We tend to do things in the same way and at the same time each day; whether it’s getting up in the morning, drinking the perfect latte on the way to work, or turning on the computer while we sort through the mail. These routines are familiar and keep us on track each day.
As a licensed daycare provider when my children were young, I needed to provide a daily schedule the children followed each day. The children were great during the week but their parents commented to me on Monday mornings their children were cranky and out of sorts over the weekend.
When speaking with the parents about their child’s day with me and their child’s day on the weekend, it was then I realized the importance of a consistent daily routine. Our daycare routine allowed the children to feel secure enough to relax and enjoy what was happening around them, whereas at home the children often did not follow any schedule during the day, causing them anxiety and stress.
It is when our routines are broken that we experience stress and anxiety.
As I saw with the children I cared for, when structure is provided each day it allows them to be more focused and involved in tasks. This is also true with adults. When our routines are broken, we experience stress and anxiety because we are no longer following the set path we are familiar with. We don’t know what is coming next and that concerns us, makes us irritable and less able to focus on the task at hand.
Routine is an important part to our success.
The best thing to do when our routine is broken due to an unexpected meeting or an emergency at home, is to get back to our routine as soon as possible. We feel relaxed and in control when using a routine, so the sooner we get back on track, the less anxiety we will feel.
Here is a list of 6 benefits of establishing a routine:
- As our actions become automatic, we are able to increase productivity as we move smoothly from task to task.
- Completing the same tasks each day, we become more efficient as we find short cuts or eliminate unnecessary steps.
- Working with a routine helps us schedule other appointments with colleagues, doctors or with a child’s teacher.
- When we have a sense of control over our life, we are more relaxed and better equipped to handle unexpected problems and emergencies.
- A routine allows us to stay focused during tasks as we are not concerned as to what we will be doing next.
- Following a routine reduces worrying and anxiety from lack of control over our day.
How do you handle your work day? Do you feel more or less productive following a routine?
Next Post in the Productivity Series: 6 Super Tips to Saying No
Hi, I’m Karen. Welcome to my website! I will show you how to establish the framework for an organized and successful leadership and office management system.
