I’m reading a great book called Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. In one chapter on “flow” he describes the routine Michael Phelps has practiced before every race. For years he has kept the same routine, from the same time he shows up before a race, to the same number of warm-up laps he swims, to the same time he removes the infamous ear buds from his ears. His routines have contributed to both his Olympic golds and his world records. Routines not only benefit Olympic athletes, but can benefit us as well.
Consider these five brain benefits that arise from creating routines.
1. Routines help minimize uncertainty. Our brains don’t like uncertainty. Uncertainty engages the fight-flight-freeze-appease part of our brains (the amygdala), which can stifle clear thinking. Routines, however, help give you a greater sense of control, which creates certainty, which the brain loves.
2. Routines make space for clearer thinking. In the front part of our brain, the pre-frontal cortex, executive functions like planning, abstract thinking, social intuition and emotional control occur. However, that part of our brain tires easily. The more we use it, the more it tires, which can affect our ability to think clearly, make wise decisions and relate to others well. However, when we create routines and habits, the brain stores those routines in our habit centers (basal ganglia). As a result, routines free up working space in our pre-frontal cortex so that we can think and concentrate better on new tasks and relationships.
3. Routines can reduce the drain on our daily energy. Ego depletion refers to the concept that we all possess a limited pool of mental resources available for self-control and willpower. And it gets used up during the day. If we spend that resource on activities that could be routinized, we waste energy that we otherwise could dedicate to more important tasks and relationships. Routines help conserve our energy for what’s most important.
4. Routines help us focus and maintain attention. The ability to pay attention to what’s important is a key to successful living, leading and learning. When we are scattered (Where did I leave those keys?) attention gets diluted. Routines, however, can help you direct your attention where you truly need to direct it.
5. Routines help quiet the tyranny of the urgent. The tyranny of the urgent beckons us to worry about insignificant issues that seem important at the moment. The term rumination describes the mental process of rehearsing something that happened in the past or something that might happen in the future. The tyranny of the urgent breeds such rumination. McKeown writes that routines help us focus on life’s essentials rather than spending precious time trying to prioritize everything. Years ago Charles Hummel wrote a classic booklet Tyranny of the Urgent. If you’ve not read it, I strongly recommend it. It’s a real gem.
So, building routines into your life offers many practical benefits.
How have routines helped you?
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This article originally appeared on CharlesStone.com.
