Breaking from your routines can have an effect on your day.

Routines are important; we all have them. We use routines for almost every aspect of our lives. In fact, the way you tie your shoe laces is a routine.

And another thing: when you break a routine, it can mess you up. 

I have a routine every morning when I make my breakfast. But every once in a while I will do something out of order. It’s funny how I will stumble through making my breakfast that morning.

Routines are more than something we are accustomed to. They even get programmed into how our minds and bodies work. That means some of our routines become a part of who we are and how we function. 

That’s a good thing, by the way, because when a routine is so ingrained in us, we don’t even think about it. We just do it. It takes no thought on our part. It’s a process that works automatically.

And when you think about it, it would be brutal to have to use your brain to think through every thing you do. 

Routines are a lifesaver. 

Routines work in the background. You don’t even know all the routines you have. But during the day you use many of them to do things that you consider automatic.

But what happens when something interrupts a routine?

Maybe you have a morning routine to start your day, but you have an early meeting scheduled. It could be as simple as having to play hockey that clashes with your morning routine.

Of course you are going to play hockey and forget your routine that morning. You can usually work around routines, they are never life or death.

But they become such an important part of us that when we break those routines, even to do something we like, the routines makes us pay.

When we snub some of our basic routines, we can subsequently feel off-kilter for a while. 

In fact, maybe during that game of hockey that you broke your routine for, you might not play up to your standards. And the only thing you can point to as the cause of your sub-standard play is that routine that you broke.

The good thing is that breaking a routine doesn’t have to impact your life for a long time. You can easily get back on track – even by just making sure that you start your next day with your routine before doing anything else. 

However, if things in your life change, routines can change and be adapted. 

It might take a week or two. You may have to give it some time or thought, but before you know it, you make adjustments to your routine and everything is back to normal.

You are regular again.

Here’s the thing: The best way to meet with God is to have a routine – one that you don’t have to think about, that’s automatic. If you have time with God at the same time each day, know where you will do it and have what you need ready for you, when something comes up to break that routine, it won’t ruin you. You might feel off-kilter for a bit, but if you get back at the routine, everything will be back to normal by the next day.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What routine do you need to set up or change? Leave your comments and questions below.

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