Back to school, back to routine, and back to the grind!

In most cases, this is a good thing. However, after living this season over and over (11 years to be exact!), I have seen in myself, as well as many of my friends, the downside of routine.

Yes, the schedule-making, list-completing, “Productivity Princess” just admitted there is a downside to routine.

Complacency. Discontentment. And yes, even boredom.

“Wait, what? I don't think you understand how much I love routine, Somer!”

Is that what’s in your head right now? Or maybe you're a woman who has always lacked the ability to find and sustain a routine - don't stop reading just yet! This is for you, too.

Bottom line when it comes to routine: What we do today will affect our tomorrow, and what we did yesterday IS having an effect on today.

But…routine becomes a problem when intentions are eliminated. Specifically, things come to a head when what we do becomes more important than how we obey. We stifle the Holy Spirit in the name of comfort, familiarity or pride. (You might need to go back and read those last two sentences one more time.)

So how do we guard against this? We don’t want to be the hot mess, no routine woman, but we also don’t want to be the robotic, going-through-the-motions woman.

Intentions, friends. It’s all about intentions.

We must ensure:

  • We fill our schedules with what’s important (and that there IS a schedule.)
  • We don't become numb to life or its events.
  • We find JOY in everything! (Discontentment has so much more to do with the state of our heart than our circumstances. Ask a woman who has been diagnosed with a horrible sickness, or lost a loved one recently. It could ALWAYS be worse!)

There are three vital areas where we must focus on intention over routine:

Our walk with Christ

Our walks with Christ are not leisurely strolls; it’s a real, intimate, and adventurous walk with Him. Routine can kill our quiet times if we’re not careful. Doing what you’ve always done won’t cultivate new growth, and we should always be growing in the Lord. As you mature in your walk, so should your “routine.” Ask yourself: is it time to dig deeper? Is my time with God intentional or robotic?

Our marriage

This. Is. HUGE! Ladies, guarding our marriages comes second only to hiding our hearts in Christ. The second we look at loving and supporting our husband as routine instead of intention, we are setting ourselves up for big problems. Thriving relationships are not based on a checklist of what you will do and what he will do.

Our calling

Want to burnout faster than any other working woman? Forget your purpose in your work. No matter what you currently do for a living, God has you in that place for His reason and His purpose. Do not miss the opportunity He has given you! Be more than someone who clocks in and clocks out. Go above and beyond, even if nobody recognizes it, and even if you don't see an extra dime. I promise the reward later will be so much better.  

So routine isn’t a bad thing, but it isn’t the main thing. We will never find joy in our daily grind if we live for routine and let intentions take the back seat.

How will you prioritize your intentions this week? Share your ideas in the comments!