I thrive on routine, give me a sequence of actions to follow regularly and I’ll do it without fail. While some may refer to their daily routine as mundane, I love it. It’s when my routine is disrupted I become cranky and irritable. Last year, my job required me to work 12-hour days for a 10-day stretch. The overtime and the work were great, but I was miserable. My routine turned upside down.
I never deviate from my schedule, unless forced. I’m up at the same time every day, even on the weekend. Breakfast is always the same. During the week, I leave for work at the exact same time. Traffic doesn’t disrupt my routine because I leave early in the morning which ensures I’m at my desk at the same time every day. I’m a creature of habit.
I believe my routine helps me manage my energy more effectively, but there are arguments against having a routine. Some say they make your life boring or keep us from seeing new opportunity. Another article I read said routine promotes laziness. One that struck a chord was routine can limit creativity. It made me question if my obsessiveness for routine is having an impact on my writing.
When I thought about my writing, I realized, I have no routine. I do write every day, however not at a set time. I’m not sitting at a desk at a certain time forcing my creativity to come alive. I write when I can and where I can. I don’t worry that it’s not part of my routine because stories always fill my mind, I let them set the schedule.
Do you like routine or do you fly by the seat of your pants?