How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing. A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time. A schedule is a mock-up of reason and order—willed, faked, and so brought into being; it is a peace and a haven set into the wreck of time; it is a lifeboat on which you find yourself, decades later, still living. Each day is the same, so you remember the series afterward as a blurred and powerful pattern. - Annie Dillard.

I’m in the midst of a routine shake-up. After recently getting bumped from part-time to full time and now working at a nearby library, my schedule is shifting. I’m excited for this change—but I’d be lying if I said it isn’t throwing off my routine a little. I want to use this transition as an opportunity to let go of the parts of my routine that weren’t working and to make space for habits that feel more aligned to this new chapter of my life.

It’s always strange to exist in a time of transition. It reminds us that while we can’t control every twist life greets us with, we do have power over how we spend our time. It invites us to reimagine our days — to shape them in ways that foster mindfulness, presence, romanticism, and coziness.

When I was younger, I claimed to hate routines. I loved the unpredictability of my days and spent years working without a consistent schedule. If two days looked alike, I’d get bored. I leaned into the chaos and loved the spontaneity a loosely planned life brought.

Now? I love a good routine— and I feel disoriented without one. I enjoy the predictability of quiet mornings spent reading or journalling on the couch, grabbing onto a hot cup of coffee in my favourite mug. I look forward to the evenings curled up in bed, wearing my coziest pajamas — the pair I only put on after washing off the day in a steamy shower.

That said, you can still see glimpses of my younger, chaos-loving self. I traded in the chaos for flexibility and found comfort in the small rituals that gently anchor my mornings and nights.

These days, I’m drawn to:

✿ mornings that start slow — with a warm drink, a few scribbled thoughts, and some moments of mindfulness.

✿ midweek moments of solitude — ever since completing the artist’s way in 2023 I’ve loved keeping the tradition of a weekly “artist’s date”.

✿ relaxing evenings curled up in bed — cozy gaming, reading, soaking in a hot bath, or watching a show with Liam (my partner).

✿ some form of movement in my day — whether that be a walk, some yoga, a workout class, or a gym session. I feel best when my body does.

✿ a routine that doesn’t ask me to do more, but invites me to be more present and devoted to the things that are important to me.

If how you spend your days is how you spend your life, then I want to spend my days creating and laughing and loving and resting and reading and working hard and caring for my mind, body and spirit. I want to spend them slowly, soaking up each moment with presence. I want to spend them intentionally, taking baby steps toward my goals and living by my values. And if I want to spend my days this way, then I’ve got to set up some routines to get me there.

a cozy routine reset:

Things to keep in mind:

✿ this routine is for you — so make it work for you. Get clear about how you want to feel in your days, and set up realistic habits that will help you get there.

✿ start small. I find when incorporate one or two things into my routine at a time, instead of completely overhauling my life, I’m able to stick to my routines longer.

✿ combine something boring/dreadful with something fun and exciting. I like to pair my ‘office work’ (planning, reviewing, etc) with a cozy cafe date and a cup of something yummy.

✿ your routine shouldn’t be thought of as all go go go or work work work — it’s so important to have something to look forward to. Maybe this could be a couple hours every Saturday that you spend outside exploring a new hike, thrift store, book shop, or cafe.

✿ your routine is ever-changing. Make sure to check in monthly, seasonally, or whenever you need and replace habits that aren’t working anymore with new habits that fit this chapter better. Return to the journal prompts whenever you need a little routine reset.

✿ I find it crucial to keep my routine flexible enough to allow a little spontaneity. Yes, I love my solo Monday morning cafe planning dates, but I allow give myself permission to changes things up a bit if I want to.

Journalling prompts to explore this new chapter:

✿ Think about your old routine. What was working? What wasn’t? What do you want to keep? What do you want to let go of?

✿ Do I find it easier to focus on a morning routine or an evening routine?

✿ What’s one word I want to embody in this season of life?

✿ How do I want my routine to make me feel?

✿ What are three small things I want to bring into my daily rhythm right now? Choose something cozy, something mindful, and something that will make you feel accomplished.

✿ What’s one habit I can start building today? Tomorrow? This week?

Recommended reading:

Books:

Books to inspire you to slow down and get present: How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell; The Art of Stillness by Pico Iyer; Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, The Book of Delights by Ross Gay.

Books to inspire you to schedule some creativity into your days: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert; The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron; Keep Going by Austin Kleon; The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp

Books to inspire you to build good habits and keep them: Atomic Habits by James Clear; Daily Rituals by Mason Curry, The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile; Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg; Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Let this be your invitation to create a routine that fits you. Play around with your mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Carve out time to create, to move toward your goals, and to rest. And through it all, practice presence. That’s how you build an inspiring routine—one that brings more joy, clarity, and confidence into your daily life.

What’s one part of your routine that you absolutely LOVE? For me right now, it’s my ‘Monday morning cafe consultations’. I love spending an hour or two at a cafe with my head down, working on creative projects. It makes me feel inspired and accomplished and like I’m working towards the goals that are really important to me. What’s yours? Leave a comment! I read them all.

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That’s it for this Sunday’s post. Take care, rest often, and enjoy the rest of your slow Sunday. Catch ya in the next one!