The Power of Routine - Simple ways to make Life Lovely

I wholeheartedly believe in the power of routine. My husband had a brain injury six years ago and suffers with severe memory loss so for us routine has been a life saver - literally. I am also a creature of habit and cope horrendously with change. 

There are three main reasons why I love routine

1. I feel safe and secure 
2. Saves time and energy 
3. I am able to be flexible within my safe routine

Safe and secure 
Now this may just be a me thing but as someone who doesn't like change or decision making, eliminating this from my week means I am happier and more likely to succeed in the week. I am someone who suffers from mental health episodes so being able to control (as much as I can) my happiness is really important to me. I know what to expect from my week ahead but when something out of the ordinary is coming up I have the mental capacity to prepare. 

Saves time and energy 
Decision making takes a lot of energy from me, I find it so draining to not know what I am doing and have the pressure to make a quick decision. So to have 'past Amy' make the decision for me feels empowering without zapping me of energy. One example of this is I have the same lunch every day. I know what you're thinking but stick with me. I used to laugh at my husband because he has pesto pasta every single week day. It started off because it was the safest thing for him to make in the day while I was at work but as his confidence and ability to safely cook improved - still his lunch stayed the same. When I asked him why he continued to eat the same thing for lunch every day, he responded - I like it. Ahhhhh, I get it. Something clicked for me then, he likes it , he has it - simple. 

I decided to give it a go. I was right in the throws of early Slimming World obsession so I decided to make crispy kale and pesto pasta - got to get that speed in! And do you know what? Not only did the weight fall off - I enjoyed lunch times. I didn't have to think, I knew what I was doing. It saved me time and energy. 

Being flexible 
Now I totally get what you might be thinking - I just couldn't eat the same thing every day for lunch. I totally get that. But it's all about making it tasty and healthy - I love the kale and I love pasta and cheese - I don't feel like I'm missing out because I inevitably would make a rushed meal I didn't really want. Plus the very best thing of all is - if I really don't want pesto pasta and kale one day, then I just have something different. I cannot tell you how liberating having a routine feels! It has taken away a lot of fuss and I feel more in tune with myself because I have a happy baseline I know I can always return to. 

I think as well - I am able to appreciate the beauty in the everyday because we have simplified our routine. I am able to appreciate all these precious moments because I am going slower, making conscious decisions and my mind is in the moment not planning ahead. 
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