I think I’ve said it on here before: I love a routine. I love a schedule. Don’t get me wrong – I like free time but too much of it has almost always made me anxious.
When I look back, I can see I’ve always loved routines and schedules. Knowing what was coming each day, having a plan, knowing where everyone was. That has always soothed me. I don’t think I realized how much until I got to college and was on my own for the first time – I loved the breaks in between classes, knowing what was coming next but the weekends sometimes unmoored me – yes, I loved sleeping in or going to a game or a party but honestly, 48 hours without “hey you have to be at this place!” could sometimes be unsettling. Same with if my parents went away – I hated that I didn’t know “oh they are at work right now, or now they are coming home, etc.”, it didn’t consume me but I feel I’ve always been my best when I’ve had plans or knew that there were certain tasks I needed to do everyday.
side note – does this make me a control freak???
You know what can be great and awful for routines? Kids! Toddlers especially if I am being honest. Everyone talks about the importance of a schedule and I completely agree! Wake up times, nap times, bed times, etc are awesome and I firmly believe kids do better with routines and schedules…but….you are also dealing with another creature who may not care about how important routines or schedules are to you. Who cares if you have to get to school by 8 am, the toddler needs to make her pretend meal in the kitchen (while not eating her actual real meal). Want to get everyone into bed by 8? Of course that’s the time the 6 year old decides to perfect her Simone Biles floor routine. And of course, all routines and schedules go out the door whenever they are sick (which we dealt with this week).
So, how does someone like me try to carve out some routine when everything around me is…not that? Well outside the obvious things I have to do with schedules (work), I try to also have other scheduled things like: yoga video every weekday morning before work or walks after dinner (you can read about my self care routine). I try to plan at least one activity for the kids on the weekend – though my husband doesn’t want us to be trying schedule maniacs but I also like having something like “we are going to the science center Saturday,” or even a playground visit. I also just like getting out of the house. Even just a little routine goes a long way for me.
Now we are getting into the fall and the back to school routine, new gymnastic classes and trying to find a new hobby for myself.
your turn – do you like schedules and routines? Fly by the seat of your pants? What things help you when routines fly out the window?
My Life is a Work in Progress 