Consistency is key when it comes to writing. Consistency is key for pretty much everything, isn’t it? My health requires me to have set routines, something I have always struggled with, and yet when I am consistent with my routines, I’m happier.

Growing up in a divorced household with joint custody meant my routines were pretty much just about school. I had routines at each of my parents houses, but they were different from each other. As an adult, I’ve lived in 8 countries, and five US cities. Having a set home life feels unfamiliar and unsettling to me. Nowadays, I live in my forever home with my forever partner and want to feel settled. But how do I settle when I’ve never learned how?

The answer is to add in a little at a time, and to have grace and flexibility. My routines are NOT set down to the hour, but every day, I try to add a little more. More hours at work, more hours at writing, more hours at meditating and resting. You might think there aren’t enough hours in the day, and I think it just depends on how you spend those hours. I was always consistent at spending time on social media doom scrolling, staring aimlessly out the window feeling sorry for myself, and especially hiding away from the outside world whenever possible. I’m sure you can imagine how that made me feel. By adding in more hours at my day job, more hours set just for writing, more hours of designated rest time, I am so much happier. I don’t doom scroll as much when I’m busy. I might still stare out the window, but maybe it’s more likely I’m thinking about what I want to do next as opposed to all the ways I’ve let people down. I force myself to go out and socialize and explore the world every. day. I am so lucky to live in a beautiful location that makes it seem silly to want to leave my house, except that when I’m out of the house doing things and being social, coming home feels that much more rewarding. Human beings aren’t meant to be cooped up inside alone staring at screens all day.

My current goal for routines (always changing):

• Wake up around 730-8 and make hot lemon water

• Meditate using https://www.tarabrach.com/guided-meditations/

• Get up and walk, stretch, or dance, and make myself breakfast and ready for the day

• Write on Discord with other writers until 9-930

• Go to my day job, OR go write at the library

• Lunch around 130 then work/write/nap if I need it

• Grab the dog and go for a walk outside around 4/5

• Eat dinner and rest with a movie, show, or social media

• Make tea and get ready for bed around 9

• Drink tea while reading a chapter

• Stretch any excess energy out of my body

• Hop in bed and sleep soundly around 10/1030

I keep it flexible because sometimes I may want to go out of town, or rest longer, or whatever I need. But having these kind routines ensures I’m using my time in a way that feels fulfilling and connected to others and the world at large.

Consistency is also important with the substances I put in my body. Notice I drink hot lemon water instead of coffee. I love coffee! But coffee doesn’t love me, it causes massive anxiety and sleep issues. Likewise with foods and drinks that are processed, full of sugar, or are psychoactive. Eating “real food, not too much, mostly plants,” is the way I want to live. Starting my day with proteins and healthy fats like eggs and avocado, suits me much better than pancakes. However, I love pancakes, and potato chips, and cookies, so i’m a big proponent of everything in moderation. As long as I can get to a point where the real food is the primary go-to, I think having some lil treats now and then is alright.

Since attempting this consistency, life has been so much better! I still have a lot of free time I want to spend in non-fulfilling ways eating processed foods, but working a little more on my routines every day helps so much. It’s just about lunchtime now, so I’ll stop writing, chug a bunch of water, and eat a sandwich filled with mostly veggies.

Novel Updates: Editing LMCM and doing research for its change in location from the Orkney Islands to Orcas Island.