The importance of routine

Some people thrive under routine whilst others loathe the thought of planning out their day.

Having a routine, however, can greatly improve your health as it supports cognitive function and is associated with improved sleep and reduced stress. Tasks that are completed regularly become habitual, requiring less cognitive processing power. Articles additionally show that those with regular working habits can demonstrate increased focus during more complex tasks.

The great ‘Covid’ experiment’

Covid-19 meant that many of us had to get used to hybrid working or working completely from home, where it was arguably even more important to create a routine, as isolation and lack of a normal working schedule proved mentally taxing for many.

Working routines were massively disrupted by the pandemic and many of us were forced to adapt, or remove, some habits that were previously important aspects of our routine. Think back to pre-Covid days when your typical morning routine consisted of your commute to work or catching up with colleagues over a coffee in the kitchen. These small habits contributed to feelings of happiness and safety, both of which are the foundations for good mental health, and reasons why routine is important beyond productivity.

In the years since the pandemic, some of us have fully returned to work, and some have continued to follow a hybrid pattern where we’ve inevitably adapted to a new routine. In some cases, however, home working has continued to be the new normal, and the consequences of an absence of routine continue to reverberate.

Being prepared for change

We never know when change will happen, so how can we mitigate against the impact of having our routine disrupted?

Start by developing a new routine. Make a list and write down all the things you normally do on a working day. Note which things need to be done and by when. Not everything on your list will be subject to strict time constraints so, for some tasks, it may be more appropriate for them to be part of your weekly routine rather than daily.

If you miss the extra steps you’d get from walking up the office stairs, perhaps you could incorporate a leisurely lunchtime walk into your new routine. There are so many smaller aspects of your day that could easily be overlooked but which form a huge part of having a healthy routine.

It’s important to figure out what works for you. You may prefer a highly structured routine with tasks split into colour-coded time blocks, or you may prefer a general list of tasks for the day. Whatever way works for you, remember that the aim of creating a routine is to alleviate cognitive stress, so it’s no help beating yourself up over tasks that have not been achieved!

There are many benefits to developing a routine. When we perform tasks regularly they become habits and require less cognitive processing power to complete. We’re all busy people and often have an abundance of things we want to achieve during the day. A routine helps ensure very little gets left behind.