Having a good routine makes all the difference. When you have one in place, navigating through the day becomes much easier. Plus – there’s more bandwidth to deal with challenging parts of life, like work and kids.
But sticking with a routine is no walk in the park, especially during the warm summer months. The evenings are long, and the cocktails are fresh. So – even if you don’t want to – you easily find yourself slipping away from your routine. But don’t panic – there are ways to get back into your A game for fall.
Start slow (and simple)
- You have to be realistic – transitioning from having no routine to adopting a complex regimen isn’t possible in just one day. Whether you wish to start a new yoga practice or keep up with your weekly cleaning schedule, remember to take it slow. In fact, it’s best to start with a single practice initially.
- If you’re a high achiever, you may be tempted to completely transform your entire life in the blink of an eye. Nevertheless, focusing on one routine at a time enables you to truly master that routine. Allow it to become second nature, as once it becomes habitual, the process becomes significantly smoother. Afterward, you can move on to creating a new routine.
- Remember that developing a new routine – both the motivation to initiate it and the commitment to stick with it – can be quite a challenge. By gradually easing into it, there’s a bigger chance you’ll actually form long-term habits.
Leave reminders for yourself
- Sometimes, we all need a little nudge to remember things, especially when we’re working on building new habits and routines.
- There are various ways you can do this. For instance, you can lay out all the ingredients for a healthy breakfast on your kitchen counter before you go to sleep at night. Alternatively, you could stick reminder notes on your bathroom mirror, front door, or any spot where you will notice them. Or, if you prefer a simpler route, you can rely on your Reminders app on your phone. The key is to find what suits you best!
- Furthermore, self-reminders can also make your life easier. For example, getting yourself out of bed for that early morning jog becomes a breeze when you don’t have to search your closet high and low for your exercise gear.
Don’t stress if you can’t get back into the game quickly
Try something new
If you happen to forget, or even if you’re not feeling particularly motivated to stick to your new routine on a certain day, don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember, habits take time to develop. According to a study from 2021, it takes around 59 days on average for behaviors to become natural and automatic.
You’re easing back into your routine, but guess what? There’s no rule saying it has to be exactly like before. This fall could be the ideal moment to switch things around with a fresh family schedule, a different take on your workout routine, or even adopting a new habit. Since you’re already sensing a period of change, why not make it a bold one?
Ending notes
If things don’t go as planned, just keep in mind that nobody anticipates you switching out of summer mode right away.
Embrace those vacation feelings for a little longer, and don’t worry if you don’t immediately master your routine or if you hit the snooze button a couple of times now and then. You’ll be back at it before you know it!
