Simplify your life - 52 Week Challenge - Week 19

 Routinely routine

Yep that sums it up – as a creator of lists I love a good routine.  I am routinely routine.

I have a routine for everything and I like it like that.

Wow that was short and sweet – maybe there is a bit more to this.  Let’s have a look at my routines.

LOML and I have been married for nearly 29 years and we know each other fairly well, he is very anal retentive…….. really anal retentive and everything has a routine attached to it.  Merman and I have grown used to it and we have our own ways of dealing with it.  I hate to admit it but a lot of the routines LOML has developed are good if not great and they do make our lives easier.  But, yes there is always one of them, sometimes too many routines drives me crazy.  Yes we put the keys in the one place – very handy, can’t tell you the last time I lost a set of keys (actually I have never lost them – they are always hanging in the same spot).  The one thing I do get a bit distracted with and it is his routine not mine, he puts his shirts, socks and undies in order of wearing.  Yep that’s right, he puts his shirts, socks and undies in order of wearing – I don’t do it he does so it really doesn’t matter to me.  Whatever floats his boat.

Ok back on track, routines.  Routines make my life easier and as I get older I find I like routines more and more especially in my work.  In my work (as an administrator) I set up routines (processes), things I do first thing in the working day.  It helps me to remember to do things.  My life gets so busy sometimes, Merman’s sporting, schooling, socialising and not to mention my bits and pieces, it is really important for me to be on top of everything and for this to happen routines make it easier. Dare I say – routines simplify my life.

Routines change to meet the needs of my family.  My dad is in aged care ( 12 hours away from me) and at Christmas when I visited him I realised he misses contact and he reaches out to anybody for attention, in a way that was making me uncomfortable. In particular I noticed I didn’t talk to him enough and that at times when I did ring he wasn’t there. So I put a new routine into my day, a routine that not only suited both Dad and I but suited LOML and Merman.  I call Dad each every morning at 715 and we talk for about 15minutes.  Occasionally I have to miss a morning but I’d say 28 out of 30 days I call him and it has a twofold effect.  I get to find out what is going on in his life, I’ve been able to detect that he is deteriorating and that he actually needs extra care.  More importantly he is getting more attention and I am enjoying our relationship more.  It isn’t just a duty call anymore but something I look forward to.  

Routines, living in a household of routines of course Merman has picked up a few and as he grapples with all the challenges a 15 year old deals with I know that he has already established routines.  From packing his school bag the night before to showering times (so he doesn’t miss the bus) routines are making his life easier to. 

I’ve had a look back to move forward and yes I do have many routines but there are one or two more I really need to change and add.  This is something I will work on this week. 

Exercise -  it has been cold and I am not getting my exercise as I should – so my new routine will be to ride the exercise bike instead of walking – I have the time at night to ride for 30 mins and I will do it.  I will also walk twice a week at lunch time instead of before work.

Housework – dishes to be done at night.

Routines aren’t boring, routines come in all shapes and sizes but mostly routines make our lives simpler and helps us get on with the mundane things so we have more fun about the fun things that we want to do. 

For me routines are a very important part of my life and are definitely here to stay. 

Thanks Deb (http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au/simplify-your-life-week-19-routines/) for reminding how much I love a good routine.

PS.  It’s been a bit of a crazy week and to be honest a tough one, some of the changes I have made aren’t sitting too well with others and there have been a few teething problems.  A bit emotional for me at times but I am sticking to my changes because I know that I am on the right track.  At the moment there are a few pot holes in the track but I will navigate them and come out on top.