I may be a little (and by a little, I mean a lot) guilty of creating routines, becoming overly attached to them and then feeling guilty if I don’t stick to them every. single. day.

Routines can be a life saver. Having a routine is what motivates me to jump into my day. I feel like I have purpose and an action plan that assists me to function at my optimum level.

However when a routine begins to become a burden, a dogma or a bore, then you know something needs to change. Psychology is such a complex thing. In theory I know that it doesn’t matter what order I exercise, shower, eat breakfast, start work etc. in. In fact I know that it’s sometimes better if these tasks are rotated depending on the timeframe of the day. Yet I’ve always had a little voice in my head stearing me towards a pattern of consistency.

Over the New Years period I visited an amigo who lives in Melbourne. Being away, I had to change up my morning routine because of several factors that were out of my control. Knowing that I didn’t have control of these factors I felt no guilt in leaving my regular routine behind for a few days. I enjoyed adopting new habits and learned the art of letting go and surrenduring to my needs.

I’ve shared before that I like to get up in the mornings and start the day with a big drink of water and a probiotic capsule. From here it’s tackling a half hour pilates session before moving on to dry body brushing whilst simultaniously affirming the like chocolate for women manifesto. I then take a quick shower, do my daily body boost and go for a half hour beach run before returning home for my highly anticipated morning smoothie.

Whilst I was away I was without my pilates ball and probiotics. I decided that I wouldn’t fly with probiotics. I have no idea how cabin pressure and being that high off the ground effects good bacteria. I decided to just drink a kombucha a day to ensure that I was still giving my gut the good bacteria that it needs.The shower wasn’t available whenever I felt ready to take it so I had one later in the day.

I liked it. I still woke early, still had a big drink, but then went for a  hour long run around my friend’s beautiful area (which, like my neighbourhood at home, is also close to a beach). When I returned from my run I had extra time to kill (not showering until later in the day has it’s perks) so was able to clean up the kitchen from the night before (do any outstanding dishes, pack away the drainer etc. – why am I always more motivated to clean other people’s kitchen?) and start to prepare breakfast. My friend is now a green smoothie and buckwheat porridge convert – your welcome Amber. I even found some time for journaling and reading somewhere in there too.

It may not seem like much of a change. I still got up, excersised and made my daily green smoothie (prepared in a thermomix for a change – now that I’ve had a chance to compare the two I still like my Vitamix more, thank goodness because that’s what I’ve got!). However it was enough of a change for me to realise that as good and empowering as my former morning routine had been, I had become way too dogmatic about it.

Since returning home, I haven’t put on my pilates dvd once. I have, however, started changing it up with weights (light ones, 2kg per arm – I’m a pretty tiny human so that’s enough for me), wall sits (love me a good leg burn) and planks. I’ve been doing longer stair climbs – my favourite exercise of late, and even tried kayaking (almost got pulled out to sea – but I somehow clawed my way back in against the tide and am here to type the tale, maybe next time I’ll try river kayaking). I’ve had a break from a specific manifesto and instead am just affirming what I feel called to in the moment.

I’ve realised that having at least some sort of routine makes me feel good and in control. However I like having room to move. Some days I’ll spend longer body boosting, massaging my oils into my body in an almost meditative state, others I’ll be briefer. Sometimes I’ll go for a long run, others I’ll do a collective group of shorter exercises. Sometimes I’ll shower in the morning, others I might wait until the evening. What matters is that I am doing what feels right in the moment and releasing any guilt that I had previously attached to what I thought was ‘the most perfect way to start my day’.

Routines’s are a beautiful concept, until they become a rut. When anything becomes a drudgery it’s time to change. There is no perfect way to start the day, and I for one need to remember this.

Give yourself the permission to let go of any routines that don’t honour your overall wellbeing (there are some exceptions … such as cleaning up your animal’s litter box, I know it’s not exaclty empowering but some things just can’t be avoided can they?).

Affirmation: “I release all attachment to actions that no longer serve me. I release guilt and negative thought processes related to these past actions. I move on to a life where as my needs and desires change so too do my routines and habits”

Yours in ditching rigidity,

Rachie xxx