I've always been one to have a set routine that keeps me organized and on track, but sometimes I find that I grow tired of my routine and long for a more 'in the moment' day. So it got me wondering if having a set routine is really healthy for us, or if we should be mixing up our daily routine with a healthy dose of inspiration. I've come to the realization that there are some definite pros and cons of having a routine.

Pros of Having a Routine

Limits procrastination - It's generally easier to stick to a task every day than to just do the task on occasional days. For example, if you want to have a great workout plan then you may want to put that into a daily time slot and make it a routine. It's much easier to get up and stick to your workout when you know that 8am is your workout time. If you don't have a daily time slot for it then it can be easier to procrastinate and push your workout to a later time which may result in the workout not getting done at all!

Certain Tasks Can Bring Pleasure - Sometimes we look forward to a certain part of our routine. For instance our breaks at work where we sit in the exact same spot and read or daydream can be something we look forward to. Or our daily coffee that we pick up from the same spot every single day can bring us joy, and even our nightly line-up of TV programs can get us excited. These parts of our routine can actually cause pleasure just to think about and they are vital to de-stressing and feeling good.

The Individual Tasks Take Priority - Anything that you do on a daily basis must have some importance, and that is a good thing when you want something to have importance in your life. Just as it is easier to workout everyday at the same time, it is also easier to see your workout as something important if you do it daily. If your workout was something you only did occasionally throughout the week it would take a lesser spot on your priority scale. So if you have something that you want to take priority in your life then make it a part of your daily routine.

Goals Get Achieved - When you have a specific goal in mind it normally has a time frame on it. The only way to reach that goal is to take action towards it which involves spending some time on taking that action. If you put aside some time daily to work on your goals then you will eventually achieve them. If you instead put some action towards your goals here and there you may procrastinate and never reach them at all. If you have goals then the steps to reach them will do well in a daily routine.

Cons of Having a Routine

Boredom - It can get pretty dull doing the same thing day in and day out. Life is exciting when you are awake for it, and doing the exact same thing you did yesterday may not keep you aware of your surroundings but rather in a sleepy zombie like state.

Doesn't Always Challenge You - A routine can be very non-challenging. You know what you are doing because you've done it all before, and you don't require a lot of brain power to do it because it's pretty much second nature to you now. Challenges are always going to be situations that make us grow. Without challenges in our life we can live a pretty boring life that can affect our mental power enormously, and our mental power is important to our health.

Routines Can Make Us Become Rigid - If we become so grossly involved in our routine then we may become a little rigid in our daily lives and lose some spontaneity. For instance, if we are used to having coffee while we look over the daily news then visitors may become a nuisance to us if they stop by during our coffee. Or if we are used to doing chores in a certain way then we may get stressed out when someone tries to do them differently. This doesn't only affect our mental health, but it can affect our relationships as well.

In conclusion, I think routines are useful when it comes to goals and life's tasks that need some order and predictability. We can accomplish things that we set out to do if we make sure to spend some time on it daily. But I also think that mixing up daily life a little can bring about growth and happiness that would otherwise by missing if we stuck to a strict daily routine.