Finding a Routine That Works for YOU – with Diane in Denmark
When we hear “routines” our minds go to the Insta-worthy morning routine with a steaming cup of coffee in hand, some quiet time, a fresh new journal, and probably a beautiful sunrise to boot. But those kinds of “routines” can actually create more stress and pressure, rather than being a tool that helps us put daily tasks on autopilot. In today's episode I'm sitting down with Diane in Denmark to discuss how to create routines that actually work for you and your unique life circumstances. Listen in!
Episode Links:
Click here for full episode transcript.
A ROUTINE FOR YOUR PERSONALITY
Diane warns that it’s easy to think we need to adopt the Pinterest-worthy routines, but what happens is after a day or two, we find it’s not sustainable for us. We must be open to working with our own personality and family circumstances.
She shares that many think that once we’ve made a routine, we may feel like we have to stick with it. What worked before may not work now. Don’t lose sight of why we have routines. Sometimes the routine can be working against us, so we must be flexible and change it when it’s no longer working.
NOT BEING ORGANIZED IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE
Diane talks about being extremely organized in her job and at the workplace, but not at home. The reason for this is that there are boundaries and constraints in the workplace, but at home we are left to our own devices, with so many choices to make.
THE BENEFIT OF ROUTINES
Once we have routines up and running, we will see so many benefits such as opening up more time in our heads, being more patient with our family, or more room for growth. This is because we aren’t spending so much time thinking about all the chores and things we need to do. They’ve been streamlined.
GETTING STARTED WITH ROUTINES
Begin by choosing three things that will have the most impact on your day, preferably three things in the morning and three things in the evening.
Why do you want a routine? We must have an answer to this question. Do you want the day to go more smoothly? Less stress getting out the door in the morning? More time for hobbies?
ROUTINES AND SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER
Having routines can help pull us through seasonal affective disorder, and even other difficult times because they put us on autopilot with our everyday tasks such as making dinner, doing the laundry, and running errands.
Light is also very important. Using candles, even LED candles, can create a cozy environment that will help us embrace the darkness while creating a peaceful feeling.
Getting outside, even in the cold, is also helpful. Create a community where you are meeting others for an activity.
Create a cozy space indoors. Maybe this is the time of year to catch up on reading or enjoying delicious treats. Find something that you can enjoy that will make this season a little easier.
PROCRASTINATING
Sometimes tasks feel daunting and we just keep putting them off for another day. One thing to help with this is to find a way to make it easier. For example, making phone calls. These days many appointments can be made online.
Another method is to set aside a specific day or specific time to tackle these things. The Fly Lady calls this an “Anti-Procrastination Day.” That way you only have to think about that task during this specific time.
SELF CARE
Be sure to schedule self care into your day. This doesn’t mean it has to be a bubble bath or a trip to the spa. It can be as simple as getting a new book from the library, starting a new series on TV, or meeting up with a friend for a walk. Again, this can look very different for each individual.
WHERE TO FIND DIANE
You can find Diane in Denmark on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
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