The paradox of routine

Welcome to the 12th edition of ‘Let’s Talk!’, this week I wanted to leave you with something that’s been on my mind for quite some time..Also - we're almost at 300 subscribers! Yay!

What essential aspect of our lives do we often appreciate less than we should, only to miss it deeply when it's disrupted? A routine of course! If your answer was anything else, you might want to reevaluate your life choices ;)

So is a routine a good or bad thing? I guess it depends on who you ask! For some, it's the daily grind, a monotonous march from work to home. But for others, it's a comforting structure, a familiar rhythm that provides stability.? But, the aspect I want to discuss today is not about the pros or cons of a routine but going a step deeper into understanding how a routine with intent doesn't just fill your days but enriches your life.

Over the past few years, I've been toying around with my daily routine, and I've learned a thing or two along the way! Some of these lessons may surprise you..?

#1 Finding Joy in Everyday Moments

Yes, the 9-5 routine can wear you down at times. But, scheduling small breaks or time slots to have fun at work can do wonders! You can spruce up your boring routine with tiny tweaks as big upheavals can be overwhelming. Something as simple as catching up with a colleague over coffee or spending 5 minutes in silence..these little bursts of joy can brighten your workday leaving you quite energized!

Similarly, a chaotic environment of an early stage company or while building your own business, can be challenging. But, this can also be an opportunity to bring teams together by creating rituals or habits. And sometimes that lack of ‘strucutre’ can simply make you appreciate it more ;)?

#2 Simplifying Life and Boosting Well-being

Over the better part of the past year, while I was not part of the corporate world - it became all the more difficult to maintain a routine. But, this is where it got interesting - because I got to decide what I wanted to do with my day and how to allocate the time needed. To a large extent, a routine should help you make minimal decisions for everyday things think meal prep, subscriptions, calendar or app reminders for meditation etc. I realized this benefit only lately! Going to the gym at a certain time or scheduling grocery delivery helped relieve the anxiety associated with the decision of “How to live healthily every day?” Simple - sign up for the gym at the same time 3-4 times a week and somehow show up. Even on the darkest of days, it came as a sliver of light when I managed to finish a session of weight training or cardio. Now, I centre my days around it and have been the best version of myself ever since!

#3 Finding peace in predictability?

Having some basic structure without having every minute detailed also greatly improved my mental health as well! As the opportunities to stress over ‘What next?’ or ‘How come?’ were easily addressed just by adding some structure to my day. The fact that it made me feel in control of my time easily helped me relax as and when I wanted to! A routine works best when you intentionally design it, rather than it being dictated by circumstances. This would be the kind you’d not get bored of or want to steer clear of - or even when you do, it would beckon you back!?

The paradox of a routine is that it can be a prison or a paradise, depending on your perspective. The difference is a tiny little thing called intent. If you look closely, a routine can elevate pretty much all aspects of life but only if you want it to.?

Are you ready to reimagine your relationship with routine? Share your thoughts below!