The Comfort of Consistency
Melia Altaras
My parents used to schedule my days down to the hour. I didn’t get to see them much when I was younger because they were always at work, so they wanted to make sure I remained busy. I was simultaneously put in gymnastics, swimming, cooking classes, ice skating, dance, and diving. I had activities planned from the time school was done until it was time for bed. Routine was part of my life, but I didn’t control it or notice it.
The onset of lockdown turned my previously scheduled life turned into blissful chaos. With no school, no activities, and the inability to see my friends face-to-face I lacked a schedule to keep me busy. As a response, I began giving myself tasks, logging them on my calendar, even if they weren’t necessary. Each day, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., my days were meticulously planned. I allocated 30 minutes to get out of bed and prepare for my morning “gym classes”, which has shifted to Zoom or YouTube videos. I gave my meals and meal prep time slots in my calendar and even mapped out time to take random classes to feel like I was at school. I over-scheduled my life, and it wasn’t sustainable, but it felt necessary. Though I have continued using my calendars and Google Docs to schedule my life, I don’t plan my minutes like during lockdown.
Now, I focus on my morning routines and try to keep them consistent. While anxiety runs in the background, routine serves as an anchor to keep me grounded. Creating schedules and routines comforts me. I can quickly adapt to new places as long as I establish a morning routine to start my days off feeling as though I have done something productive. Feeling productive, as strange as it sounds, allows me to actually be productive later and finish the work I need to get done.
While I always need a routine, I am not afraid to adapt it as my life changes. My morning routine in Oxford does not involve waking up at 5 a.m., but I still try to start early because that is when I am the most focused. My morning routine isn’t perfect, and it’s not exactly the same each day, but having some sense of what I am doing once I wake up is necessary to keep me functioning.
Like my morning walks, coffee is an integral part of my routine in Oxford. However, it isn’t the coffee itself; it’s the ritual of visiting a cafe, encountering familiar faces, sitting in the same spot, and talking with friends. Slowing down and dedicating time to relax can be difficult, but my cafe runs force me to do that very thing. The well-crafted drink is merely a bonus.
Ricardo, one of my favorite baristas at Society Cafe, doesn’t know me personally but still knows my coffee schedule. When I show up later than usual, he isn’t afraid to comment on it. Sometimes, my routines become so routine that even others notice when I do something different.
Another part of my routine is talking to my friends at home. We call every day, but the people vary based on availability. Sometimes, we just sit in silence and get work done together thousands of miles apart. Like my coffee routine, talking to my friends brings me joy and adds structure to my day.
While routines are healthy, I am actively working on becoming more adaptable. I can sometimes be so caught up in sticking to routines that when things don’t go to plan, it can change the course of my entire day. Waking up even an hour late can completely change my mood and productivity. I want to maintain the benefits of my morning routine while ensuring the quality of my morning doesn't dictate the trajectory of my day.
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