Routines, but why?

[Ylva]

I don't get particularly anxious when my routines are broken, but I feel a kind of hollowness, like everything that used to be has been meaningless since I spent a lot of energy on it and now it isn't there anymore. It doesn't have to be something big, it's more about feeling meaningful.

Anyone else?

 

[BIMOG]

I don't feel comfortable or at ease unless I complete my routines. If I'm unable to perform some at their normal time, perhaps because of an urgent need to attend a medical appointment or something, then I complete them as soon as I can after I've been to the appointment and have returned home. No matter how tired I am I can't sleep until I've performed my "last things before bed" routines.

 

[AsheSkyler]

Aye, I don't get anxiety either. Mostly annoyance. Especially if it's important routines, like hygiene.

 

[On the Inside]

I have gotten used to my routine being disrupted, but that is not to say that it doesn't upset me. I often find myself looking back over any number of "the last few days" when my routine has been out the window and realize that I feel a bit derailed. I don't have a solid routine that I must follow, but there are ways that things should be done, and a time for them to be done, and if that gets disrupted, I get a dizzy feeling, like being disoriented after an afternoon nap.

I have been surprised, though, when I have immersed myself in something/someplace new, ( like a long vacation trip) how I will create a new routine which may not resemble the old one at all. It will certainly be responsive to the new environment.

 

[King_Oni]

Routines actually puzzle me and I tend to feel way more anxious when I have to have a routine rather than act all out impulsively.

On the other hand; as I've discussed the notion of routines with therapist I've come to the conclusion I tend to either go with a full blown sense of "no rules, no limits" or the other side of the spectrum where I expect everything remotely involved to dance to my beat to make sure my routine operates like clockwork, which, in a dynamic world we live in, is pretty impossible, hence I tend to abandon the desire to work with routine and rather live in a sense of controlled chaos.

And the fact that I can barely deal with "a happy medium" kinda makes me go either way rather than somewhere balanced.

 

[Progster]

It depends... sometimes I feel a kind of numbness, a loss, not sure what to do with myself, because I'm not doing the thing that I would normally do, such as yesterday when Skype was down and I couldn't work. Other times, I feel extreme annoyance, when I spend time preparing for something or looking forward to something and then it's cancelled. If I'm asked to change what I'm doing and asked to do a different task, or do something a different way, that can cause anxiety or even panic, I suppose because I find it overwhelming and find it hard to swich tasks, or do something that I'm not used to doing.

There are some things I have to do no matter what, such at eat at specific times of the day, and I get upset if for some reason I can't do them when I want to.

 

[Spiller]

I form routines as I like structure in my life and feel a little anxious when that structure's not present.
I can go a little while with my routinues being disrupted - when I've moved, changed jobs or whatever, I can soon settle into a new routinue, but when it's being continually disrupted I start to go downhill - anxiety builds, depression takes hold..

 

[ASD_Geek]

I have certain routines that I do but not because I feel anxious if I don't. It just brings a sense of completion.

My thought is that they provide a feeling of being in control; a sense of comfort because they are familiar,

 

[Kari Suttle]

Routine isn't as huge a thing for me as, say, my mom tells her clients it is for me. I heard her telling a client just the other day that if everything isnt' the same, i freak out. Totally not true. Yes if mom suddenly announces we're all going out for the day it'll bother me because chances are i'd already planned what i was doing to do that day, but i'll still be happy to go out for the day with the family. I feel the most at ease, am the happiest, and function the best when i get up at about the same time and go to bed at about the same time and can get all the cleaning and homework/studying done early, and that's about it. You can tell how i'm feeling by how clean my environment is and how quickly i get **** done in the morning.

 

[Steve190161]

I have a new routine that just started fairly recently, i can't get out of bed till the fishtank light comes on, i have no idea why i feel compelled to follow this new routine.

 

[Jimbo]

I like routine becaus it requires less brain power. My body just automatically goes there. It also keeps me from forgetting something. Especially my busy morning routine of feeding the animals. Fixing breakfast for the humans. Taking my pills. Seems like there are 50 things to do before I can leave the house for work.

 

[CalDomine]

Routines actually puzzle me and I tend to feel way more anxious when I have to have a routine rather than act all out impulsively.

On the other hand; as I've discussed the notion of routines with therapist I've come to the conclusion I tend to either go with a full blown sense of "no rules, no limits" or the other side of the spectrum where I expect everything remotely involved to dance to my beat to make sure my routine operates like clockwork, which, in a dynamic world we live in, is pretty impossible, hence I tend to abandon the desire to work with routine and rather live in a sense of controlled chaos.

And the fact that I can barely deal with "a happy medium" kinda makes me go either way rather than somewhere balanced.

You just put it into words perfectly.
I've been struggling to explain the "All or nothing" aspect of routines.

 

[StephF]

For me, routines are important. I need to know what to do and that things have been done.

 

[Suzanne]

I honestly need routine to function even a bit! I feel dislodged when things are out of sequence. A clean home is very important to me and an empty washing basket, otherwise, I feel panicky.

I pushed myself to do things that I would never do. I went to a gathering saturday and there were about 25 of us and karaoke. I love music, but I could not stand and sing; I was fine in my corner, singing along and started to panic when I could see that it was just me and another, who had not taken the mike, but thankfully, despite a bit of urging with my favorite singer, they did not push and so I calmed down.

Then, sunday, I went for a group walk and a picnic after. I honestly did not want to go at all, but the spiritual sister who had arranged it all, needed the support and so, I pushed myself. The walk was ok; I was not left on my own, which is always scary to me, but much to my horror, where the picnic was to be held, it was down a slope and the grass was very bumpy and I freaked out! So the next time, I will ask specifics and if there is a steep way to get down and not firm underfoot, I will not join in.

Anyway, I see I have typically digressed hugely, but what I was wanting to get to ( always my way of explaining a lot), is that my usual regime at home, was in a complete mess! The kitchen had things in the dishwasher, on the draining board and on the table top and I had NO TIME to clean and oh wow, a pile of clothes on the chair upstairs and a ton of ironing and a full washing basket!!!!!

Things are getting back to normal now and I can feel myself calming down.

 

[Aspieistj]

My routines aren't terribly important to me except that I really hate being interrupted and required to suddenly do something else. I am more upset at having to make quick decisions and changes than I am over an incomplete routine.