The Importance of Routines

Routines are often talked about when we are referring to children. Structure and discipline seem to benefit them  tremendously. Ironically no one discusses these matters when referring to adults. Well if they do I haven't seen it. The closest I have come is FlyLady.net, with her routines are necessary, as they are with me.

As a child my mother always had routines for us, reminders each and everyday. While I loathed them, as most children do, I look back now and see how I thrived; how productive and creative my life was. When I was unleashed unto the world, my independent self, thinking I no longer needed my mother or her structure.  Hard headed to say the least, I was failing. I failed at house work, organization, and even socially at times. Forgetting appointments, homemaking tasks well they seemed unachievable, and finding something well forget it. It took me a while to realize that this was not the result of the many excuses I gave, from being to busy to it will just be messed up again in a few minutes or days. It was hard to admit that my mother was right, routine and structure are the only way to keep things in your life straight.

While I am not my mother with her born organizational skills. I can achieve my own routine and structure with a little help. Flylady.net that I mention before has been a large help. My ADHD, which I did not feel affected my life at all until I started paying attention, does not allow me to focus as long as I would like. Her idea of creating a routine, and working on items for just 15 minutes at a time was a revelation to me. At first I scoffed, "yeah right" I thought there is no way. Then day by day little by little my house started becoming my home, I could find things my patient and loving husband started coming home from work saying wow the house looks great. I was making my appointments and social engagements and keeping them. WOW

Routines are simply the way our minds works, from those who need the strictest never varying to those who need a basic do it in this order. While I may not always stick my my routines they are familiar and comfortable enough that I can now pick them up and start again with ease. My life has become easier, my role as a homemaker feels more complete. I am proud to have you come over for a cup of coffee, because well my house may not be up to my mothers standards but I am proud of the way my house looks today. :)