The Train Series 6: Routines

First published on September 22, 2016

I've just got back from a two week holiday. When I got back, I felt different. Fresher. More relaxed. More open. I felt the same when I got back to work after my previous holiday earlier in the summer. On that occasion, not only did I feel better, but I worked better. I spoke to three prospective coaching clients in the two days after I got back and all of them became full clients, working with me now for several months each, including one day where I sold more coaching than I ever have before. In the week or so since I returned from this break, I've been thinking about that feeling, and how to hang onto it. I need it, for my wellbeing, but also because it's valuable to my business.

For people running their own businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs, holding the difference between their commitment to their work and their commitment to their personal wellbeing is often a challenge. This is definitely true for me. One of my strengths according to Gallup's Strengthsfinder is Achiever, which means I have the commitment to put in the hours to get the work done, whatever it takes. And yet I know - and I've worked with clients with this knowledge too - that the quality of my work is at least as important as the quantity, and even more so when I'm coaching.

Which brings me back to holidays. A couple of days after I returned, I was catching up on some articles by Alex Swallow, the Influence Expert. In one of them, he mentioned the idea of breaking routines.

Routines are hugely useful things, particularly for efficiency and productivity. How can I build my morning routine so that I am in the best position to start the day? What exercise routine will build muscles the fastest, or burn calories the most? What routine can I use to get myself in the best space to write or paint? What do I need to have in place to answer the most emails in the shortest time?

But we can become slaves to our routines. So that they become second nature, and the variety, reflection, presence and creativity of life can be stifled. And this is how a holiday helps - it breaks us out of our routines. Really out of them. And when we return, all our routines are fresh, we are more present in them as we prepare our breakfast, run our normal route, take our train to work. And with that freshness and newness come the head space and flashes of inspiration that enable us to do our best work.

So the question becomes, how can we break our routines on a regular basis (but not too regular!)? How can we be effective and creative? Put the hours in and stay inspired?

At least part of the answer, I think, is to break more of our routines more often.