Routines: Necessary or Boring ???

It's September and that normally means a return to more structure and routine. The word “routine” can bring to mind words like mundane or ordinary. But after spending the Summer traveling I'm craving a return to my routine.

It's hard to argue with Patrick.

That's because what we do every day matters.

Good routines can improve our focus and ability to reach a larger goal. Bad ones lead to distraction and procrastination.

Making our beds, that first cup of coffee, zoning out on your morning commute … As much as we might wish for each day to be different, repetitive actions are an important part of our lives.

Our brains are wired to crave routine and habit. 

Routines anchor our day to provide greater stability and a sense of control. This in turn can reduce stress. Routine can also free up energy to focus on more complex tasks as needed.

Conscious vs unconscious routine.

Researchers have found that no more than 40% of our actions are consciously self-selected. Instead, we perform these actions in an automated way, without conscious awareness.

How can we ramp up that percentage and live more intentionally?

The key is to understand the difference between habits, routines, and rituals. This distinction can help us design a life where our daily actions are more mindful and conscious.

That is the focus of this month's newsletter. 

Habit or Routine : Shades of Consciousness

Most good habits don’t start as habits. They start as routines.

The main difference between habits and routines is how aware and intentional you are.

A habit usually manifests itself as an automatic urge to do something, often triggered by a particular cue. The stronger the connection between the trigger and the habit, the more ingrained the habit.

In contrast, routines require deliberate practice.

Making our bed in the morning, going to the gym, and meditating are all routines that require conscious practice or they eventually die out. Our brains do not go into automatic-pilot to get us to that 6 am spin class.

Habits and routines are both regular and repeated actions, but habits happen with little or no conscious thought, whereas routines require a higher degree of intention and effort.

With enough time, routines can turn into habits, but you need enough repetitions to create a strong habit loop.

We want to create healthy habits that are automatic. We do this by building a strong habit loop.

This loop involves a trigger, routine response, and reward.

But what about the actions where you want to make a conscious effort, the ones where you get satisfaction from pushing yourself out of your comfort zone?

How can you nurture and maintain more intentionality — going beyond the loop — for more mindful action?

From Routine to Ritual

The difference between a routine and a ritual is the mindset behind the action. 

While routines can be actions that just need to be done—such as making the bed or taking a shower—rituals are viewed as more meaningful practices that have a real sense of purpose.

We tend to associate rituals with very specific types of activities: communal rites of worship, rites of passage, or commemorative rites, but rituals do not have to be spiritual or religious. 

What matters is your level of intentionality. 

With rituals, we are fully engaged, focusing on the experience of the task, rather than its mere completion. By investing energy and consciousness into the choice, we can transform routine into ritual.

When we eat, we can pay attention to the textures, tastes, and the way we chew our food.

Showering provides an opportunity to connect to our body as the water runs over it. I use time in the shower to consciously rinse away residue from the previous day and give thanks for the new one. This way, a simple routine becomes a powerful morning ritual.

Becoming more intentional with our routines requires awareness.

The Intentional Life

There are many ways to improve mindfulness, but when it comes down to it, we all have to find our own path. The key consciously pursuing those people, places, and practices that align with our highet and most compassionate selves.

Make time to Rest, Renew, and Realign.

Save 15% on either retreat when you use the code 1901 @ check out. 
Offer expires September 15, 2024.