7 Reasons Why Routine Is So Important

Human beings are creatures of habit, the more we do something the more it becomes like second nature or routine. To some, having routine may sound mundane and boring. To other, routine grants them with stability and a sense of structure within their day. Although taking on the day spontaneously can be the way you’re used to going about life, having a routine can be hugely beneficial for you to start implementing. The definition of routine is: “A sequence of actions frequently followed.” This can look like doing the same things every morning upon waking, or doing the same things before sleeping at night. 

In this blog post we’re going to break down and explain why having routine is beneficial for your mental health and overall lifestyle. Instead of viewing routine as something that is rigid, it can actually be extremely freeing to have structure in your life, leaving more time for the things that matter.

To learn more about 7 reasons why routine is important, keep on reading!

You’ll be less stressed:

Picture this – your alarm goes off at 6:30 am and instead of making your way out of bed you hit snooze 1, 2, or maybe even 3 times. The time is now 7:00 am and you need to be out of the door in half an hour! You scramble to get yourself ready, make a lunch, and leave for work. Sound familiar? No wonder so many people start off their day stressed out! By implementing a morning routine such as meditating for 10 minutes, journalling, or making yourself a nourishing breakfast you’ll actually notice the difference in how the rest of your day goes. The way you start your day has the potential to set the tone for how your day goes, make sure it’s one that has calm and ease. 

You’ll sleep better:

We just went over the correlation between less stress and a morning routine, for this point we want to touch upon improved sleep with a nighttime routine. Research has proven the importance of developing a relaxing bedtime routine that works for you and helps you wind down. Some of the things you can do before bed to calm the parasympathetic nervous system include taking a warm bath, dimming the lights, staying away from your phone, and reading a book. These are all ways to bring you a sense of more calm and tell your body that it is okay to relax.

You will be more productive:

Routines are timesavers! Having a structured and planned day will give you the ability to be more productive in other areas of your life. Without routine, you’re more likely to have a day with wasted opportunities to get things done. Our brain’s energy needs to be refuelled daily, especially when it’s taking time to complete more mentally straining tasks throughout the day. Performing tasks within your daily routines are a great way to give your brain a “break” and do the things you need to do on autopilot since they have more than likely become a habit.

They’re good for your mental health:

When we are children, routines are a normal part of our day. Our parents make sure that we have naps at a certain time each day, go to school, do our homework, and go to sleep by a certain time. As we get older we begin to have more free will over how the structure of our days will go. No matter what age we are, implementing a routine is important for our mental health. Routines help to alleviate anxiety, improve interpersonal relationships, help us cope with changes, and reduce stress. 

They provide comfort and security:

We can’t control everything in life but having some level of control and knowing what to expect within your day can be very comforting for some people. Routines give you an idea of how the day is going to be structured and set up. Especially the case for children, having routine is important.

A form of self care:

Did you know that you can actually incorporate self-care into your routine? With how busy our schedules can get actually scheduling in some time for self-care can be really great for balance. Whether it’s time for a face mask, bubble bath, or massage. If you create a weekly or daily routine for self-care your body is bound to reap the amazing benefits. 

Helps you create good habits:

The more good habits you implement, the more you will want to create. Healthy habits are so important for us all. Habits provide encouragement, motivation, comfort, and reward. By making small commitments within your routine each day like making your bed, or moving your body, you’ll start to notice how much better you feel and how many more habits you’ll want to create! 

When it comes to the benefits of routines, the list can go on and on. We hope that after reading through this blog you feel a little more inspired to take small steps in creating routines that will benefit you in more ways than one. You have the power to master your days and take some control back, this call simply be done through the simple act of routine.