Did you know your routines don’t have to feel boring, stiff, or restrictive? In this episode of the Routine and Things Podcast, you’ll learn exactly what is making your routines feel uncomfortable so you can begin to cultivate routines that actually feel good to you. Yes, routines can feel good and I’m sharing how to make this possible. Listen to today’s episode to find out how.
Word For Word
Ashley Brown 0:00
[Intro] Routines my absolute favorite word, but you either love them or you're working on getting there. But either way, I strongly believe routines can be a springboard for improving your home, yourself and your life. I'm Ashley Brown. And this is the Routine and Things Podcast. In each episode, I'll share practical tips and simple ways to help you consistently live your happiest life, one routine at a time. Trust me, you're gonna want to keep listening, because you're well on your way to getting and staying happy.
Ashley Brown 0:49
Hey, Hey, welcome back for another episode of the Routine and Things Podcast. I'm your host, Ashley Brown. I am so happy you are joining me today and that you are here to learn what is making your routines feel uncomfortable. Right, what is going on with this? What is happening girl because we got to get you on the right track of your routines feeling great. Feeling enjoyable for you. You being at peace with your routines. That is super important. And so we're going to be talking about that today. Because I believe routine should feel good for you. Because if you're going to be doing them over and over, it's vital that they feel comfortable. So that you do not quit so that you do not stop doing these routines that are adding beauty to your life. Your routine does not have to feel boring, they do not have to feel uncomfortable, they can actually spark joy for you, they can feel easy. It's possible.
Ashley Brown 1:54
Okay, so I'm gonna be sharing today what is making your routine uncomfortable and feel uncomfortable, and specifically three things that could be causing this. Before we get into today's episode, though, I do want to give our listeners some love. And that listener is The Threshing Floor, she left a review that was super sweet. And she says "I love this podcast. So practical. This podcast has been so helpful for me as a mom who is trying to make sure I'm taking care of my family and home first and foremost, while also balancing working full time outside the home and pursuing my calling. Thank you, Ashley, for creating this." Thank you, thank you so much for that review. That was super sweet. And I am so happy that you are pursuing your calling, and that this podcast has been helpful in you doing that and balancing working full time and taking care of your home. Because I actually believe that home is everything. And when we feel good at home. And when we are solid and at peace with our home and able to manage it and we can manage anything else in life. That is truly a core belief of mine. So I'm so glad that you shared how this podcast is being beneficial to you. Thank you so much for that. I love giving you all love for listening to the podcast and for leaving reviews and rating the show. It really helps to support the things that we do here at Routine and Things It is such a blessing that you listen, and that you come back and listen. I truly, truly appreciate it.
Ashley Brown 3:36
If you would like to leave a review, because this podcast is really helpful for you and you really enjoy it. And you can do so you can leave a review. It's very easy to do. Rate the podcast five stars and then leave a very thoughtful review. And you never know you just might hear me showing you some love on the podcast one day. So thank you in advance for that. Let's go ahead and get into this conversation today. About three things making your routine feel uncomfortable.
Ashley Brown 4:05
So I'm going to start with the first thing and that is time restriction. Okay, time restrictions is making your routines feel uncomfortable. When you have a specific time that you want to do your routine or a specific time that you have stamped and marked that you will be doing this routine that can start to feel very uncomfortable, maybe not in the beginning. Maybe in the beginning, you're able to do that routine at 11 o'clock or at 6:30am or at 8pm at night, Maybe so, but after some time you will start to see that timing can become super restricted. So starting to eliminate time constraints can be really helpful in you making your routines feel comfortable. And that is maybe instead of saying you want to do your routine at 630 in the morning, maybe it's like I'm doing my routine when I first wake up, I'm doing my routine in the morning sometime, or I'm doing my routine after we eat dinner, or I'm doing my routine at night. That is super duper helpful in you feeling comfortable doing that routine, because the one time that you put a timeframe, or you put a specific time, and you don't do that routine, you already know what's gonna happen, you're gonna start feeling bad that you didn't do it, you're gonna start making it seem as if you can't ever stick to anything. You can potentially start beating up on yourself, I don't want you doing this.
Ashley Brown 5:38
Because we are all human, we all fall short sometimes. And missing your routine is not the biggest deal, you can always jump back in the next day. Okay. But I want you to understand that time constraints and restrictions can box you in. It doesn't allow for much flexibility and freedom. And that's the thing that is needed in a routine if you want to stick to it. So that's the first thing that's making your routines feel uncomfortable possibly, is you have a set time for when you're going to do the routine. Try not to do this, if that is possible, because you will see a lot more leeway and a lot more give to your routine. And that's going to make them feel better for you, and for your family and children.
Ashley Brown 6:22
And the second thing that can make your routine feel uncomfortable is if you yourself are uncomfortable. You being uncomfortable is directly tied to your routines and feeling comfortable. An example of this is maybe you have started an exercise routine. And every time you exercise, you put on the shoes that are a little bit too small. Just a little bit too small. But you're still trying to do the exercise routine with these uncomfortable shoes on. Do you know how much that's going to cause your routine to feel uncomfortable? Don't do that. Another example, which is a personal one for me, that has really made a difference in some of my routines is I used to do some of my routines like cleaning routines after I got off of work in my work clothes. But when I started taking off my work clothes and jumping into something more comfy. This made my routines feel better. Because I didn't feel like I was writing the paper while I'm washing dishes like you know. I don't even know if that made any sense. But I don't feel like I'm all stiff when I'm trying to wash dishes you know. Like sometimes work clothes, especially if they're like professional work clothes. Don't feel so good. Or when I used to be a nurse like having on those nasty scrubs when I got home was like, no, I gotta get up out of these scrubs because this is disgusting. So that's something to think about. Have you been uncomfortable within yourself doing the routine? Are you wearing something comfortable? Is the way you're doing something super uncomfortable for you?
Ashley Brown 8:01
It's like where a lot of people don't even like mopping because it's super uncomfortable. Or you don't like cleaning out the bathtub because you got to get down on your knees to scrub the bathtub. And maybe you don't have a rug down there or towel or pillow so your knees are on the hard floor. And that's what's making it uncomfortable for you is little things like that, then you want to start to pay attention to are you actually comfortable in your skin and your body doing this routine? If not, how can you make yourself more comfortable. Maybe you have a laundry room that isn't that cute? Or that feels a little bit grimy when you're going down there, spice it up a little bit, make it neater, make it look a little bit jazzy, put some aromatherapy down there, what's going to make you comfortable in that area so that you can continue doing your routine. I feel like this isn't talked about enough and that people don't mention this. You have to be comfortable doing your routine. And if you don't feel comfortable in your body and in the process of doing your routine, you're going to quickly do away with that routine or every time you're going to do it, you're going to have a stank attitude. And that's not going to benefit you. So, become comfortable within yourself within the process. Make the process comfortable for you and this will make your routine feel comfortable and feel good for you. That's the second thing.
Ashley Brown 9:24
The third thing I want to share with you that could potentially be making your routines feel uncomfortable is they don't align with your current season of life. You are trying to do routines that do not align with where you are that do not actually meet you where you are currently. Oh my gosh, this was a huge one for me. When I was first starting to get really intentional about my routines. I realized I had been doing routines and trying to keep the old routines that were not fitting. And I was trying to like cram them and make them fit. And I had to keep saying to myself, girl, why are you trying to make something fit that's not fitting here. Really thinking about, are the routines that you either want to start or you have started, do they actually meet you where you are in this current season of life? Or are you trying to jam them in and make them fit? If you are a mama, a new mama, and you have a baby who is waking up in the middle of the night frequently, and you want to have a morning routine that you do before the baby wakes up? It's possible. But is that really realistic for you when you need your sleep? I mean, is it really, because you're trying to make something fit, and then you're gonna start feeling like uncomfortable, sleepy. eyes rolling back and nodding, because it just doesn't feel good, because you need your rest, right? That is something to think about?
Ashley Brown 10:59
Are you trying to fit in a laundry routine and amount of time that you don't actually have, because you are afraid to move it to another day, for some particular reason. Maybe you can't do it on that one day, maybe you just can't. So stop trying to cram it in, because then it's going to feel uncomfortable. And then you're going to start to see the laundry pile up because of this, stick to having your routines meet you in the current season of life that you are in because you can always revamp a routine. But you have to first start with where are you now in your life? And what is actually going to serve you in this season of life that you're in? What type of routine? When are you doing that routine? What is important for you to do that routine? When can you fit that routine in? What is really realistic here? That is what you need to think about. Because when you can get your routines as realistic as possible to the season of life that you are in, your routines start to feel that much more beautiful for you, because they're going to meet you where you are currently.
Ashley Brown 12:04
So those are the three things that might have been making your routine feel uncomfortable. Time restrictions or constraints. You not being comfortable yourself doing the routine. And then also your routines not aligning with your current season of life. Those are three things that will definitely make your routines feel uncomfortable. So evaluate your routines today. Think about are my routines comfortable. If not what's going on here, it could be one of these three things. That's all I have to share with you. Simple straight to the point.
Ashley Brown 12:40
But I want to go ahead and share some routine wisdom with you before you leave today. Make sure you take this wisdom and you use this wisdom, okay? And that routine wisdom is 'your routines become comfortable when you become comfortable' period. Your routines become comfortable when you become comfortable. Remember this. store this away somewhere so the next time you're doing a routine it becomes uncomfortable, Ding Ding Ding! Question is, am I even comfortable? Why am I not comfortable? So that's your routine wisdom for today. I'm so happy that you were able to join me for today's episode. Thank you for being here. Being a part of this community. I truly, truly appreciate you. And be sure that you continue to have a very beautiful day. Continue to enjoy wherever you are right now, whatever you're doing, keep a positive perspective. No matter what's going on in life right now. Know that you are doing your absolute best that God got you and I'm here to support you. And you are right where you need to be. Alright girl, I hope you have an amazing rest of your day. Amazing rest of your week, and I will talk to you soon.
Ashley Brown 13:48
[Outro] Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed today's episode, take a screenshot and share it on social, I would love to know you're listening. And for tools to help you start, maintain and enjoy your routines be sure to head to routineandthings.com. Here's to staying happy.