The Power of Routine
There was something so special about my trip to Italy. Maybe it was because we haven't been out of the country since before Covid, or because I'd been dreaming about going to Italy since I was in college, or maybe it was just the place itself, but that trip imprinted on me. There is no question in my mind that I will be returning at some point. Dave and I have even talked about retiring there.
While I love going on vacation, I know it will create an interruption to my daily routines. While away, I am not bound by time constraints and schedules. With this sense of freedom, the daily non-negotiables become a little more negotiable. Pivots are necessary so I can release the expectation of what things "should" look like.
This can be challenging for so many of us who almost become addicted to our routines. We judge ourselves harshly if we don't do it all. Sometimes this is because our routines have helped us move through challenging situations in life, but it can also be because we haven't learned how to rest and be present with what is. We are caught in the story of what we "should' be doing and our worth is tied up in that.
During our trip, we traveled around to a few different cities. This meant we had limited time in each place. We had long lists of places we wanted to see, and experiences to be had, so once we were off in the morning we didn't come back home until it was time to wind down and sleep.
This required a pivot. Mornings were easy. We would wake up, meditate, have a little espresso, and shower before we headed out for the day. But any routine or habit that didn't happen during that time wasn't guaranteed to happen. We walked everywhere, taking in all the sights, eating all the food, drinking all the drinks, and enjoying every minute of it.
While I still found some time to do yoga and/or pranayama, it didn't happen every day, not even close. However, there were days when my body was craving yoga, so Dave was kind enough to occupy himself while I practiced.
I've been practicing yoga for over 21 years, pranayama for over 13, and meditation for over 5. These practices are ingrained in me. They have become non-negotiables for a reason. They help me show up as the kind of person I want to be in this world. They also help me continually challenge myself so I can grow. I practice them every day so that when circumstances in my life change (I go on vacation) I know how to pivot and adapt so I can enjoy and be present with where I am and what's going on.
I have had vacations where I can carve out space to do my practices every day and that's fantastic, but this time it didn't work out that way. What I do daily has created a strong foundation that I can pull from at any time. Decades of lessons do not get undone in a week or two. I have learned how to be flexible and adaptable (no pun intended 😉).
I no longer freak out and get angry or agitated when I can't find space or time to do my routines. Instead, I stay present with what is going on so I can be immersed in the experience and enjoy the people and surroundings to their fullest. Because when I'm not present and instead get lost in thinking about when I will be able to practice, then I've missed the whole point of my practices.
My priorities during this trip were to rest and enjoy every moment Dave and I had together. I knew my routines would be waiting for me when I returned to the States. The best part was that I was excited to get back to them. I was craving them. My daily routines have created a strong foundation for me to pull from and given me a sense of purpose so I can take a break and come back refreshed and ready to dive even deeper into the daily lessons.
If we hold on to our routines too tightly they can actually make us feel stuck. They can keep us rigid and inflexible making any deviation a source of irritation and discomfort. Routines are important and necessary, but so is taking a break, resting, and learning the art of pivoting.
As Hiral Nagda says, “Sometimes doing nothing makes way for everything.”