For many of us, routines are something we fall into during the school year, during a busy time at work, or even something that we simply develop in order to get through finals week. We aim to get up at the same time, eat breakfast at the same time, exercise at the same time, and maybe even coordinate bathroom breaks when it is convenient for us.

While routines are great for us to be able to plan our lives, there comes a time when routines are not ideal and have negative consequences. There can be an unknown joy in spontaneity, and just because your life doesn't follow a plan does not make you reckless or irresponsible. In fact, while routines provide us with many benefits, they can also be harmful to certain aspects of our lives.

Pros:

You rarely forget anything, or at least you shouldn't.

Because you do the same thing every day. If you begin forgetting things, you have a bad routine. Most of the time we make routines because then we won't forget anything. Hopefully, this is the way your routine is going because it is pretty much the best reason for having a routine at all.

You get really good at being efficient.

Again, at least you should. When you repeat the same thing over and over, generally it goes more quickly. At least for me, my morning routine used to be about 40 minutes, and now I can do it in 20. We're talking about 20 extra minutes people! Use a routine in order to save time and energy.

Everyone always knows where to find you.

I mean, you're always in the same place, at the same time, right? This is super convenient for those of us who like to keep tabs on their friends, surprise them, or take a nap in a quiet room to yourself. It's great to have a schedule in which you can be relied upon to be at certain places at certain times. And you're almost never late.

You maintain regular eating and sleeping hours.

This is something that is really hard to do in college. You have to work around meetings in order to eat your meals, and studying often trumps sleep. To the routine person, however, meetings are built into their weekly schedules, allowing them to eat three full meals every day of the week and get a reasonable amount of sleep every night as well. Props to you, routine-doer, because you are much healthier than the rest of us.

While routines do have many perks, it is not fair to say that they are always beneficial, and, being a routine-doer myself, I find that oftentimes it is not worth having a routine because there can be negative consequences.

Cons:

What are you missing?

This isn't to frighten you, but what do you miss out on by refusing to alter your schedule? Often it can be refreshing to leave your schedule and do something spontaneous, whether it be going out to eat, to a movie, or even just giving yourself some time for relaxation before bed on a weeknight. These things are more rewarding than doing your homework but really worrying about the fun times your friends are having without you.

You are easily irritated by small things.

Every little thing is bothersome to the person with the routine. Don't ask a question between 6 a.m. and 7:15 a.m., and don't ask to "talk" for an hour in the midst of a study session. The routine has to be able to be altered for friendship and meaningful relationships. Be flexible, for friends are worth more than your GPA.

I repeat, friends before GPA.

You don't explore.

You never give yourself the time to do something new. There are new opportunities on campus all the time, and if you don't seek those out, you won't ever know if it was something you were meant to do or something you would have enjoyed doing. Many things that have been great for me were things that I had friends drag me away from studying to learn about. Get out there.

Life loses part of its meaning.

Over time, a routine can be dangerous because it causes us to perform worthwhile tasks in a mundane way. Learning isn't fun when it is pushed into a three-hour time frame every afternoon, while others are out on the quad throwing a frisbee. Meals aren't fun when you cut off the other person and are constantly checking the time. Time with God sometimes suffers with a routine because your time with Him is not spontaneous but planned, as if we are limiting God to a 20-minute period every evening. That's not how life is meant to be.

While routines are central to many of the daily tasks we do, it should not control us to the point where life ceases to be fun and have meaning. Challenge yourself to stray from your routine this week, and see what the world has to offer!