How do you feel about the word routine? That word tends to fill me with feelings of failure and frustration.
The only routine I manage to keep regularly is to get coffee and read my Bible, journal to the Lord, and write a little something for the first hour of my day. Even that doesn’t happen on very early travel days.
I have read Atomic Habits and other books about establishing routines, but I am never quite sure how to implement strategies when one week doesn’t look like another week. Here is a sample of my weeks: camping in our RV at a state campground, serving a tour guide/host to young adults participating in AEP, staying with relatives for a family celebration, flying with mom to see my sister, singing in a church choir concert tour, attending a conference about arts in mission, leading a team of 20 or so people to serve in Honduras, and enjoying a long camping trip to Utah. Oh, and a few weeks (sometimes just days), I am at home.
Some of these weeks, I can set my own schedule. Other weeks, they are set for me. My mother is battling cancer, so in between these different events, I am traveling the 2 hours to her house to help her with doctor appointments, insurance issues, etc.
Honestly, rather than routines, what has worked best for me is to make lists. I also need outside accountability for certain goals. I would really like to exercise and work on writing projects on a regular basis, but struggle with how to do that with my schedule.
So, please leave me a comment or send me a private message about how you implement routines as you travel with the Father! I would love to take all of your suggestions and make them into a post.