When You Are Out of Your Routine

I’m hearing from many of my clients and friends that they are feeling in a rut and out of their usual routine.

And frankly, I’m feeling it, too.

Depending on who you ask, this has been the longest, shortest, hottest, wettest, loneliest, busiest summer. Ever.

Whatever the summer has been for you, many of us have dropped our routines.

While the reasons are different — since school got out… since I got back from vacation… since I was laid off… since I got COVID. Again. — the feelings are pretty universal. It doesn’t feel good to be out of your groove.

Being out of your routine isn’t a bad thing. Unless it is.

If your routine is how you keep yourself grounded, resourced and centered, then not following it can make you feel unsteady, burned out or like you are flailing around.

Very few people can hold their daily rituals no matter the circumstances. Many of us struggle to keep these kind of commitments to ourselves when we are juggling so. many. things.

Often, being out of our routine is a natural evolution of a new season.

Back to school time, even if you don’t have school-aged children, is a lot like the New Year. It can be full of hope and feelings of a fresh start.

Here are four ideas to help get you back into a rhythm that suits you NOW.

1. Give yourself a BREAK.

It is really easy to be hard on ourselves when we let something go. While it’s easy to be hard on ourselves, research shows that self-kindness is actually more powerful for making changes.

For me this looks like not lamenting over what I didn’t accomplish this summer and soaking up the fact that my time was well spent: with my people.

2. Do something FUN.

Is there a part of your routine that you miss that was really enjoyable? DO THAT.

For me this is starting up again with my morning walking buddy Liz.

3. Make it EASY.

This is not the time to flex your project management skills on how to maximize every minute. (You can do that later, if you want!) What you want to look for as you get back into your routine is the path of least resistance.

For me this looks like using my grocery store’s curbside service to meal plan and get my eating back on track. It is so much easier for me to make healthy food choices when I plan and get the food in the house.

4. Make it MEANINGFUL.

Meaning, just like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. When something matters to you, when it is important because it pulls at your heart and gets you excited, then it is much easier to get into action.

For me this looks like aligning my exercise with my goal of completing an upcoming paddleboard event. By closely aligning what I want (to feel great while paddling) with what I am doing every day, I feel a deeper connection to work.

And here are some journal prompts to help you get clear and get back into your routine…

Journal: 

• Make a list of five things that you USED to do with some regularity that have fallen away.
• For each one, write about what you loved or the benefit of this activity (for you, for your people, for your household).
• Write what is getting in the way of you doing each one.
• Pick ONE activity and commit to doing it in the next 24 hours. Make a plan for how you will get it done.
• Repeat as many times as feels good.

I always love to hear from you. What helps you get back into a routine?

Do you need a little more help with getting back into a routine so you can feel more ready to address this new season? I’d love to chat with you. Schedule a free discovery call to experience a coaching session with me.

With love,

Jenny