Shifting from Routine to Rhythm
These past weeks, I feel like I’ve been beating myself up over not being productive enough, not sticking to my morning rituals, not planning meals well enough… I have been “should-ing” all over myself. As someone who writes about healthy habits and wellness, I am feeling sub-par in my own personal life. I even went so far as to start an intake with my naturopath about how to get out of my own way when it comes to sticking to a schedule and be more efficient in the day to day.
I saw this tag line, “Shifting from Routine to Rhythm” and it really hit me. Yes, I need to adjust some things, be more gentle with myself as a new mom, and the like. And, maybe I am going about this from a direction that will only set me up for disappointment. Instead of telling myself that I need a routine, or even to stick to a ritual, what about finding my new rhythm? It won’t be what it was 7 years ago, or even last year, but what does it look and feel like now?
What if we shifted away from rigid and allowed for more fluidity?
With fluidity we still have goals, maybe a checklist that needs to get done through the week, or rituals that you love in the morning. Yet we aren’t bound by a strict structure. Whether you wake up at 5:55 or 6:45, you can still enjoy your morning drink and maybe squeeze in a few minutes of movement. Or maybe one day it’s movement, another is writing your morning pages, and another is in meditation.
Instead of being focused on ‘doing,’ focus on purpose.
Rather than doing for the sake of doing, focus your attention on the things that give you purpose, things that connect you mind, body, and spirit. Even if you are completing a task that isn’t exactly what you want to do, can you make it more purpose driven rather than just another thing to be done. For example, a friend had to write an instagram post for her business that didn’t light her up but was suggested by their marketing coach and agreed upon by her business partner. Rather than trudging through creating something that just didn’t feel right, she was able to rework the post to fit the needs to the business and also appeal to what she really wanted to say.
Let your rhythm flow with the seasons.
Depending on where you live, you may experience major shifts in your day based on the seasons. In summer you might go for a run in the morning, and in winter you opt for gentle movement on your yoga mat. If you live close to the equator and outside seasons aren’t a thing, look inside. We are always going through different seasons and phases in our bodies. Allow yourself to listen to what would suit you best and allow yourself to flow with the seasons inside and out.
Focus on the pursuit of forward movement over perfection.
Have you ever stopped doing a task, or even failed to start because it just felt too big? Instead of trying to make something “perfect,” just do it. Even if it’s just a baby step in the direction of what you’re working toward, enjoy the journey rather than being obsessed with a perfect outcome.
Routines can feel restrictive. Your rhythm is expansive.
For some of us, focusing on the details of exactly how something should be done can feel restrictive, closing us off from spontaneity and creativity. When you work with your natural rhythms, there is room for flexibility and experimentation on how best to get something done.
This is not an excuse to not have some sort of structure or schedule. It is a way to let go of actions that feel confining and invites you to move into a place of authenticity and creativity. If your authentic self needs a color coded weekly schedule that you stick to, then that is perfect and it’s you. If you are resistant to a strict schedule, try loosening the reigns. Take off some of the pressure and give yourself time to find your rhythm.