There is a lot to be said for rhythm and routine. They’re grounding. They keep you on track. Beneficial habits can be built in, too. However, the importance of mental flexibility cannot be overlooked.
Routine is a double-edged sword. On the other side of its benefits is rigidity… as in getting so tied to a routine or what you habitually do that it starts to become detrimental.
Allow me to give an example. I have a morning routine, and each activity involved is beneficial to me in some way.
But it started to feel like I couldn’t start my day without them. That they were the only way to begin my day. An arbitrary and self-imposed standard was holding me back.
While the things I do are good for me, they’re only good so long as I do them out of desire rather than obligation. Taking it toward “want to” rather than “have to.”
Here is where flexibility comes into play. While I saw the benefit in the things I was doing, it doesn’t mean that is the only set of actions that would be beneficial.
There is a time and place to switch up routine. To segment it. To try new things. Even to do nothing at all.
Why? Because the ability to adapt is crucial to living an open and free life. The ability to accept change – and be okay with it – is a skill that we should all aspire to master.
The bigger picture
Different situations afford me different amounts of time in the morning. Maybe I’m on vacation, have an early meeting, or even just overslept. Trying to cram in a morning routine just for the sake of a morning routine in these cases is like the whole square peg in a round hole situation. It’s just not what’s needed. It’s not the best fit.
While my morning routine is the most glaring example in my own life where flexibility could help, the implications here are larger. The flexibility I’m talking about goes well beyond routine and bleeds into the ability to adapt to any sort of new things on the fly.
Change, uncertainty, and unpleasantries will happen on every scale, and a general skill of mental flexibility will help us each and every time.
Building mental flexibility
Admittedly, adapting and being flexible isn’t my finest skill. However, it’s a direction I want to go. It’s a direction I probably need to go.
Here is how I’m working toward that:
Assessing rather than assuming
Let’s go back to the point I made above. Instead of assuming that each morning I need to do x, y, and z because that’s my default, I try to be more calculated and ask myself which activities would be most beneficial given the situation at hand. Strategically combining or simplifying makes actions more useful.
Intentionally changing things up
My typical morning activities included coffee and a self-help book. More recently, it’s been tea and a novel. Will the change last forever? No. (How the heck could I give up coffee?)
But the point is that I have found immense joy in herbal flavors and a good plot. I didn’t have that before. I’m expanding my horizons in a way that makes me appreciate new things.
Embracing the friction
Going in a new direction when your body and brain are used to the other direction involves some level of friction. If you acknowledge this going in, it won’t be a surprise.
Just like stretching you muscles, you will need to exercise your mental flexibility to improve it. The more you lean into this friction, the more you’ll scratch the surface (get it?) of new and interesting things.
Thank you so much for reading! Please share with others who may benefit! 🙂
