For the longest time, I resisted the idea of a “routine.”
The word itself felt heavy. Rigid. Restrictive. Like something that would box me in and drain the joy out of my days. I imagined a strict timeline from morning to night — a checklist that had to be completed perfectly or not at all. And so, without really realising it, I avoided it.
Instead, I rolled through my days. Winging it. Reacting rather than planning. Some days felt fine, but many felt overwhelming — like I was constantly playing catch-up without ever quite getting there.
But over time, my understanding of routine began to shift.
I realised it isn’t about rigid schedules or perfectly timed days. It’s not about ticking off endless tasks. A routine, at its core, is simply a collection of small, familiar habits that create a sense of flow.
And flow feels very different to pressure.
Routine vs Flow
When you think about your day, try to let go of timestamps.
Instead, ask yourself:
How do I want my day to feel?
Routine doesn’t have to mean:
Wake up at 6:00
Breakfast at 7:15
Laundry at 9:00
It can simply mean:
We wake, we ease into the morning
We eat, we tidy, we move
One thing leads gently into the next
It’s less about structure and more about rhythm.
A soft outline rather than a strict plan.
Let It Bend
Flexibility is where the magic happens.
There will be days when things don’t go to plan — and that’s not failure, that’s life.
I always come back to the 80/20 approach:
Be consistent 80% of the time, and let the other 20% be for living.
Go out for dinner with your children.
Let bedtime run a little later.
Let the washing wait some days — it will always be waiting for you, whether you like it or not.
Skip the workout if the day feels full — your body will be okay, and if you’re consistent with your exercise overall, it will actually relish the rest.
Those moments? They matter just as much.
Because this isn’t about building a perfect life — it’s about building a real one.
You Make the Rules
It’s so easy to look around and feel like you’re not doing enough.
Social media will show you perfectly curated routines, spotless homes, and endless productivity. But that’s not the full picture — and it’s certainly not the standard you need to hold yourself to.
You don’t need perfection.
You need something that works for you.
So:
Don’t compare
Don’t overload your days
Don’t chase unrealistic expectations
Instead:
Be kind to yourself
Leave space to breathe
Allow room for change
Habits That Hold You
It’s the small, repeated things that shape your days — not the big, occasional ones.
Create habits that support you, not exhaust you.
Keep a clean home, not an immaculate one.
Move your body, but don’t push it to burnout.
Drink enough water — your children are always watching.
Sit down and eat together when you can.
One day, the house will feel quieter.
Bath and bed your children — but don’t rush through it.
These are the moments that pass the quickest.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, do something for yourself too.
Even something small.
Because you matter in this life as well.
Live In Your Life
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of living for the end of the to-do list.
“I’ll relax when everything’s done.”
“I’ll enjoy the day once I’ve caught up.”
But the truth is — the list never really ends.
There will always be more to do.
So instead of living for the finish line, try living within it.
Fold the laundry, but notice the quiet.
Cook the dinner, but enjoy the chatter.
Run the bath, but soak in the laughter.
Your life isn’t waiting on the other side of productivity.
It’s happening right now — in the middle of the ordinary, everyday things.
Where it all lands
Routine doesn’t have to feel like a cage. It can be something gentle, something supportive — a way to carry you through your days with more ease and less overwhelm.
Find your rhythm. Let it evolve. Let it breathe.
Because this life you’re living — the messy, beautiful, everyday of motherhood — isn’t something to rush through.
It’s something to be in.
Mamas life adventures 