Routines
“Just like mapping routes for trips, mapping out daily, weekly, or monthly routines can help people prepare for how long it will take to get to their desired goals, as well as guide their plans for when they need to stop and rest.”
When I was thinking about where the word routine came from, I thought of the word route, and I realized that routines are little routes within our lives. They provide a map for where we are going. In order to follow a route, you need a starting place, a destination, and a path to get from one to the other.
Being purposeful about routines can be daunting and limiting to those who don’t have a sense of where they want to go or how they want to get there. Some people like to wander through their life and be in the moment and experience things as they come. Since that way of experiencing life can be beneficial for moments of reflection and rest during the journey, I have come to learn that wandering can actually be more freeing and purposeful when you have an original path to go back to. If there is no destination, it is difficult to measure progress, and I have seen that people who have no ambition or direction usually get more frustrated and feel more lost in life than people who have a plan and a path to follow.
Just like mapping routes for trips, mapping out daily, weekly, or monthly routines can help people prepare for how long it will take to get to their desired goals, as well as guide their plans for when they need to stop and rest. While we cannot foresee spontaneous obstacles that can (and do) occur, many foreseeable obstacles can be avoided when mapping out the day with well-planned routines.
Every morning after our devotional and prayer, Chris and I have a meeting about our day. We discuss our schedules and to-do lists so that we can figure out the best ways to accomplish our needs and goals for the day. We have been able to reroute our day based on how we have experienced similar routes in the past. There are also times when we come up with two or three plans that are dependent on the plans and decisions of others. That helps us be more focused and less flustered when roadblocks happen.
There have been many times when we have been presented with “oh, by the ways” that interrupt our routine, but those “cogs in the wheel” have helped us learn that we cannot always be prepared for everything. At first, we became very frustrated with the surprise to-dos that interrupted our routines and plans. However, with much practice and with understanding and accepting the reality of those situations, we have become better about having backup plans for the “just in case” situations. Knowing that unforeseen roadblocks and flat tires can happen can help us have a more realistic and less frustrating journey toward our goals.
Making progress has become easier and more enjoyable with well-routed daily, zoomed-out monthly, and big-picture yearly maps. We have wandered occasionally, and we have enjoyed the sights. We have also learned that we enjoy wandering more when it is not part of our everyday routine. Regardless of the path we take, we are also learning that our routines help enhance our well-cultivated living journey.