Patricia Sargeant

It’s routine

I’m a creature of habit. I love my routines. I think I have a ritual for everything; actions I must take when I wake up, and before I go to sleep, exercise, cook, clean, write.

Conventional wisdom is routines are good for us for a variety of reasons. They keep us focused on the tasks we’re working on, which increases our productivity. I’ve also read the predictability of routines helps reduce stress. I’m good with that.

I worked with a magazine editor who had to chew bubble gum and play music before she could write her articles. Sadly, she shared an office with another editor who needed complete silence. I’m not kidding. You could cut the tension between them with a knife.

Our editor-in-chief at the magazine had to have two cups of coffee before he could “hear” us. To be fair, I could empathize. I didn’t understand why he had to remove his shoes and socks after lunch, though. ((Insert shrug.))

Most of my routines are pretty basic. For example, before I exercise, I use the bathroom. I need an empty bladder before I work out for an hour. The funny thing is, if I don’t use the bathroom before I work out—if I skip that routine—the entire time I’m working out, I have the Phantom Full-Bladder Feeling. It’s annoying.

My writing routine is more involved. There are five basic steps. Each is deliberate and takes place in order.

FYI: This doesn’t look anything like my office, but I like the picture.

Step 1. Turn on the light in my office.

Step 2. Close my office door.

Step 3. Start my aromatherapy.

Step 4. Open the curtains.

Step 5. Boot up my laptop.

This routine eases me back into my story world. It’s like a short cut back into my manuscript. It almost makes the writing easier. Almost.

I’ve found developing routines to be easier than breaking a habit. For example, years ago, my husband and I would go for Italian ices after our evening walks in a nearby park. Super delicious. We’d walk for an hour after dinner, then take a slight detour on our way home to the Italian ice shop. But after a year or so, our “spot” raised its prices. Then raised it again. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t easy to drop that habit, at least not for me. Those ices are. So. Good. It took me several months to stop shaking every time we drove past the turn that would take us to the shop. Ha!

Questions: Do you follow any routines? If so, how do your routines help you?

24 thoughts on “It’s routine”

  1. I follow a routine, especially with my blog. When I wake up and do the morning stuff (shower, etc.) I go to my nook, take my medications, put on morning news, open laptop, scan emails, go to blog and send out the day’s guest post. Then logon to Facebook and send morning greetings which also confirms the day. Then I respond to the emails before spending a few hours doing blog housekeeping.

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  3. I was just thinking about this yesterday. About how I have certain things scheduled–they’re on my calendar that pops up reminders on my phone. They include medications, but also reminders to water the plants on Sunday, pay the bills on certain days, change the Brita filters, etc. As for pre-writing routines, I have to have a drink and a snack. Sugar feeds my brain, I’m convinced of that. For zoom meetings and calls, I have a little routine. I line up a box of tissues, some cough drops, a pad and paper, some water to sip, and silence my phone.

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  4. Morning is about the only time I really have a routine now that I am retired. Up, dress, make the bed, take my pills, make coffee, email and head out to meet my walking partner. On non-walk mornings, I still do most of it, just not quite as regimented. The rest of my life is just a bit more fluid and I go with that flow usually! LOL!

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  5. I like routines. In the morning, after taking some time to be still, I’m off to check emails, this blog (on M, W, and F), and pop into Facebook. Then I have to put everything away and focus on writing. 🙂

    P.S. What kind of aromatherapy do you use?

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    1. Jennifer, our morning routines are very similar. Ha! My brother gifted me with an aromatherapy diffuser years ago. It’s awesome. You can program different lights too, yellow, blue, and green. I don’t use those so much anymore. The package came with a ton of oils but they’re long gone. The other day, I bought lemongrass for creativity and lavendar for relaxation. Lemongrass helps relaxation too

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  6. Routines are important to me, as well. (Are there folks for whom they aren’t important?) And I know my dog needs them to keep her sane: get up in the morning, go for a walk, eat her breakfast, then snuggle down for her morning nap.

    For me, it’s not so different (unless it’s a bike ride day): get up, do my bathroom things, take Ziggy for her walk and feed her, then check my email/social media, read the newspapers, do my NYT games, then get down to whatever work is on the schedule for me that day.

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  8. I’ve never thought about this before. I guess my basics are, 1) quick doggy walk; 2) shower, 3) make tea; 4) grab something for breakfast; 5) park my butt at the computer.

    If I wake up and Cammie isn’t ready to walk, I do scroll endlessly on my phone. But that’s less of a routine and more of a bad habit!

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  9. You make a strong case! I’m not very routine driven, but I can definitely see the benefits. I just got back from a 10-day trip to deal with family business and I definitely feel it when the routines I do have are upended!

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  10. Patricia, I loved this post–it’s so me as well! I never realized my “routines” until I noticed that I like to create little mini-routines when I’m away from home. It occurred to me that I was probably doing so to reduce stress (even though I adore going to conferences!). At home I read the New York Times headlines first thing without fail after making my coffee (2 cups, with steamed milk, foam and cinnamon created in a sub-routine). At 6:30 I transition to evening with David Muir. (Am I turning into my parents?)

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  11. I am follower of routine. What I eat on most days, for example. I’m so indecisive that it helps not to worry about things like that and free up my brain to worry about other decisions.

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  12. I like routines, too, and yours sounds wonderful. I’m pretty sure I’d be more productive if I established a set routine for writing. Right now the only thing I do before writing is close the office (bedroom) door to shut out the rest of the world. My dog has a routine, too. About 20 minutes into my writing session, he paces outside the door until my husband lets him. LoL

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