Without routine discipline goes through the floor. Ironically, without discipline there is no routine! To establish some sort of order in our lives, routines are rather useful, but it is important to be flexible about the rigidity of the schedule introduced. The trick is in knowing when to be rigid (disciplined) and when to be flexible.
It is useful to use already set routines as a foundation upon which to introduce other structures to our daily life. Work – now there is a structure to boot! Mundane and consistent it applies to everybody every day. Out of bed at this time; in bed at that time. Breakfast at such a time and lunch at lunchtime. Dinner for two at eight, please.
Structure is already there, but the efficacy is questioned when time management seems to be struggling with the amount of time in a day. After all, there are 24 hours every day without fail; it is a matter of what you do in that time that needs to be scrutinised.
To start the day
Morning rituals need not take more than 30 minutes followed by some introduction of self-cultivation before getting too busy with “coffee, tea or me” and a wholesome breakfast prescribed by some reputable journal which you read the other day.
In the workplace
Going off to the workplace and taking your seat on the ferris-wheel of corporate industry is now an auto-pilot opportunity of structure, order and expectation that can help introduce other interests into play that require a strong sense of discipline.
For routines during the course of the day that will be helpful to establish work efficiency, a good schedule with targets and goal setting should be applied. When targets are not reached, bring them to the fore in the next schedule layout. When goals are not met, make them priority before starting new projects. It is important to accomplish and finish targets and goals before starting new ones.
It is also very important not to be aggressively disciplining should you falter. The most appropriate attitude to adapt isto know when to let go of goals or targets that cannot be reached. Integrity to yourself and all concerned is the most important characteristic to have as the basis to all ventures undertaken.
Benefits
Routine takes away a lot of conditions that could be grounds for stress. Order is an environment for ease of application which promotes proficiency. Consequently, decision making becomes more educated and perspicacious.
Being orderly creates an air of control and direction that would not otherwise be there should one be haphazardly doing tasks. At the end of the day, results become more evident and fulfilment achieved. Job satisfaction will replace angst.
From routine comes discipline which makes for cultivation that takes a lot of bumps and pot-holes out of the road of daily living.
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