If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that our lives can get upended seemingly overnight.
A global pandemic, check.
Chaotic economy, check.
Hypercharged sociopolitical climate, check.
All of it contributed to turning lives upside down.
I don’t know about you, but there were days during the past few years in which I felt a very tangible sense of unease.
Some days, it was outright fear.
One thing you should know about me is that it takes quite a lot to rattle me.
Thanks to a fair number of challenging life experiences, I’ve learned to let most crap roll off me.
I’d be lying, though, if I said that I never allowed the craziness of the past few years to get to me.
A Preference For Structure
As much as I’ve always taken pride in my ability to stay focused and retain a sense of clarity in the face of uncertainty, I tend to be at my best in a more controlled, predictable environment.
While I’m okay if things go off the rails a bit, I like it better when I can wrap my arms (and head) around something, process it, and develop a plan of attack.
I trace my proclivity for structured environments back to my middle- and high-school years during which I played several team sports. After-school practice and training sessions taught me to that I had to be at a specific place at a specific time and do specific things, like run and lift weights.
That “routine mindset” stayed with me as I got older, as I competed in drug-free bodybuilding competitions.
It also served me well during my 20-plus years as a certified personal trainer teaching people how to start exercising regularly and helping them reach their health and fitness goals.
It also came in handy during the writing of my book, as I was able to develop a daily writing routine.
But, where it benefitted me the most was during my divorce and bankruptcy, two of the most challenging and stressful periods of my life, both of which were taking place at the same time.
During my divorce and bankruptcy, I woke up every day with a sense of unease and apprehension.
What bad news is my attorney going to give me today?
What letter from the IRS will show up in the mailbox today?
How many creditors are going to call and threaten me today?
What cryptic text message is my soon-to-be ex-wife going to send me today?
I felt like I was at the mercy of everyone and everything and that I no longer dictated the course of my day.
There was one thing, though, that I still had total control over and that no one could mess with, and that was my daily routine.
No one could keep me from waking up at 5:30 AM.
No one could keep me from walking down the stairs into my basement to do my morning workout.
I controlled both of those things. No one could take them from me.
And while waking up and working out might seem trivial, for me, it was huge.
It represented structure.
It gave me a much-needed sense of direction.
But, most importantly, it was a slice of normalcy and provided me with a sliver of predictability.
The Power Of Routine
I can’t overstate how important my morning routine became during my divorce and bankruptcy.
Knowing that I would wake up at 5:30 AM and walk down the stairs to my basement to work out was calming and reassuring.
Amongst the stress and chaos, at least I had that.
I wasn’t just imagining how important my morning routine had become.
The mental and physical benefits of a daily routine have been researched and well-documented.
Some of the benefits include reduced stress, better sleep, improved health, and greater overall happiness.
Studies have also shown that a daily routine can even help ease the symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse.
Conversely, not having a routine can result in significant negative impacts.
According to licensed psychologist, Dr. Rachel Goldman…
“When people don’t have a routine or structure to their day, it can cause increased stress and anxiety, as well as overwhelming feelings and lack of concentration and focus. If people don’t have structure and are sitting around with less to focus on, then they will probably find themselves thinking about the stressful situation more, which can lead to additional stress and anxiety.”
Without a daily routine, you are relinquishing control of your day and setting yourself up to be reactive rather than proactive.
You’re the proverbial rudderless ship navigating a stormy waterway.
You’re a leaf in the windstorm of life.
Okay, done with the dramatic analogies.
You get my point.
Without a daily routine, you’re at the beck and call of everyone and everything that is scheming to grab more control of you and your time.
Starting A Daily Routine
Over time, my daily routine has changed and grown with me as I’ve prioritized things in my life.
In years past, my daily routine primarily consisted of my morning workout, and that was it.
Since then, I’ve added a mental component that includes 10–15 minutes of deep breathing and meditation and a financial piece that consists of a daily reconciliation of my checking account with my monthly budget.
My daily routine addresses what I refer to in my book, Mind, Body & Money, as the “Three Pillars Of Stress,” our physical, emotional, and financial health.
I believe that a daily routine should exceed waking up and brushing your teeth.
Those are things that you “do” every day.
A daily routine should benefit you in one or more of the above-mentioned areas.
If you don’t currently have a daily routine that goes beyond making coffee and letting the dog out, or you’ve previously struggled to implement a daily routine, my advice is simple.
Pick just one thing in your life that you want to improve upon and focus on it.
Not two, just one.
Want to improve your physical health? Take a 20–30 minute walk in the morning, at lunch, or after work.
Stressed and need to focus on your emotional health? Budget 10 minutes every day to perform some focused deep breathing.
Need to get your finances in order? Set up a monthly budget at the beginning of each month, and take 5 minutes every day to reconcile it with your checking account to ensure that you’re adhering to that budget.
It’s never been easier to allow the things that truly matter to go unaddressed.
Let’s face it, life has a way of keeping us from taking care of the things that matter the most.
A daily routine will help you prioritize the things that are important and give you greater control over your day.
Most importantly, though, it will allow you to focus on what matters the most.
You.
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