You will hear people refer to routine as being dull or boring. It implies that life is the same from one day to the next. However, routines are a great way to get your work done. It is also a great means for teams to work together towards a common goal. When everyone understands what needs to get done, i.e., what routines each team member needs to perform, projects tend to run smoother.
We also have routines in our society. In some ways, laws can be considered routines. You know that you are not supposed to run a red light and that can be thought of as a routine. When you come to a red light, you stop.
You set up routines for your kids in the form of chores. You know that certain tasks need to get done each week. Many parents tie kids’ allowances on these chores. When the kids finish their chores, they receive their allowances.
When you pay bills, you tend to have a routine for this. Some people like to:
- Pay bill upon receipt
- Pay on a certain day of month
- Pay automatically by their bank or brokerage.
There is only one right answer for how to do this. Whatever works for you. However, the method you choose will be routine.
Compare this to people who do not have routines to manage their lives. They tend to handle tasks when the mood strikes them. These people are usually late with their bills and have messy environments. Some of these people will say that this way of life works for them. However, for most people this is chaos. It is something that can easily be avoided by setting up routines for the tasks you need to complete.
Remember we all need to break up our routines on occasion. You may use weekends to do activities that you don’t get to do during the work week. Also, many families use vacations to help break up their routines.
