Do you have some routines down pat?

[MaidMarian]

I am a creature of habit. My entire morning is a routine. I won’t allow myself to have fun unless I complete my “ work” first. I fear that I would forget things if I didn’t follow a routine like making sure that my son who has autism, my cat and myself all get our medication.

 

[Della]

I am a creature of habit. My entire morning is a routine. I won’t allow myself to have fun unless I complete my “ work” first. I fear that I would forget things if I didn’t follow a routine like making sure that my son who has autism, my cat and myself all get our medication.

Sounds exactly like me.

Dip comb in water. Grab a section of hair. Roll it on a roller. Take a sip of coffee.
Repeat.
Dip comb in coffee. Grab some hair. Roll it, Take a sip of lukewarm hairy water. (ACK! ACK!)

LOL Reminds me of a morning long ago.
Brush teeth: take a swig of Listerine to gargle.
Then one day:
Brush teeth: take a swig of Ten-o-Six lotion to gargle. (Ack)

 

[fuzzybuddy]

Before I retired, it would have driven me up a tree if I had a "routine". I was a free spirit without rules. Now, making breakfast is like a well rehearsed ballet. It's things like, when I get silverware, I also put potholders on the stove so there's no wasted time or activity.
I never thought I had that stuff in me.

 

[JBR]

Before I retired, it would have driven me up a tree if I had a "routine". I was a free spirit without rules. Now, making breakfast is like a well rehearsed ballet. It's things like, when I get silverware, I also put potholders on the stove so there's no wasted time or activity.
I never thought I had that stuff in me.

I'm curious about how lack of a routine was compatible with your work life. Admittedly, my work life always involved certain routines. The general outline: breakfast in the morning, assessing the day's agenda & objectives, lunch by 12am or 1pm if possible, dinner in early evening. Maybe some time for TV, reading or netsurfing in the evening. Going to bed for a reasonable amount of sleep. Various other "routines" too.

We actually have a thread on SF concerning what our worklive's were like before retirement. Did you post on that one?

 

[fuzzybuddy]

I'm curious about how lack of a routine was compatible with your work life. Admittedly, my work life always involved certain routines. The general outline: breakfast in the morning, assessing the day's agenda & objectives, lunch by 12am or 1pm if possible, dinner in early evening. Maybe some time for TV, reading or netsurfing in the evening. Going to bed for a reasonable amount of sleep. Various other "routines" too.

We actually have a thread on SF concerning what our workalive's were like before retirement. Did you post on that one?

I worked at psychiatric hospital. The only thing that was routine was you went to work at 4 and came home at 12- and sometimes not even that.

 

[feywon]

Some things are routine however I like to mix things up and do the complete opposite. This helps me keep my mind sharp and open to new experiences.

Me, too. While i can rely on myself to do certain tasks well without having to consciously talk myself through each step my daily routine varies depending on the priority chores, errands or appointments i may have. Plus i'm flexible enough to generally not be unduly put out by changes caused by other people or unexpected events.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

I worked at psychiatric hospital. The only thing that was routine was you went to work at 4 and came home at 12- and sometimes not even that. Let me put it to you this way- how many times a month did the fire dept. come to your place of work?

 

[JBR]

I worked at psychiatric hospital. The only thing that was routine was you went to work at 4 and came home at 12- and sometimes not even that.

No home routines? What about meals, clean-up, showers, laundry, TV, internet or reading, sleep time, dealing with a vehicle...? Or was all that sporadic or unpredictable? Maybe dealt with mainly by someone else?

 

[JustBonee]

I have a walking routine daily that is set in stone ..cannot change a thing as long as my dog is dictating my schedule.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

No home routines? What about meals, clean-up, showers, laundry, TV, internet or reading, sleep time, dealing with a vehicle...? Or was all that sporadic or unpredictable? Maybe dealt with mainly by someone else?

I was pretty unorganized, and I was OK with it.
I was the guy, who was always the late type person.

 

[Sunny]

First part of my breakfast
See texts, if any
Wordle
Connections
Strands
Words With Friends
Share scores with my children
Have rest of breakfast
Take coffee into study and log onto computer

 

[Oldeagle66]

Wake up around 4 am and check emails, get points on a few games. Watch or read 2 hours of international news (never cable). Cook breakfast and go for a walk around 8 am and pick up a few snacks. Every now and then a break up my routine and explore other places.

 

[feywon]

Routines are like comfortable clothes, while they can be practical and useful they do need 'cleaning', updating in the natural course of life. When i was young only wool items and back of neck tags interfered with my being comfortable in something. Now anything with a 'yoke' like shoulder area that results in seam running across my shoulder blades is barely tolerable if i'll be standing the whole time i'm wearing it, intolerable if i'll be driving, or sitting back in chair or sofa.

My point being that our needs and capabilities change as we age, and it is easier, for me at least, to not be so attached to any routine that i can't adapt it to better serve my current state of mind and body. Of course that may have been influenced by much of life being spent having to adjust my routines to attend to the needs/wants of others (Parents, siblings, husbands, kids, bosses). Just in recent years i am more often prioritizing my needs/wants.

 

[JBR]

My point being that our needs and capabilities change as we age, and it is easier, for me at least, to not be so attached to any routine that i can't adapt it to better serve my current state of mind and body. Of course that may have been influenced by much of life being spent having to adjust my routines to attend to the needs/wants of others (Parents, siblings, husbands, kids, bosses). Just in recent years i am more often prioritizing my needs/wants.

I agree, those are big factors in how routines change. The seasons, too, have always had their bearing on my routines through a year.

 

[feywon]

I agree, those are big factors in how routines change. The seasons, too, have always had their bearing on my routines through a year.

So true, tho now that i seem to have found a reliable firewood dealer some of the firewood chores getting spread out around the year, but still a little more in winter when it's being used daily and so i have bring in more at least once a week.

Summer 2024 was more hot and humid (humidity bigger issue for me as it impacts my blood oxygen levels) than usual here so i didn't get some things done i planned on---by the time the areas i'd be working in were shaded in late afternoon i was out of energy. Must do outside chores like cleaning up after grand dog i would do at crack of dawn.

 

[Remy]

No not really. My only routine is the cats canned feeding schedule which changes sometimes. I was not able to free feed dries for them when they were younger but they have stopped eating everything on the plate so I can now.