The Power of Routines
Think like a high performance athlete
Ask any Olympic or Paralympic athlete how important routines are! How many times would you guess a high performance athlete needs to practice – perfect – repeat a move to make it to THAT level? How many hours of visualization does it take to get their nerves settled enough, so they can perform to the best of their abilities?
I’m not suggesting we, mere mortals, mirror our lives to those who make us so proud during the Games, but we can all learn a little from their self discipline and good habits.
People don’t like routines and I don’t know why. While I understand doing the Metro-Boulot-Dodo routine (AKA daily grind) is not the best way to live your life, creating simple routines can be good for you. They can free your mind from trying to remember all the things you want/should do in your daily life, and they help establish desired behaviours faster than any will power can. This is especially true when people want to get back into or create new good habits (exercise, eat well, spend wisely, etc.).
And they don’t have to be so complicated or regimented. Here are a few quick things you could incorporate in your routines.
Morning Routine
1. Drink some water
Ice cold, room temperature or with a lemon slice if you want.
2. Wash your face
Just rinsing your face with fresh water will help wake your senses. If you feel like a adding a whole skin-care routine, feel free if that makes you happy.
3. Take your vitamines
At my last checkup, my doctor advised I take some vitamins. The first few days, I kept forgetting. So I put the bottle by the coffee maker. My husband keeps his next to his toothpaste in the bathroom and it works for him. And if by chance we were taking the same kind of vitamins, we would buy two containers and store them in our different preferred locations.
4 .Get dressed for success
This is especially important if you’re working from home. Put on some clothes that make you feel great.
5 .Make your bed
We used to not make our bed very often. This really annoyed me because seriously, what kind of organized person am I if I can’t be bothered to make my bed every morning. The thing is, I felt like I was the one making the bed all the time (even if that was most likely not true). So one morning, I made a rule. The last one out of bed has to make it.
Most week days I’m the last out because I work from home, so I need less time for my “commute”. But now I don’t feel bad about having to make the bed, because we both agreed on that routine and I know my husband will hold his end of the deal on weekends, when he gets to sleep in and I (alas) wake up earlier than him. It might sound silly, but our bed is now made 99 % of the time.
Night Routine
Everyone talks about having an efficient morning routine, which obviously sets the tone for your day. But to me, half of a successful morning starts the night before.
Having a night routine makes for a blissful morning; mostly empty of stress and anxiety.
1. Check your schedule for the next day
Review your appointments; add tasks to your To-Do List as necessary.
Check the weather.
2. Pack lunches and tidy up the kitchen
Do this before you settle in for your evening activities.
I find that if we do this right after dinner, I’m more motivated than if we wait longer.
If you’re into the habit of buying lunch, prepare some snacks at least so you don’t fall victim to vending machines or coffee shop pastries.
If you feel motivated, you can even prepare breakfast in advance: set the table, prepare the kettle and coffee maker so you only have to push a button.
3. Prepare your gear
Put everything out that you’ll need in the morning: bag, computer, phone, charger and earbuds, wallet/purse, keys, book/magazine, water bottle, etc.
People spend an inordinate amount of time looking for misplaced items and, in turn, pestering themselves for “being such a mess“, only adding stress to their morning.
If you have activities planned like working out or attending a class (or accompanying your child to one), get that stuff out too.
4. Decide what you’ll wear
Based on your schedule, planned activities and the weather, identify what you’ll wear.
If this is your major time waster in the morning, take your outfit out of the closet and hang in the bathroom, on the back of your bedroom door or lay on a chair. If there’s ironing to be done, do it now.
5. Tidy up the living room
Fold the blankets you were using while watching TV and fluff the cushions. Put away the books, magazine, TV remotes.
6. Self-care
It’s always a good idea to reserve some time for self-care, an essential part of happy living that often gets forgotten or pushed aside. This part is very personal and different for everybody, so find something that suits you and brings you peace before going to bed.
Here are some ideas:
Pull your face from devices and put on silent mode or airplane mode. Unplug from technology and connect to your partner, family and yourself.
Make tea (decaffeinated!!).
Wash your face, brush your teeth, floss, take a bath, etc.
Read, preferably on real paper pages.
Meditate.
Write; reflect on your day with a 5-minute gratitude journal.
Decide what works for you and set up your routines