For 15 years, Starbucks President Michelle Gass has set her alarm for 4:30 a.m. to go running. We surely want to be as successful as her, so we set an alarm at 4:30. Entrepreneurs swear by 5k runs for breakfast; they also recommend meditating, journaling, taking a cold shower… Did I miss something? Ah, eating avocado… And just like that, VOILA! Your life will magically fall into place! That’s the fantasy we’ve been sold. Don’t get me wrong, I can binge eat avocados every day, and I adore morning runs, but none of it defines my productivity nor my success.
The truth is, perfect routines are like unicorns- great in theory, but not real.
Our energy level changes daily, and maybe, just maybe, our routines should reflect that?
Let me share a personal lesson. A year ago, I was working full-time, running regularly, and hitting the gym five times a week. Eventually, I got injured. Still, I didn’t slow down. I stuck to my routine, refusing to adjust. The injury lingered for over a year. What I thought was discipline turned out to be denial.
Back then, it was about proving something to myself-following the script, even when I slept bad, even when I had to stay late in the office, even though the story had clearly changed. Luckily, by now, I’ve realized there is a fine line between discipline and unnecessary rigidity, and I’ve started bringing flexibility into my daily routine.
The Psychology Behind Why We Obsess Over Routines
According to Neuropsychologist Mrinalinee Rana, routines give us a sense of control and comfort, and I get it, in a chaotic modern world, structure feels safe.
Besides, we still need to show up for ourselves and do things that we normally wouldn’t. We still need to meet people and attend events. We still need to work at certain times and do things we would not necessarily choose to do. But we must manage our own time and stop overloading ourselves with meaningless commitments that have little in common with our thoughts, values, and desires.
How to find the golden line? As a first step, try to identify your relationship with routines.
Signs You’re Stuck in the Routine Trap:
- You feel guilty skipping one part of your routine.
- You continue with your schedule, even when tired or unwell.
- You focus more on performance than feeling good.
Next, remind yourself, it’s less about getting up with the sun and more about tuning into what helps you start the day feeling settled, energized, and ready to take on whatever comes. If you need to sleep for an extra hour, let yourself do it. Instead of aiming for a perfect routine, see first thing in the morning what your body is saying today. The key is building some flexibility into your routine so that you won’t feel frustrated or unproductive if you wake up late or have to have an early meeting.
Michelle Gass, President of Starbucks, reportedly wakes up at 4:30 a.m. every day to run. That might work for her, but success isn’t about copying someone else’s schedule. It’s about finding your own rhythm and having the courage to adjust it as your life changes. Let go of the script!
Want more? In a previous blog, I dive into how stress sneaks into our daily lives and what we can do about it.
Share With the Community in Comments- What’s your current relationship with routines?
- I feel guilty when I don’t stick to mine
- I’m figuring out what works for me
- I’ve stopped trying to follow anyone else’s
📝I would love to share results in the next post.
1 :’) always difficult to not feel guilty
You are not alone, we are in this together!