Getting Back into a Routine During a New Season

September is here and summer is just about to end. For kids, this is a brand new school season. While for others, it may not seem like a significant change, but sometimes a brand new season is a perfect reminder to get back into a routine.

What exactly is a routine though? Sometimes people may mistake habits as a routine, but it is important to remember that a habit does not always have a thorough frequency in terms of occurrence. With a routine on the other hand, this is a set of tasks or actions that an individual follows on a timely basis.

Routines can vary for everyone, due to the fact that everyone simply has different lifestyles that may require a specific routine to accommodate their schedule. A routine that a student has will certainly not line up with the routine a working professional may have.

For example, a student may have a routine that is focused on their school and studies, so a typical week for them would likely include a routine that balances schoolwork with other activities. Whereas for a working professional, their routine is likely shaped around their career, and they may likely be focused on finding the right balance between work and their lifestyle.

Why Routines are Important

Like a lot of things in life, moderation is important. Whether it is pursuing a diet, or maintaining a study schedule, these activities require balance which can be achieved through the use of a routine.

Establishing a new routine can sometimes pose as a difficult obstacle for some, due to the fact that it takes away the sense of normalcy that they may have grown accustomed to. Knowing that change is inevitable, breaking free from bad habits and trying a new routine may feel like a daunting task at first, but it can have high rewards for those who maintain the proper discipline in training themselves to a new routine.

So why exactly are routines important?

First, routines can help individuals establish a set of healthy habits. For many people, they may think that they can tackle everything that they wish to do in a specific timeframe, but the reality is, this is not always possible. As a result, many think they can do things on a whim and hope that it will fulfil their initial goals, but this can often fall short, and simply result in those said goals being pushed aside.

Routines can be used as a structure to guide and discipline individuals. For instance, if an individual wanted to eat more healthily, a routine can be used as a vehicle to set this up. Typically, the road to healthy eating may require a change in eating habits, and a routine can be used to establish set meal times to help facilitate this process of dieting.

Another aspect to consider as to why routines are important would be the fulfillment that it provides for certain individuals. For some, planning and executing tasks are important, but it cannot be done without any preparation. Certain individuals can get a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment if they follow a routine. Perhaps it could be linked to the fact that some individuals hate surprises, so having a set procedure of tasks may be more comforting than diving into something blindly.

The Basics in Setting Up a Routine

Creating a routine may not always come easy for everyone. As previously mentioned, change can be difficult for others to go through, which is why setting up a routine may sound simple as it is, but actually doing it is another story.

Before giving up, it is important to remember that setting up a routine can be a gradual process. No one can do everything all at once, and it is important to remember that one of the early steps into creating a routine is carefully preparing for it by taking one step at a time.

Well Street’s “Creating Balance: Walking The Thin Work-Life Line” is a virtual seminar that primarily focuses on establishing work-life balance, but it also has important takeaways in setting up a routine that can be applied generally to any individual’s lifestyle.

Consider some of the tips and advice below to create a routine that is extracted from the seminar above.

Create Desired Goals

One cannot hope to make a routine without a goal in mind. Knowing this, it is important to create a list of goals that one hopes to achieve, and this can be used as a motivator to follow up with a routine. Think of the goal as like the highest level on a set of stairs. One cannot just jump a few steps to get to the top, it is a slow process which may sometimes have tumbles, but one should not be discouraged by any interruptions. Simply keep moving forward with the goal at the top of mind.

Use a Planner and/or Tracker

For some, they may want to see results immediately, but that is not always possible. To help individuals stay on top of their goals, using a planner can be advantageous as this can set them in the right place in case they may need a reminder that helps them stay focused. A tracker can also be used to gradually make note of any progress, to help those who may want to see results feel more satisfied.

Set Up Timely Reflections

While following a routine is great, one should also consider whether or not it is working well with their lifestyle. The best way to gauge this is to set up timely reflections to assess the compatibility of the routine with an individual’s lifestyle, and to see whether or not it is actually fulfilling their desired goal. Depending on the results, this may be a good time to either tweak the routine or scrap it if it is not effective.

About Well Street

At Well Street, we are founded on the principles of introducing healthy practices to the workplace, which encompasses both mental and physical health. Comprised of medical professionals who have a background in naturopathy, we aim to help organizations foster a healthy corporate environment in order to boost productivity and morale.

If you would like to learn more about how our team can help you or your company, consider contacting us to find out more. We are happy to provide you with guidelines and approaches to support the wellbeing of your team members through virtual seminars and programs.