Routines Make Me Happy
Posted in The Life of the Historian and tagged with Exercise, Food, Routine, Schedule on February 2, 2009One of the main things I’ve been working on since I’ve graduated (it’s been a fast 7 weeks!) is creating a new schedule for myself. I’m incredibly schedule-oriented and thrive on a routine, so I know the key is to get in the right routines.
My evening routine is where I’ve really been working. After dinner, I want to make my lunch and my breakfast for the next day so that they are ready for me to grab as I’m flying out the door. When I wait to make my lunch in the morning, I often don’t include a vegetable because it takes too much work. After preparing the meals, I then spend 5 minutes straightening up my room and get myself ready for bed.
Once I’ve gotten the chores out of the way, I can focus on the fun stuff. I would like to spend at least 30 minutes each night writing, but this is always the first to go if I don’t have enough time. I then read my Bible and a little from each of the 5 books I’m reading at the time.
Another routine I’ve been working on is stretching morning and night. This has improved my flexibility and this and swimming has greatly improved the stiffness and pain my lower back. As far as swimming goes, I’m trying to go any available evening as this is by far my exercise of choice. (no sweat and no strain!)
Of course, with a routine I have to be careful that I’m not a slave to it. Routines are good, but if I won’t break them to love someone else, what good are they?
What routines work for you?
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I need things to be pretty much the same every day or else I feel out of control. Im not good with change or surprises!! So with four small kids you can imagine my schedule changes a lot on the spur of the moment and that I feel out of control A LOT! AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I try to keep some sort of a schedule here at home but it doesn’t always work with 3 kiddos. LOL
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I’ve been working on a schedule for the New Year…some days are good and some days we don’t get anything done. But “mommy” ALWAYS gets her morning breakfast/coffee/computer time while said children watch Curious George and Sid the Science Kid.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I don’t really have a routine that I would call a routine. I do have necessary things that I do everyday usually at the same time. Get up, get dressed, get my kids lunch packed, their breakfast ready and then send them out the door. After that I should have more of a routine to get me thru my day and week, but I really don’t. On certain days I have different events that come into play like Bible Study or Moms in Touch. I guess I just do the things I know needs to get done and after that I let things happen. I’m sure I’d get more done if I were more regimented, but it’s never been me.
And on the recycling comment from my blog. I can only recycle paper, #1,#2 plastic and aluminum at our curbside.
I collect the glass, metal and other plastic #’s and take them to our county recycle center about once a month. I can keep it in my garage until I get a good pile, but I know in an apt. it would be harder to keep that stuff around.
I’m like you I wish recycling was more accessible to the masses, maybe it will be one day.
♥ Joy
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I’ve actually just got into my exercise groove the past few weeks. Since our treadmill died, I started walking our stairs. 13 up and back. 10 times for starters. Baby steps! My ‘routine’ however doesn’t work unless I put my shoes on right away and do it before breakfast! My other routines are prayer/devotions and of course our homeschooling. At night, I usually can’t go to sleep before reading, but lately I’ve been listening to a Christian teaching on my iPod.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I need to establish routine! Better, more disciplined routine! I did recently give up one, you may find comcial.
For a few weeks I got into the habit of reading my bible before getting out of bed. Then one day I realized I was so groggy and tired while reading, I couldn’t remember a single word I had read all week other than a few key points.
Needless to say that one got nixed!
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:11 pm
It would be SO nice to have some sort of routine that I actually PLAN. I have the usual madated routine such as time to get up and things I have to do in the morning to get my kids to school. And then that’s it. A bit of structure could help in making sure that I read my Bible and that I DON’T go overboard on computer time…. two areas in my life that need a LOT of work!
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I love routines… sounds like you have a good one going. Life has a way of changing things up a lot, though, too. Guess we learn to roll with it :-)
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I should probaby start swimming! Routine rocks. I like it too! And so do my kiddies..
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
i have also been trying to get a routine in. time for stretchng as well, getting meals ready for next day, bible study, and blog time. still a work in progress
Twitter: TurtleMom23
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February 2nd, 2009 at 5:06 pm
There is no such word as ‘rut’ for me. Routines make me happy. They make me productive. I think people who like routines might have a touch of autism in them. I, like my autistic student in class, love knowing what to expect. I even eat the same thing for lunch every day – and no, I do not grow tired of it. When I do, I’ll pick something else and eat that every day until it’s time to move on to something else :)
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:12 pm
You sound a lot like me! I do well with routines but I have to be pretty flexible because of my husband and kids’ needs. Swimming is the greatest exercise, I pretty much hate any other kind (sweat & strain, you got it!) but we’re 20 minutes from the nearest pool.
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:10 pm
i love routines with children(like in daycare)… i also love to make my husbands lunch while Im cooking dinner…. just so it doesnt have to be done late– chances are- Ill forget!!. I wish i was more “routined” I really need to be– especially once we get our foster babes to fill up our house!!
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I’m not sure how your mornings are, but I used to journal in the morning. It was perfect because I never quite felt like going to work yet and my bed was so warm compared to the rest of the house that it was my favorite 20 minutes of my entire day. I always made myself write 3 pages, even if I didn’t have anything to say. Usually the 3rd page was the most interesting/insightful.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:43 pm
I keep a list of things that need done morning and night, and I check them off as I go along. The list has the things on it that have to get done so the next day goes smoothly, along with the things I want to include for “me”. It definitely helps!
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:04 pm
I can’t seem to stick to any particular routine, but it normally includes watching some TV, some type of exercise, eating, reading, and going to bed.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:57 am
I don’t really have a routine, but of course, have to get food on the table for kids, fetch from school, work and stuff like that.
I DO need my cup of coffee in the morning though!
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:49 am
I love routines! I get so mad when people mess with it.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:50 am
So have you had nightmares yet about unfinished homework?? I went through withdrawal symptoms, and would wake up thinking I had to finish homework. :-)
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:20 am
[...] at our place and ordering Chinese food. It took me about 30 seconds to realize I should break my plans and routine–good as they were–to hang out with my roommate who I’ve not spent time with in a [...]