Until I read the Harvard Business Review article by Kristi DePaul, I thought routines and habits are the same thing. If you also think so, please read that article carefully. Also, read the article on habits, routines, rituals by Anne-Laure Le Cunff here. In simple terms, if you do something subconsciously without thinking much, it is a habit. Some people have the habit of switching on music as soon as they get into their car, some have the habit of eating extremely fast, and some have the habit of checking their email as soon as they get to the office. As they say, “habits die hard”.
Routines are things we do consciously. We make an effort, we may need a cue, and we may need something (time slot?) to sustain the routine. For example, if we keep an alarm (the cue) to wake up everyday at 6am, then we get up at 6am as a routine. So, if we do not keep an alarm at 6am, then we may wake up only at 7am. Then we are still in the stage of having a routine. But if we wake up even without an alarm at 6am every day, that could cut it as a habit. A healthy eating routine is to ask for a doggy bag (i.e. a box to take stuff home) as the food arrives. This way we can place half of the meal in that box. Feeling full after eating half the meal without asking for a doggy bag is a habit.
The root word for habit comes from “habere” or “ghabh-” which generally means to have, to receive, to hold, or to possess. From that came habitus which means condition, demeanor, appearance, and dress. Recall that the dress worn by some nuns is called habit, it’s the same root word. In fact, related words are inhabit, habitat, inhibit, and exhibit. In that sense, habit is completely inherent, we feel at home undertaking the habit, and it is something that is rooted in our identity. For that reason, habits are things done subconsciously. They can be a state, or a goal, or a destination.
However, routine is an action, usually mechanical but conscious. The word routine has its root as route which is a way or a path. So routine is a means to the end of creating a habit. It also is a means to end a habit and create a different habit. Routine is an action (as opposed to an end-state like habit, yes I am appealing to readers familiar with control theory). It can take you from one habit to another habit. Sounds cliche, but enjoy the journey (yes the routine) and not the destination (in this case, the destination is a subconscious habit). So the idea is to create routines to get into new habits.
Some routines may never end up being a habit, but still they are good to do. Here are three examples of routines that we can consciously adopt to enjoy a healthy, productive, and meaningful life.
Happiness routines
Doing things that bring happiness by being conscious and making an effort is inordinately useful. For some of us it would be through a cue where we get an opportunity to say something funny. For others it may be to think of activities as a game. Yet others it would be to help or entertain others that brings joy. Doing those on a cue would be extremely useful to create a sustained environment of happiness.
Creative routines
There are many ways of expressing our creativity. Just writing a code from scratch (even with help from ChatGPT) is an expression of creativity. Cooking a meal that is not found in a recipe book can be a creative routine. Of course, writing poetry, painting, and composing a song are all creative expressions. These can be made into a routine. This way some time is dedicated to doing these and we feel good undertaking them.
Health routines
Exercise, meditation, and even medication are part of health routines. Unlike happiness and creative routines which bring joy in the short term, health is a long-term strategy. We would not only need cues and set aside times, but some of us also need entertainment. It absolutely helps to watch, listen, or do something entertaining. After a while, the short term joy from the entertainment can fuel the health routine!