Photo courtesy of mksystem (Creative Commons)

It actually feels like fall in Tennessee today – there’s a chill in the air, the leaves are just starting to turn, and I could see my breath as I ran. Over the last few weeks, life has been changing, and it’s an adjustment that’s a little unsettling.

Routines are comfortable, and changing seasons can bring unwelcomed interference with normal schedules and priorities. As summer ends and school starts, I find I am impacted by the changes, even though I don’t have school-age children.

One of the most obvious differences is an extreme increase in the amount of traffic when I run in the mornings. Many days I wonder why on earth so many people are out and about so early!

There are also all sorts of new programs on the calendar at work and church, so becoming overbooked is a real possibility.

I have found a few ways to counteract the new busyness and still maintain my routine:

  • Balancing – as new activities start up, I’m paying attention to my schedule and making sure to balance time engaged with others with my time for personal development, reading and study.
  • Embracing – instead of staying focused on the bad things (I cringe as I drive through a school zone), I’m embracing the good (hearing the marching band practice after school stirs my soul).
  • Maintaining – instead of adjusting the time or distance I run in the mornings, I’m just fine-tuning my route to less busy roads.
  • Protecting – I am carefully protecting the most vital parts of my routine, like my morning writing and running time, and reading time in the evening.

While I cherish the time spent at home during the summer, it is exciting to be involved in new activities to learn, serve and enjoy. Supplementing my normal routine with a few additional activities helps keep me fresh without disrupting completely.

How do you preserve your routine in the face of change?