routines—I even took some on vacation with me! I try to stick to my typical breakfast. I went on morning walks. And I always take my journal and, at a minimum, write daily gratitude and intention.

Our routines ground us. They help us stay organized and remind us of our purpose.

I don’t know about you, but I am comforted by my routine. It makes me feel at home and balanced.

As much as I love my routine(s), I love a vacation. However, isn’t the point of vacation to get out of your routine?

Hangovers Come in Many Forms

I’ll never forget the first time I read the words “book hangover.”

Well-developed characters, a plot that pulls you in, twists and turns, and an ending that makes the book well worth the read are some of the elements that give me a book hangover. The book is so good I find it hard to leave the story behind and pick up my next read. That is a book hangover. (Like the one I have from a murder mystery I just finished in which the murderer is revealed in chapter 25, and there are only 27 chapters in the book!)

Well, you can have vacation hangovers, too.

Even though you’ve been out of routine, you’ve enjoyed every moment. You may even think you could live that way forever. Early retirement? Moving to a place with a similar atmosphere? You consider ways to make it possible.

Reality sets in, and you realize making your dream come true is going to require much planning, work, and probably, money. You go home, and the hangover begins.

My biggest hangover symptom was missing my granddaughters. I got to see them seven days in a row!

Getting Back Into Routine

It’s so easy to jump out of routine.

Have you ever thought about what you need to jump back into your routine? Maybe jump is the wrong verb. Trudge may be more accurate.

It’s not unlike the time I will need to recover from the book I just read. Even with an established routine, I found I needed to be rested and start from the beginning after my vacation. By that, I mean I didn’t start when we got home at noon, which was certainly plenty of time to do so. I had difficulty returning to whatever I would normally do on a Sunday. No, I needed to wait until the beginning of the next day!

One reason this is difficult is the need for decision-making.

By trying to start in the middle of a Sunday, it was a strain to decide if I should begin at the point in my typical Sunday afternoon routine or Sunday morning routine. It was much easier to wait until Monday morning—no decision necessary! (Thank you, routines.)

I also needed to unwind from my vacation and reclaim my mindset about everyday living at home and the responsibilities that come with it.

In fact, unless vacations or traveling are your way of life, you may find it just as difficult as I do to get back into routine.

7 Days, 7 Thoughts on Gratitude and Good:

Supports for staying in a routine are good things. My oldest granddaughter immediately fell in love with jumping the waves. But one day, the waves were coming in rough, and, as the picture above shows, she needed a little support from two of her grandpas.
It’s a good thing to take some of your routine(s) with you when you’re away from home, like I do with my journaling routine or my granddaughters with their bedtime routines.
I’m grateful that I take my gratitude journaling routine with me. It helps me start every day on a positive note, regardless of where I am. If you are interested in starting a journaling routine, I can help you. Just let me know.
Listening to harpist Mary Lattimore is part of my oldest granddaughter’s bedtime routine. Here’s a sample for you to listen to.
Here’s a short article about the benefits of routines.
When I first started writing, I wrote this story, and this story about routines for children.
Being out of routine is a good thing. It gives us an appreciation for the routines we have established and follow.

Thank you for reading. Take some time to study your routine. Is it helping you stay focused on your purpose?

Until next time,

💚

Susan

Do you have a routine that you can’t live without? What does it revolve around? Leave a comment and tell me about it.

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