Route 101 / Creating Flexible Routines

When I first introduced the Route 101 mini series, a concern that almost everyone expressed was having trouble sticking to the routines that they create. A huge reason I find that we struggle with sticking to our routines is because we don’t allow for a little flexibility.

Doing the same thing everyday with no room for change is boring, and no one wants to stick to boring. We assume that routine means strict guidelines, but flexibility is actual a huge factor in routine building that may, ultimately, determine whether or not your routine serves the purpose you need it to.

The key to being flexible, without loosing all sense of structure in your routines, is to give yourself choices that still allow your routines to fulfill their purposes. Too many choices can cause confusion, but too few choices can leave you feeling unsatisfied, and will cause you to easily get distracted and be on the next thing. Routine bouncing makes it hard for you to focus on what your needs are, and that’s no good when you’re trying to live a productive and organized life.

Also, knowing that there is room to be flexible removes that unwarranted feeling of guilt that seems to come when we unintentionally stray from our routines.

While I’ve been in the process of moving, settling in and starting classes again, flexibility has been key to keeping some semblance of a routine. Just knowing that I have the option to either unpack more, rest more or blog more has been incredibly liberating and helpful, and has helped me get more done (because I spend less time feeling guilty).

When you’re creating your routines, consider these things to help add a bit of flexibility to your everyday

01 / Create intentional choices for every day to add variety without loosing the purpose of your routines.

02 / Limit your choices to avoid overwhelm.

03 / Don’t force yourself into any one routine, do what feels best for the moment and what will most help you accomplish your goals for the day.

04 / Try to measure your accomplishments and success under that routine. If one option isn’t serving you well, you may want to adjust it.

How do you add variety and flexibility to your routines? If you have any questions, feel free to leave the in the comments!