The Power of Positive Routine

A positive routine starts with a few small decisions repeated daily. These can be to take a moment to breathe, going for a walk with the dogs, writing in a journal, or just picking a moment to be grateful for the good things in your life. Picking the time of day to practice these routines is important as well. Whether you are a morning person or enjoy practicing your routine in the evening, setting a pattern is crucial to the long-term success of creating disciplines in your life.

The benefits of positive routines are countless, but they are easy overlook at a glance. It’s bigger than just getting some exercise when going for a walk, or reflecting on your week with a journal entry. Positive routines give you an overall sense of control in your life, a sense of calm that you are living with intention and that you are getting the best of your days, not your days getting the best of you. It is a stress reliever when you are steadfastly accomplishing these small tasks every day or week. It can be easy to get caught up in the 9 to 5 and to get stuck in autopilot. When creating a routine, there should be purpose and intention. Intention to fill up your cup, recharge, reenergize, and add to yourself versus taking away and deenergizing yourself.

The absence of positive routines in your life can have numerous negative effects on your overall well-being. Anxiety is a large biproduct of living your life without a plan and letting procrastination take hold. Without practicing the discipline of these habits, people feel like they have no “wins” to look back on and be proud of at the end of the day. They have a sense that their day is unstructured because they are easily distracted. Competing with everyday distractions is getting more difficult with the advent of technology, smart phones, and social media. Positive routines are the answer to allow you a time and place to indulge, because you feel as though you’ve completed what needed to be done. 

Some ideas for positive habits:

• Waking up and going to sleep the same time everyday
• Opt for a book instead of scrolling though social media
• Write down and recite affirmations for your day i.e. I am capable, I am present, I am worthy
• Stretch first thing when you wake up and before bed
• Exercising daily
• Gratitude journal

Article by Liz Perry