![]() Something I learned early on in my “career” of having routines is that they can take a long time to create and solidify. And although a couple of them technically have times of day attached, I almost never actually start at those times. It makes more sense to make tea once I am already downstairs, filling my water bottles, then when I’ve just gotten out of bed. When the items are in a specific order, it is always because it takes more work to do them a different way. What I mean when I say “routine” is really a set of tasks I do, mostly in the same order, at certain points in my day, because grouping them together takes up less time, effort, and brain space. It feels like death.” And I wouldn’t want to be chained to something like that either! As you’ll see, my routines are far more flexible. I asked a friend of mine what she thought the word meant and she said something along the lines of “Doing the exact same thing, in the exact same order, at the exact same time, every day. That sounds way cooler.Ī lot of us seem to have this deeply draconian impression of routines in general. And although I think I’m stuck with the word “routine” for myself, I kind of wish I could change it to “ritual”. “Structure”, “support actions”, “sequence”, “takin’ care of business”, “upkeep” (anyone who plays Magic the Gathering will be familiar with that word), “ritual” (D&D players know this means you don’t waste a spell slot), these are all words that can mean the same thing. ![]() “Habit” might also be a loaded word for some, but it can be an alternative to “routine”, and indeed, a lot of what I call my routines have become habit. It can bring different meaning and empower instead of draining us. For some, just changing the word or title of something is freeing. And while words can carry meaning, and power, there’s no reason to be chained to them, their meaning, or their power. I personally have a great deal of baggage around the word “gratitude”. “Homework” can be another loaded word, as well as “goal”. And they often still hate it! It is a strange cycle.Īs with so many words, the word “routine” can carry some serious baggage with it. The fact remains that often when people with ADHD do manage to implement routine and structure into their lives, it is of enormous benefit to them. And indeed, I know a lot of people, either artistic and creative types, those who love to embrace chaos, and/or with ADHD, who seem allergic to the concept. On the surface, it seems like those with ADHD are routine incompatible.
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