My take on this may surprise you.
You see, I'm quite a spontaneous person with a high value on freedom and adventure. And I used to find routine and structure extremely boring, rigid and constraining. I suppose a part of me still does.
I'm a passionate person and extremes are easy to creep in for me, and before I know it 100% spontaneity can become 50% distraction + 50% chaos. Not quite what I'd hope to get from spontaneity (which can be so fun and adventurous and free!).
For example whilst giving is important and valuable, 100% giving can morph into burnout, being modest and humble works too but 100% modesty can mutate into "Who am I ..." and disempower you, supporting others and doing what is expected has its place but 100% repressing your vision and living someone else's idea of your life can morph into depression, existential crisis, and so on.
Over time I've come to realise that extremes are not really what serves me best. Or anyone I know. So....
I've looked within and examined these two opposites - Spontaneity and Routine.
Spontaneity NEEDS a container, a frame, a grounding force .... and the Routine provides just that. A space to play around, a focus, a funnel even, to pour all that energy into something purposeful. To not spread yourself too thin and get distracted by myriad of details.
- your values,
- your preferences,
- and the purpose of the Routine you're creating.
In the work context, this comes down to knowing my priorities, having the plans top of mind (also helps to write them down), and then checking-in with myself during the day to make sure that's still accurate. It's about committing my energy to specific things, and then build regular check-ins to know the priorities I've set are still true for me.
Because the last thing I'd want is to keep doing things purely out of habit, unconsciously, on autopilot, without a real purpose behind it. (Habits are useful, but only when they're really serving us.)
And that checking-in, that open-endedness satisfies my spontaneous nature, gives me a sense of freedom.
This flexibility doesn't mean that actions need to deviate from plans, not at all. But sometimes they might. And that's fine too.
But I most love my morning routine that sets me up for the day. I take time to enjoy my tea, sit down to meditate and journal. I change it up too, the Free-Flow nature of it allows for that ;-)
If you'd like my 1:1 help to create your own free-flow (or any kind of) routine that will help you manage your life better, or you'd like to create a BIG change in your life but not sure where to start - get in touch via email HERE or book a call with me below.
In our work together we're going to:
- dig into your vision, what do you really want to create in your life, what is the purpose of change you want to create;
- we'll also look at your present situation, what's going for you and what's in the way, why hasn't it happened already;
- and we'll piece together a picture of what the next best steps are for you.
I love supporting people with great visions, and get excited to help make them a reality!
And I'm always happy to hear your take on things, so let me know in the comments below :)
Mojca x
