It kind of reminds me of the movie “Stranger than Fiction” with Will Ferrel playing Harold Crick. Predictably brushing his teeth every morning, then going to the IRS and twiddling his life away.

I think routines are a good base to develop successful habits starting out, but shouldn’t be a 7 day a week deal.

New experiences are what make people grow and routines often limit us from doing that. Unless your routine is consistently having new experiences!

Either way – not a fan of the lifestyle of Harold Crick which I think many people fall into.
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I would have put running on autopilot in the case for camp because I relate autopilot to forming and keeping good habits. When I set a goal (like exercise more:) ) I want it to become part of my routine, something that becomes automatic. Autopilot routines also means I can expend brain energy on higher order thinking, or at least that’s the aim. My fav book on this is way outdated but still relevant, William James’ book on habits.

* They become ruts -> but if it’s a rut that you are designing and creating to live the life you want to live, then it’s a great rut. Who would want to leave that eden?

* They limit our creativity -> but we can create our routines. And moreover, with our minds freed from having to worry about what-when-how, we actually have more mental space to create the things that really matter to us.

* They allow us to run on autopilot -> can be a good thing. Save brainpower for the big creative exploits in your life.

* They resist change even for the better -> this is where you have to be the inspired creator of your routines, not the slave to them.

* They lead us into a box -> of our own design. See the first bullet point.

* They keep us from seeing new opportunity -> again, by freeing our minds from many what/when/how, we actually can see things more clearly.

* They become bad habits -> see point about being the creator. You just need to be mindful if the habit is working for you, or not.

* They make life mundane -> see point about freeing you up to create more!
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I detest routine. My husband lives by them. My children need them. And they have helped me to clean up my act in many ways.

So as much as I kick and scream about them, I have to go in favor of having routines.

Why do I throw a tantrum about them: yes, because they keep you from seeing new opportunities, they are repetative, they are ruts, mundane… oh ya.. you listed all that.

So, I try and shake up my routines at times. As for the kids… they can make that choice to follow them or not AFTER they move out of my house to live on their own.

Great post for thought!
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