Do you find yourself stuck in routines or patterns of behavior that do not serve you? Are you unable to identify and shift these routines or patterns to help them fit your lifestyle? In this post we will discuss how to identify those routines that are not serving you and offer ways to create ones that do.

2020 taught us many things. One important lesson we learned is the value of flexibility. During the past year we shifted many of our routines to fit the new ways of life. As humans, we are extremely resilient and therefore able to shift in ways that allow us adapt to our changing environment. With the lessons we learned from 2020 we can move into 2021 with a new appreciation for change—though it is not easy!

When routines feel stiff and stagnant they are at risk of being left behind. This happens because routines that are stiff have a hard time shifting with the changing parts of our lives. As change occurs in your life, flexibility is so important for setting a routine that has the long-term success you desire. 

An awesome skill in routine setting is noticing when routines need small shifts to ensure that you can stay on track with the desired goal. The first thing to do is identify which part of the routine or behavior is stable and stays, and which part of the routine can be changed and updated to fit new circumstances. 

The best way to identify the parts that are stable and the parts that can be changed is to assess which parts of the routine are energizing and which parts are draining. If you find it hard to meditate consistently in the morning, but know that meditation energizes you, perhaps the part of the routine that can change is the rigidity around timing, but maintain the activity of meditating.

Our lives are constantly changing and therefore, if we can find some flexibility in our routines, we can always make them fit into our lives. Managing the shifts in our lives, like the shifts throughout this pandemic, require flexibility. 

Here are three steps to create flexibility in routines:

1.     Identify both the essential, stable aspects of your routine and parts that are open for change.  For example, the time the routine occurs like morning or night, or the desired behavior such as journaling or meditating, are two great starting points on establishing parts of a routine that can be changed.

2.     Decide on the goal of the routine you are developing.  For example, goals can be grounding exercises, learning how to spend time with yourself, or finding ways of recharging.  Link up this goal with a stable part of your routine. For example, a morning routine (stable part) with the goal of incorporating a grounding activity can have changing components; some days it can be meditating and some days it can be doing yoga.

3.     Identify room for change in the routine by coming up with alternate ways to reach the same goal. For example, think about a night time routine that allows for many different options such as taking a bubble bath, listening to your favorite album or doing a restorative yoga class. You can always adjust to what you are in the mood for that evening!

Some of the hardest routines to sustain are the most stagnant ones. If you can be flexible in your thinking and expand your routine to shift and change throughout time, I believe you will have more success in routine setting.  Routine setting is not easy but can be very rewarding. If you need any support in routine setting please reach out to hello@upsidertherapy.com to schedule a consultation.