Wednesday, March 7, 2012

- routine -

I love routine...and I hate routine. It's a conflict I've always had. One part of me loves the stability of routine. I'm pretty insecure about change, and a routine grounds me. But the other part of me can get so completely bored and unsatisfied with a day to day routine. So what gives?

Our weekdays are as routine as they come. We all wake up at the same time every morning, trudge into work, frantically try to get everything done, rush home, rush through cooking dinner, eating dinner, play time and usually bath time. We follow the same bed time routine for Ellie, and then, once she's down, slip into our normal late night routine of vegging in front of the TV or the computer until we can barely keep our eyes open and then we crawl into bed. It's not a terrible routine...and we do have a lot of fun together along the way, but it is still routine..and I have to admit, it can get very monotonous at times.

Our weekends are a different story. We usually mix it up every weekend and never stick to one routine. We go out, try new things, get together with friends and family, and spend lots of quality time together. And I absolutely love our weekends! 

Weeknights are hard though. By the time we get home from work, it's hard to mix things up and throw in new and different things when we have a toddler's bath time and bed time to consider. But sometimes I just need a break from the weeknight routine...to liven things up a bit!

(Image credit lacestiletto.tumblr.com)

So, how do you mix things up when you need a break from that dreaded routine?



11 comments:

Unknown said...

Good question! We have a very similar routine to you. Like right now G is in bed and I am clicking away on the computer. Our weekends are totally off the cuff. Once in a while I go out to dinner with the girls after G has gone to bed. I guess that is a change up?!

courtney - larking. said...

I have SUCH the opposite problem -- I crave routine and my little 9 month old despises it! :) I remember reading once that it's really good to spark creativity by driving a different way to work, eating with your opposite hand, sitting in a different place at the dinner table, etc. Even just changing the little things can make you feel reinvigorated!

Denise said...

Every day is the same routine for me... and I hate it! I love change and I love being spontaneous.

Amy said...

ugh, i am feeling this way too. I'm hoping that when the weather starts to stay nice, we'll get out more and life will be less, uh, the same, lol.

Carlie said...

I totally agree with you on routines. I love em and hate em at the same time. Have you tried using groupon or kgb deals to find places to eat or visit to get ya out of your routine? I love using those sites to find things to do! =)

Melanie said...

Ugg. You took the words right out of my brain... how did you do that? Lol) I TRY to break our routine by not planning every little detail out. I like out week to be pretty routine, our weekends to be whatever they may! Usually that means either full force, or complete relaxation. (well as much as a 3 year old will allow!)

P/S Ellie-bugs daily pics are KILLING me w/ cuteness. Mama, you have got the photography thing down! Shush. You SO do!

Love you bbf

Bree said...

I dislike routines. Mainly because I get tired of doing the same thing every day, but that's the life of a college student.

Amber said...

Routines are so hard but sometimes its as simple as having something else planned that can mess up your routine.

Melanie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Melanie said...

Hey mama... for got to tell ya, I tagged you!

Btw, if you have no time to follow along, I so get it. I just couldn't not tag my bestie bloggy buddy!

March 9, 2012 2:09 PM

Unknown said...

I am the same way with routine - I love it & hate it. I rarely feel the need to "mix it up" since my husband's work schedule is all over the place and the way our day goes is different depending on whether he's home or not. I like having a schedule, but it seems like as soon as we get used to one, everything changes!

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