The Surprisingly Chaotic Magic of Doing the Same Thing Every Day
Build Your Routine
I’ve been thinking about routines lately. Not the Pinterest kind with color‑coded bins and a 5 a.m. sunrise jog. I mean the small, unglamorous rituals that quietly keep us from dissolving into feral woodland creatures.
Routines get a bad reputation. People talk about them like they’re beige wallpaper for the soul. Predictable. Boring. The opposite of spontaneity, creativity, or whatever we’re supposed to be optimizing for this week.
But here’s the thing I’ve realized:
Routine is not the enemy of freedom. It’s the scaffolding that keeps the whole circus tent from collapsing.
And honestly, I need the scaffolding. Left to my own devices, I drift into a lifestyle best described as “sentient dandelion seed.”
Routine as a kindness to your future self
Every time I do something consistently such as drink water, stretch, write, pray, make the same breakfast, I’m basically leaving a little Post‑it note for tomorrow‑me that says:
“Hey buddy, I know you’re tired and confused, but I’ve already paved the first 10 feet of the road. Just follow the path.”
It’s not discipline. It’s mercy.
Routine as a rebellion against chaos
Life is loud. Kids NEED things. Work NEEDS things. The world is constantly auditioning for the role of “Main Character in Your Nervous System.”
A routine is a tiny protest sign you hold up each morning that reads:
“Actually, no. I get to choose at least one thing today.”
Even if that thing is just making the same cup of coffee in the same mug while staring out the same window like a Victorian poet waiting for inspiration or a ghost.
Routine as a creativity incubator
People think creativity comes from lightning bolts. I think it comes from repetition—doing the same thing until your brain gets bored enough to wander into brilliance.
Some of my best ideas show up when I’m:
washing dishes
walking the same loop around the neighborhood
brushing my teeth like a man who has never once had an original thought
Routine frees up the mental RAM so imagination can run in the background.
Routine as a spiritual practice
There’s something holy about doing the same small thing every day.
It’s like telling the universe:
“I’m here. I’m showing up. I’m not waiting to feel inspired or healed or impressive. I’m just… here.”
And sometimes that’s the bravest thing we do.
The secret: routine isn’t about control
It’s about anchoring.
It’s about giving your life a rhythm so your heart doesn’t have to drum alone.
It’s creating a little predictability in a world that refuses to be predictable. Choosing steadiness over spectacle.
And maybe, just maybe, it’s about remembering that the most meaningful parts of our lives are built not from grand gestures, but from the quiet, repeated acts that slowly shape who we become.
What’s your routine?
As You Find Me (AYFM) is where Brad Hachez - a visionary neurodivergent creator - explores tech, faith, health, & life. Join the journey to streamline productivity, deepen relationships, & reflect on purpose with resilience, presence, and servant-hearted growth.