Hello, messy folk!

I've been talking to one of my clients about routines recently - what they mean for our everyday, how they help or restrict, how they help us stay the course towards our goals or hold us back.

So I'd like to ask you what feelings the word 'routine' brings up for you?

Does it feel reassuring and familiar?

Or does it make your inside clench up in resistance and rebellion?

Does it make you want to get out a nice tidy Gantt chart and make plans?

Or does it make you want to run for the hills?

See, you've probably guessed that I'm not one for routines. I do see the value and benefit of having a routine, but the itchy-scratchy rebellious part of me cannot ever seem to find a way to actually stick to one.

I'm messy, a bit all over the place and that suits me fine. In fact, I work and live and do much better and happier that way.

Now I'm not here to have a go at routines - if that works for you, that's bloody ace and please keep doing what you're doing.

But I am going to have a go at the idea - nay, the imperative - that you need to have a routine to a good, successful, productive, well-regarded person in society.

Productivity gurus, management textbooks, my Asian parents will always tell you to 'have a plan'. That's not quite the same as a routine, I know, but both amount to the same thing: planning ahead, predictability, control, organisation.

And while that works very well for many people, it doesn't always work for many others.

Sticking too rigidly to a routine, being too controlling over how our days must unfold can also, sometimes, be counterproductive.

It closes us off to spontaneity

It blocks the massive creativity that comes when you're in unfettered flow

It gets in the way of impulsive fun and joy and all those good things.

We're told - by parents, in education, at workplaces, by society-at-large - that we should be have routines so that we can be organised

so that we can do more things

so that we can accomplish more

so that we can make more money

so that we can be more successful

so that we can live a comfortable life

so that we can finally (after all the years of following routines and being organised), relax and have fun.

I think that's all kinds of upside down because we can already begin to access that relaxation and fun right now, by finding new ways of working and reclaiming the meanings of 'routine' so that they're imbued with the good stuff right now.

For example: I've thrown out all routines. I know very broadly what I need to do each day or week, and I let myself flow in and out through those days and weeks, to do what I feel led to doing in each moment.

My 'routine' consists of nothing more than checking in with my body and my gut at each moment, and feel into what I want to do (also, I've recently done a riff on Instagram about listening to the intrinsic wisdom of your body if you're interested).

And you know what? I always end up doing more, more creatives ideas, opportunities and contacts flow through, and I'm always happier, relaxed and acting from a place of fun.

All of this starts with getting clear about what 'routine' means for you - how it serves you, and how it doesn't.

So, to help you with this, I've created a handy PDF of journal prompts around routines and work practices. Work through all these questions in your own time, or just pick a few to journal through.

I hope it'll support you to get a little more clarity around how you're shaping your days, and how routines are or are not creating fulfilment, focus and fun for you.

If you'd like even more support get on a clarity call with me and we'll talk through the best next steps for you to get that lush routine, or flow, or whatever other best messy form of moving forward will work best for you.

Have a good week, people - get itttttt!

Love,
J x

*****

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​Jamie Pei, PhD ~ The Messy Coach​