ďťżđď¸ Podcast Title:
Routines As a ToolâNot the Goal
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Hey friends, and welcome back to Running to Myselfâa space where we explore how movement, mindset, and real life all weave together into the story of who weâre becoming.
Today, I want to talk about something Iâve been noticing a lot in the personal growth worldâand if you spend any time on social media, youâve probably seen it too:
Routines.
Morning routines.
Evening routines.
Productivity systems.
Optimization hacks.
Theyâre everywhere.
And listen, Iâll be the first to admitâI love a good routine. I love structure. I love knowing what to expect and having tools that help me show up with more peace and purpose in my day.
But hereâs the thing Iâve learnedâboth in my running and in my life:
Routines are a tool.
They are not the goal.
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Letâs look at The Rise of Routine Perfectionism
Have you noticed how some of these âmust-doâ routines are starting to feel a little⌠heavy?
Like if youâre not meditating, journaling, visualizing, meal prepping, stretching, and going on a 45-minute walk before 6 a.m., youâve somehow failed your day before it even started?
I think weâve taken what was meant to support usâand turned it into a measure of whether weâre doing life âright.â
And thatâs when routines lose their magic.
The moment they become a performance, rather than a support system.
The moment they become rigid instead of life-giving.
The moment they feel like pressure instead of peace.
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đââď¸ My Real-Life Training Story
I learned this in one of the most full seasons of my life.
My kids were little.
My husband traveled oftenâat least four nights a week.
I was teaching full time.
And oh yeahâwe had a small horse farm.
So when I discovered a love for running and started taking it seriously, I knew I couldnât approach it like someone with unlimited time and resources.
There were no leisurely mornings or 90-minute training blocks.
There was no perfectly laid out gear and routine.
If I was going to runâit had to fit into my real life.
So I started to ask a question that has served me well for years:
âWhat is essential for me right now?â
Not whatâs ideal. Not what someone else swears by.
Not what a magazine or influencer recommends.
What works for me, in this season?
And I stuck with that.
No fluff. No guilt. No performance.
And hereâs the kickerâit worked.
Because consistency with the right things beats perfection with everything.
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đ There can be a time When Routines Stop Serving You
In my coaching work, Iâve seen this play out over and over again.
A woman comes to me feeling overwhelmed. Tired. Frustrated.
And one of the first things we uncover is that sheâs trying to live according to a routine that might look good on paperâbut doesnât reflect her real life.
Sheâs trying to build habits based on who she wishes she were⌠instead of who she actually is in this moment.
Or sheâs holding herself to a version of herself from five years ago.
Before the new job.
Before the diagnosis.
Before the loss.
Before the kids.
We evolve. Life evolves.
And our routines should evolve too.
Thatâs not failureâthatâs wisdom.
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đ Itâs Time to Ask Yourself: Whatâs Actually Working?
So I want to ask you a few questions today. Take a breath. Be honest. No judgmentâjust awareness.
* What routines in your life are actually supporting you right now?
* What parts feel like pressure instead of peace?
* What have you been clinging to because you think you shouldâeven though itâs not working anymore?
Let those answers lead you somewhere new.
Because hereâs the truth:
You donât need to be more disciplined.
You need to be more discerning.
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⨠Letting It Be Simple Again
If I could give you one gift today, it would be this:
Permission.
Permission to release whatâs no longer serving you.
Permission to choose simplicity.
Permission to listen to your own life and trust what itâs asking of you.
You donât need a 12-step morning routine to live a meaningful life.
You just need a rhythm that reflects your values, your needs, and your season.
And if youâre in a season that feels too full, too heavy, or too tender for structureâjust go back to the basics.
⨠Breathe.
⨠Move your body.
⨠Nourish yourself.
⨠Be kind with your thoughts.
⨠Be present with the people you love.
That is more than enough.
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𧥠Final Thoughts
So wherever this episode finds youâwhether youâre thriving in your rhythms or quietly unraveling inside themâremember this:
Routines are meant to serve your life.
Not overtake it.
And if youâre looking to build more intentional habits that align with who you are and who youâre becoming, thatâs exactly what coaching is for.
If youâre curious about what it could look like to work together, Iâd love to invite you to book a free consultation. No pressureâjust a conversation.
You can do that at my website, Trishastanton.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.
And if this episode resonated with you, would you take a minute to leave a review or share it with a friend? It helps this little podcast reach more people who need to hear that theyâre not alone.
Thank you for spending time with me today.
Iâm cheering you on, always.
Until next time, remember, Mindset Matters.
