Yourstrulyme

I love routines. They reduce chaos and give me the structure necessary for the day. For most of the day, I do very little thinking about mundane tasks because they are ingrained in my routine. I’ve heard many people say that routines take away spontaneity from life. To a certain extent, I agree. However, routines are not about pre-programming every minute of the day. Instead, they are about performing certain non-negotiable actions consistently until they become second nature. Over time, these habits shape who we are—they become a part of our identity.

Becoming You

When you act on something repeatedly, it becomes part of who you are. Someone who loves food, explores restaurants, and experiments with cooking different meals is called a foodie. Someone who works out regularly is called a fitness enthusiast. The common factor in all these identities is consistency—the action is done daily. When we set a goal and incorporate it into our routine, performing it relentlessly every day, it defines who we are.

Less Thinking, More Action

Routines minimize the need for decision-making. We all brush our teeth, shower, and eat breakfast without much thought because these actions are ingrained habits. Building a new routine can be challenging at first, but it gets easier over time. We don’t wake up in the morning debating whether we should brush our teeth or if it’s the right time to shower—it’s automatic. In the same way, when we work towards a goal, the initial effort may feel taxing, but over time, it becomes second nature. Routines remove the cognitive load, turning actions into muscle memory.

Routines Aren’t Boring

It’s natural to think that doing the same thing every day can lead to monotony. But as I mentioned earlier, I don’t consciously think about my routine—it just happens. I don’t schedule my entire day rigidly. Instead, I have a set of non-negotiable activities that I commit to daily. The rest of my day is flexible, allowing for spontaneity and creativity. This way, I maintain balance without compromising on what truly matters to me.

Some may wonder, “What if I have work? Are non-work hours the only time for myself? Won’t routines make life dull?” I believe routines are built on two major pillars—things that interest you and things that benefit you. Either way, they contribute to making us better versions of ourselves, which hardly sounds boring.

While it’s unrealistic to expect everything to fall into place magically, the key is to start somewhere. The power of routines unfolds when we commit to them day after day. If it seems like I’m repeating the same thing about routines over and over, that’s because I truly believe in them. They define consistency, and consistency shapes identity. Do I still have fun in life? Of course! I love spontaneity—just not at the expense of the things that truly matter to me.