Protecting Your Routine With Placeholders

You can’t just copy someone else’s routine or throw a bunch of random practices onto your calendar and expect success.

I’ve spent most of my life living by a schedule and don’t regret it one bit.

My routine makes me feel safe, saves time, and most importantly, curbs my anxiety.

“When people don’t have a routine or structure to their day, it can cause increased stress and anxiety, as well as overwhelming feelings, lack of concentration, and focus,” Rachel Goldman, Ph.D., a psychologist at NYU, says.

Routines remove the guesswork and provide us with a glimpse of what the future might hold. Not only that, but a well-structured habit provides boxes to check throughout the day. Tiny, almost laughable boxes that may lead to enormous accomplishments.

“If people don’t have structure and are sitting around with less to focus on,” Goldman continues, “then they also probably will find themselves thinking about the stressful situation more…