Why I Love Having A Routine
Does anyone else ever feel like their life is all over the place? Like there’s constantly a million different thoughts in your head, but you can’t focus on one at a time? Well, sometimes that’s how I feel. Ever since my freshman year of college, I feel like I’ve lost myself, and I can’t seem to find a steady system to ground me. In high school, I used to have more structure in my life because there was a set routine I had to follow to get through the week. Now I have so much freedom, it feels like I don’t have any freedom at all.
When I have a routine, it keeps me in line and keeps me from stressing about things that are outside of my control. I guess moving around all the time made me want to find a system that made me feel more secure, comfortable, and less stressed about everything else around me. I felt like, coming to college, I was supposed to change and become a completely different person, so I abandoned my old routines and tried to switch up overnight. But I quickly realized that my old ways made me who I am and kept me sane. When I first got my apartment, I thought, finally, I can make my own rules and decisions and control everything. I have the power now, but with great power comes great responsibility. I finally understood why adults are always stressing about money, food, and managing a busy schedule on top of taking care of their house.
Structure is something I always crave when entering a new environment. Joining organizations, starting new jobs, and moving to new places are already scary because of the uncertainty that comes with them. But once I make the change and find my rhythm, it becomes less scary and stressful because it takes away all the uncertainty. Once I started creating little routines for myself again, I noticed I carried myself differently. Waking up, making myself a light breakfast, doing some cleaning before I leave the house, and maybe lighting an incense helps keep me from spiraling. They’re simple but important rituals that can shape my whole day and mindset.
I think that’s why I love having a routine so much. It’s never been about making every single day perfect or having every hour planned out. It’s about giving myself something familiar to come back to when everything else feels uncertain. A routine reminds me that even when life feels messy, I can still create little moments that make me feel grounded.
Even though I haven’t found my set routine yet doesn’t mean I never will. It’s just going to take time. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I just entered adulthood, and I don’t have to have everything figured out right now. These are the years when I can make mistakes and learn more about myself, not act like I’m a 50-year-old woman who’s lived and learned everything and doesn’t have to stress about life. I just started living, and I need to enjoy the journey of finding out what works for me.
I hope reading about my struggles and hearing my perspective helps you feel less alone. Maybe you’re still trying to find your rhythm too. If there’s one thing I’ve realized so far, it’s that routines aren’t about being perfect. They’re about creating a little peace for yourself while you’re still figuring life out.