Routines
Howdy! Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.
They say having routines in your life keeps you mentally healthier than living a disorganized or haphazard life. Schedules have a profound effect on our well being. Belonging to clubs, organizations is good for us.
According to research from UCLA Health, " a predictable daily routine supports mental health by reducing stress, lowering cognitive load, and creating a steady sense of personal control. "
It keeps sickness away too. People with good daily routines and habits live longer and decidedly healthier lives. It promotes a feeling of productiveness and purpose.
Boredom contributes to sickness and cognitive decline in the elderly.
1. Do you have a daily routine for yourself and for your home?
Yes, I'd say we definitely do. It's more like my husband has a daily routine, and I do my best to follow it. Actually, even though I sometimes balk at bedtimes and mealtimes always the same...it really is best for us both. I just sometimes want to be a bit more "carefree" with less of a schedule, but I've learned over the years it's just better for everyone concerned if we stick to the routine as much as possible. Of course, there are days that we have doctor appointments and other activities that take us out of our normal routines and we have to be flexible and adapt to different mealtimes in particular. But I think we are both happier and less cranky when we get back to our "normal" time schedule and take our daily naps. LOL. (Retirement is a lot like going back to our early childhood days when we needed to stay on that mealtime/nap schedule LOL.).
2. What is your morning routine? How about your bedtime routine?
2. What is your morning routine? How about your bedtime routine?
Well, now that we have another mouth to feed, a.k.a. "King Blackie", we are up and out of bed by 5:30 a.m. Blackie is waiting at the back door and doesn't even stop for a How do you do? as he races to his food dish. After he has eaten about half of his food, he'll stop and come check to see if Daddy is up and out of the bedroom yet, and once he sees him, he's contented to go back to finish the rest of his food. Then he comes out to the living room to say a proper hello while we drink our coffee and tea. You've seen the pictures of how he comes to pay a visit to me while I try to read and write on the computer.
Once we finish our tea/coffee, we read our devotions together, and then I fix breakfast.
At sunrise I always put our American Flag out on the front porch, and take a picture of the sunrise. THIS beautiful sky is what greeted me yesterday morning! "Red sky at morning, sailors take warning!" And yes, it was a forewarning of a rainy stormy day!
And one of our other "morning routines" is to take a walk, weather permitting. Yesterday morning was warm and humid in advance of the afternoon rains coming in, but we took a quick walk anyway before the rains came...
And we got outside in time to see these lovely wild morning glories in bloom!
Here they are, growing up the trees along our walkway. So pretty.
And yes! We did get a LOT of rain yesterday afternoon and evening, with more promised to come today and tomorrow. Little by little, our Still Waters Pond is getting saturated! We rejoice at every drop of rain that falls on it!
Now, regarding bedtime...well we head for showers/bed around 9:00 most nights. If there's a late football game going on or something interesting on TV, we might stay up until 9:30. LOL.
3.Do you have a routine get together for a family meal or game/movie or pizza night?
3.Do you have a routine get together for a family meal or game/movie or pizza night?
Most Sundays our son Scott is here for lunch after church, and sometimes Benton and Rose come too, if she isn't working. Once in a while, maybe once a month or oftener if available, we get together with Rose and Benton for supper, either here, or sometimes we go out to eat, or we make pizzas together and once in a while we play a game of cards or dominoes. It's been a while since we did that...it's more of a fall/winter thing when we have these longer winter nights.
As a matter of fact, today we are planning to go eat lunch at the all new "Backwoods Country Kitchen" with Benton and Rose. This is the place that used to be the Hog Wild Country Cafe'/BBQ, but they had a bad kitchen fire over a year ago and they have since moved to a different location here in our town. But another company bought the building and over the past year has rebuilt the kitchen and cleaned everything up, and yesterday was their much awaited grand opening. Since Rose is off work today, we decided we would go there for lunch and check it out. I will be sure to let you know in a new post how it goes! Our little community doesn't have a lot to choose from in the way of restaurants, so when there's something new in town, everyone gets excited!
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4. AnyTV programs, clubs, organizational routines you never want to miss? Do you attend town meetings, choir practice?
I think you all know that I sing in our church choir, and we have practice every Tuesday night, so I don't want to miss that! And NOW, I'm so happy that our son Benton has also joined the choir, and so I pick him up on my way since I have to go right by where he lives. (Although now that it's getting dark earlier I may have him pick me up and do the driving. I'm finding that my night driving just isn't all that good anymore!)
Here was our song for this past Sunday. We record it on Tuesday nights at practice, and then this goes on our church website and Facebook page on Sunday. It also has the Pastor's sermon for the week.
As far as other meetings, etc., I also go to the Ladies' Bible Study at our church every Monday afternoon. I do look forward to that time of fellowship and sharing God's Word together, and I don't like to miss it!
Of course, nearly every week there's some kind of doctor appointment or test for one or the other of us. This week hubby will have an echocardiogram on Friday. It's mainly to rule out any heart issues that could be causing his fatigue. His EKG was just fine, and this is more precautionary. Next week will be the dental visit for his root canal and new crown preparation/temporary crown. Never a dull moment! But we are very thankful that it isn't anything worse. God has been very gracious to us, and we are extremely grateful.
Today, October 6th, is our grandson Noah's 27th birthday. I hope we can talk to him on the phone. It's been a long while since we've been able to "connect"...not for lack of trying...but for whatever reason, he just doesn't communicate with us these days. Of course, he's young and busy and he lives 1500 miles away...but hopefully we will be able to reach him today and wish him a happy birthday. Our card/gift should also reach him in the mail by today...so here's praying we can make that connection. It means a lot to us and we hope it means a lot to him as well.
I like Goethe's idea of hearing "at least one little song every day, read a good poem, see a first-rate painting, and if possible speak a few sensible words."
Let's all try to add that to our routine, shall we?
Have a blessed and wonderful day, whatever you do!
Routines are so very important, Pamela, especially as we age. However, like you, we have doctor appointments, etc., that love to disrupt those routines too often. Oh, well, that's life! Glad you all are finally getting that rain you've been needing, too. Happy Birthday, Noah!
ReplyDeleteWe also have routines, especially Bob. He's more routine oriented than I am and I tease him about it.
ReplyDeleteThat was a gorgeous sky yesterday and I'm so glad you got lots of rain!
Hope your lunch is good and I sure hope you can talk to Noah. When they live far away, it's very hard. Bob has a sister and brother who share a birthday (born 2 years apart) and it's also today!
Yup--routines are good for me, too, but are flexible to make room for those bumps in life!
ReplyDeleteThose last words are a good routine to add to each day!! I hope Noah gets in touch with you, Pam. It's hard keeping up with the youngsters. Routines are good for us, I think. Being retired doesn't really require the same kind of routines we had when we were working, but I think it is still good for our bodies and minds to be more settled. Love to you and John (and Blackie!)!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Noah , i remember when he was born ..I was working at Yield House with Nicole and Nancy ...good years ...love and prayers to all from Michelle Brooks .
ReplyDeleteOh Michelle! That touches my heart, knowing that you knew our family way back then. You must've known our Matthew too, then, because he also worked at Yield House back then. Yes, those were good years. So much has happened since then and time marches on and people get on with their lives. I just wish they weren't so far away from us, especially now that we are getting to the age where we don't want to travel that far anymore, and they are too busy with their own lives to be able to take the time to come here. But I keep hoping and praying. Thank you for visiting today. You made me smile.
DeleteI totally agree that routines are good for us. Our routines have really gotten scrambled since Dave had his fall at the end of April. We really don't go any place now and things have become "The New Normal" Church on line and no serving as we used to do all the time. Rising in the morning isn't anywhere as early or routine as you but it works for us. Breakfast and daily devotions for each of us. Dinner is usually around 5pm. Sleep at 11pm and so it goes. A lot of my shopping is done by delivery. That has been a huge help and since gas is $6.24 a gallon here in No. CA !!!
ReplyDeleteCrazy CA ...
eBay and the yard seem to occupy most of our time. Every few months we have a get together with our small group. Several people have moved out of state and others have moved further away so its difficult to visit face to face ...so grateful for texts though.
Have a great day and enjoy your routine nap today (:0)
Sue
Love your Sunrise skies.
Looking forward to hearing about the new restaurant. I sure hope its a winner.
I literally laughed out loud at the last sentence to #1. So true.
ReplyDeleteAnd... love King Blackie's morning routine too.
I think young people these days just don't think to keep older people informed. I don't even attest it to their raising but the environment. Hoping you hear from Noah. He loves you, they are just young.
I love all your nature pictures. I go out on the back deck every morning to look at the sunrise. I don't always take a picture but I do love that routine. I am a big routine person. Jeff, not so much. The Lord usually puts 2 opposites on things such as that to keep us tempered.
I've always been an agenda-driven sort, too. That's comforting! Married to Tom, however, I've had to learn to be more flexible. Tolerant. Hey, I'm still learning; sometimes through gritted teeth.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday blessings to Noah; I pray he does better about keeping in touch. Sometimes I don't think our grands realize what those sorts of things mean to us. Regrettably, I know I didn't.
Oh gosh, I grew up in a strictly scheduled home. My dad was someone you could set your clock by and Mom and I had to go along for the ride. Heaven help you if you were in the bathroom when it was time for Dad to get up and start his morning routine and dinner was at the same time every day, zero exceptions. Everyone had to sit down together. When I played sports and was often required to be later due to practices or games, dinner was held until I got home...unless it was going to be after 8:00. Now I'm married to a man who other than getting up and getting to work at the same time, doesn't pay attention to time at all (and has missed or been late for sooooo much over the years). I would love to live somewhere between the two extremes.
ReplyDeleteWe live by routines similar to yours. My husband, a 20+ year military veteran, runs on structure like it’s rocket fuel, and I’ve been a morning person since birth and thankfully, he’s the same. We’re up at 5:30 sharp and in bed by 9:30, because if I dare stay up later, my body stages a full-blown nausea protest. Our week is mapped out like a military operation: he’s at the clinic on Tuesdays (and sometimes Wednesdays), I’m there Friday afternoons, and evenings are reserved for Bible studies and classes. We’re busier now than ever. Retirement apparently means more missions. lol. Still, there’s always time for rest, and as long as we’re moving, it’s mission accomplished. 😉
ReplyDeleteYou do have a routine going on there - I think that is so cute. And you take naps. I thought I had a good routine going on, but I might need to add a nap. Glad you are getting some rain.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the flag against the morning sunset is stunning. I always love looking at the sky, sun and moon in either day or night. I'm not much of a routine person. I guess I never have been and I've been able to live my life more or less that way even now that I'm married. When I say routine, I mean a strict one. I think all of us have a routine of some kind, some more lax, some more disciplined and strict. I would say mine is in the middle somewhere, lol. As you say so well, keeping up with all the medical/dental appointments and follow ups sure seems to take a lot of time for many of us as we grow older. I hope your are able to reach your nephew for his special day. I know it's so hard to 'capture' the younger ones when they might be free. I also hope it keeps raining so your pond can be full.
ReplyDeleteOops. I think it's your grandson, not your nephew.
DeleteYou'll probably hear from him when he needs money 🤑 ...Sweetallysum.
ReplyDeleteHow was lunch at the Country Kitchen? 🍝 🥣 🥪 🥧 hope it was good. Love that fiery 🌅 sunrise picture, so pretty. Those little wild morning glories are rampant here too and those beauty berries are so pretty--- ours are not out yet. I hope you got to talk to Noah! HUGS and enjoy THAT RAIN!! 💧 🌂 🌧 🌧 💧 💧 . Hopefully POND FILLING rain!
ReplyDeleteAs far as routines, Pam, I would say that we really do not have a set one. I am the early riser and will usually get my cup of tea ready and then read in bed, while Patrick sleeps until as late as 8 am, many days. We know we should get to bed earlier than 10 or 11 pm and have good intentions but never seem to follow through. Meal times are not anything regular, it depends on whether we're cooking or having leftovers. Hope your lunch at Backwoods Kitchen was a good one. Here, we have the opposite problem of so many places to choose from and many within walking distance of our apt.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your answers. That beauty berry bush is pretty.
ReplyDelete