OCTOBER SHOUTOUT: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF ROUTINES

OCTOBER SHOUTOUT
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF ROUTINES

It's October, people!  Holy moly I cannot believe Q4 is upon us... With so much still up in the air with work, school and our world, having a routine that provides control and predictability is more important than ever, so I want to share a few thoughts on the value of routines. Something I have learned from over 10+ years coaching folks around routines is that even if you wouldn't consider yourself a "routined" person or even if you resist the actual term (you know who you are), most people work better with a little bit of a routine in their days. Even just starting the day with a routine has the power to set you off in the right direction with more clarity. The value of a routine varies greatly for people; however, anchoring your day/time/schedule to something that you do regularly has enormous mental health benefits. 
 
Think: repetitive actions, strong habits, daily practices, and control over time.  
 
Everyone has some kind of routine—consider what yours are. Are they moving you in the direction you want to go? Maybe this month is the right time to put a few new structures in place for a stronger routine. What's ONE thing you can do to make your routine solid?
 
Skip ahead to the takeaway tool below to hear about one of my strongest routines that I start my day with... and, happy October!

An Insightful Article
The Secret Benefits of Routines 
This article is a short, quick read that delves further into the value of daily routines. My favorite tool here is to jot down your daily/weekly activities and see what you can reduce/consolidate into an organic and natural habit or routine.  

Read the Article >>

What I'm Listening To
Smartless
When you're fed up with it all, I encourage you to start listening to my new favorite podcast—Smartless! If you are okay with some salty language and belly laughs, this is well worth your time. I binged every episode the first weekend I started listening and find these three to be hilarious, smart, and a true stress reliever... 
Get ready to laugh out loud!

Listen to the Podcast >>

Routines In Action
My M/J/R Time
One of my most "anchoring" routines is how I start my day. I do a simple meditation for 5 minutes, journal for 10 minutes and read for 15 minutes. I call this my "M/J/R Time" and it is how I start each day. There is NO right or wrong way to any routine. Just consider what your daily habits are and if they can form a routine. Then assess whether or not they are moving you in the direction you want to go. Perhaps you need to try something new to really make a productive routine.
 
Want to add journaling to your routine? I have journaled for years, it helps me clear my head and work stuff out on paper, which I find very valuable. Below are some creative ideas around journaling. 
 
A Free Takeaway Tool
4 Ways to Journal
 
Make yourself the hero: The Hero’s Journal is a productivity tool that disguises your goals as an epic quest to be completed...with you as the hero. 
Clear your mind: James Clear’s Habit Journal pairs with his book Atomic Habits like a fine wine. Less exciting than the Hero’s Journal, but just as effective.
One at a time: If you’re looking to dip your toe into journaling, the One Line a Day memory book maximizes idea capture with minimal writing. Plus, when we get back to a time with more precedent, it might be interesting to take a trip down 2020’s memory lane. 
Doodle: If writing isn’t your thing, don’t force it—doodle instead. It’s more fun, great for the brain, and there’s no such thing as a grammar police in drawing. Here are five good options for art journals. 