Do you ever take an honest look at your routine to see if it’s working for you or do you just stay on autopilot once you have a routine set for yourself?
I was talking to my coach, Rasa DiSalvo, the other day about how I noticed that I did a lot of overthinking in the morning. She asked me about my morning routine, and I told her that I start by meditating before going on a walk. Immediately, she noticed that I was giving these thoughts a platform first thing in the morning.
Change my morning routine? But I thought I was doing all the things I should be doing. She reminded me that everyone is different and the routine that works for one person may not work for another. She invited me to experiment with my routine and not be so rigid so I could see what works for me.
The next day I switched up my routine, and it was amazing the difference that it made for me!
Let’s discuss a few common reasons you may need to take a fresh look at your routine.
Type of Work Changes
Sometimes your routine needs to change based on the type of work you are doing. When I solely offered copywriting, I only needed smaller chunks of time to complete client deliverables. The deliverables were smaller, and once I finished one, I would need to switch gears anyway to a different client or type of deliverable. Now that I also write books, I need bigger blocks of time to write and a fresh brain to keep writing through one cohesive chapter.
I found that I was struggling to find the big block of open time (except for at the end of the day when I was toast anyway) because of meetings and other random things that would come up throughout the day. I’d always yearned to write books in the quiet darkness of the morning with my candle going, but by the time I had gotten through my morning routine, it was usually 7 am. I was not about to wake up earlier than 4:45 am!
So why not change the routine? Now, I eat breakfast and head straight to writing.
Your routine will likely change based on the work you’re doing no matter what your current career looks like. Even when I was in corporate finance, my routine would change based on what was on my plate.
Take a look at the different segments of work you need to complete and see where they fit best in your day.
Mindset Changes
There was a period of time a couple of years ago when I would long for some “me” time before I started work each day. When I created the ability to do that, it felt so luxurious. However, I’ve noticed that it now often feels like a pain to me.
The “me” time that I so desired started to feel like a chore for me. I just wanted to dive in and do my work in the quiet of the morning and free up more of my afternoon. But I kept telling myself that I needed to meditate, etc. in the morning to make sure my mind was right for the day.
As I’ve evolved though, the meditation first thing in the morning became a stage for any of my stressful thoughts to come up. Furthermore, I really enjoy the work that I do and the people that I work with.
So by starting to work first thing in the morning, I feel better because I immediately focus my mind on something positive and check off items on my to-do list that require the most time and energy. This frees up time later in the day.
Check in to see if the routine you developed when you possessed a certain mindset or vision still holds true for you today.
Seasons Change
I’ve talked about this one in other posts, but my routine frequently changes with the seasons. For example, I mentioned that in my old routine, I did a walk after my meditation. It was really great to do it first thing in the morning as the sun was rising during the summer. However, now I love moving it to later in the morning when the sun is up or rising and the temperatures are a bit warmer.
It makes sense for us to change our routines throughout the seasons. The amount and timing of light changes, the temperature changes, and other parts of our routine change (holidays, kids in school, etc.).
In the summer, you may love to have more free time later in the day, but in the winter, you may love to take in the fresh snow before anyone else gets to it. It’s all up to you!
Experiment with your routine as the seasons change and see what feels good to you!
If you’d love to add writing a book into your routine for the next couple of seasons (see what I did there? 😉), book a strategy session with me using the link below!
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.