what’s the deal with routines?
I’ve been trying to write about routines—my relationship with them, what I actually do, why I find them important—for months, but I kept changing my mind about how to share and what to share. Since the pandemic took hold, my routines have been in flux week to week and season to season, making them difficult to describe. Yet, without them I’d be a couch potato most days, fighting burnout symptoms and indulging in an unhealthy amount of social media.
Routines are popular right now; there’s that girl, thousands of Instagram reels, and a slew of newly published self-help books on the subject. I’m a small voice in the echo chamber, but I love my routines best. Duh. They’re sacred pockets of time to myself designed to give me energy and protect me from my worst habits. If you’re looking for a peek into my morning and evening, read on. If you’re looking for ideas for your own routine, read on. I’ll also share my go-to resources for routine building and so-called “reset days.”
Where to Start
To be as simple as possible, both my morning and nighttime routine follow the same formula.
Movement + Hydration + Skincare
My formula is open and simple, mainly because I like consistently but my day-to-day varies; sometimes I wake up at 5am to teach yoga and sometimes I sleep until 9 because I have the luxury of working from home. If I make too many rules for myself, I feel like I’m not allowing my body to rest or allowing myself to be human. SO instead of developing a schedule, I use these elements to prioritize activities that wake me up (or calm me down), give me energy, and make me feel my best.
Ideally, I do these things every day, but that’s not exactly how it is. A more realistic peek into my week would look like me completing my routing 4 out of 7 days, probably during the week when I have a more predictable schedule. Some tasks I never skip (medication, water) and some I rarely include (foam rolling). And more often than not I’ll substitute something, like gua sha instead of sunscreen or reading instead of meditating. Flexibility is important. So is grace.
My Typical Morning Routine
drink water and take my medicine
eat breakfast before drinking (any) caffeine
make my bed
wash my face and apply sunscreen
My Typical Nighttime Routine
stretch/light yoga
apply lotion or body oils
drink tea
charge my phone before bed so I can place it across the room (this is a struggle!)
How To Stick To It
Making a routine stick is an art form. It’s personal; maybe for you it requires discipline and a physical checklist. Some people like to use an app. I typically need time to develop my routines and see what does and doesn’t work. I tried using a checklist, but it made everything feel like a chore. Now, I habit stack and visually cue myself. I know I’ll take my medicine every day because I keep it with my contacts and I need to be able to see. By storing my coffee on an upper shelf, I’m reminded to eat food before I reach for it. The same goes for evenings: I keep my oils in my nightstand and my yoga mat near my bed to increase the likelihood of rolling it out.
Regardless of what actions you take, give yourself time to adjust and adapt. Well-adjusted people are willing to readjust. Notice what you skip and what you like, and go from there.
Ideas For Your Routines
make a drink: coffee, matcha, tea, lemon water
meditate
listen to a podcast
light a candle
repeat a mantra or affirmations
stretch, foam roll
read a poem/short essay
burn incense
water/care for plants
cuddle your pet
make your bed
write morning pages
pull tarot cards
journal
sit in direct sunlight
gua sha
do a face mask
doodle
go for a walk
set your phone to do not disturb
do a quick tidy-up of one room
brush your teeth
wash your face
do yoga
Resources
I love watching vlogs on Youtube and reading about other people’s routines. Some of my favorites are calm vlogs from Moya Mawhinney and Nayna Florence. I’m also a sucker for a “reset routine” like this one from Jules Acree, who just posted a how-to on routines this past week. And if you want a wholesome, grounding routine watch this one from Hitomi.