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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if anyone else loves the routine and doesn’t see it as repetitive drudgery?

42 replies

Statsquestion1 · 04/11/2025 20:51

Daily life…do you enjoy the routine or to you hate it? I always see lots of posts where people are fed up.

anyone else in the “I enjoy the routine” camp?

I quite enjoy the routine.
6:30am- wake and get ready
7:00am- wake the dc
7:00-8:00am- make breakfasts/lunches/get sorted
8:00am- leave and drop dc
8:30am- get to work
4:30- leave work/collect dc (3:30 on a Friday)
5:00- home/chat/prep dinner
5:30/6:00 - have dinner(depending on day)

monday eve- relax (nothing on)
Tuesday eve- yoga for me @ 7pm
Wedsnesday- dd has a club at 6.
Thursday- walk (weather permitting)
Friday- ds has a club at 6
Sat/sun- I do morning workouts, the dc do training and/or matches.

DH Does his workouts at home, I cook and he cleans. Laundry is done on a Friday/saturday. Weather depending.

I like the routine. It keeps me going. Anyone else? Or am I crazy.

OP posts:
overlyhelpfulpeople · 04/11/2025 21:04

I wish I could be like this and I am at times, but it’ll only ever last a max of 2 weeks before it feels mundane. I love routine and feeling in control but at the same time my mood isn’t always the best. I think you sound very content, and that’s great! I wish I could be a bit more like that.

PeppermintPatty10 · 04/11/2025 21:11

I love it too, OP!

I think children also love knowing what's coming up and what they'll be doing, which is another reason I like the routine so much. I actually miss it when we go on holiday, and towards the end of the holiday I look forward to getting back to normal life. Obviously I love holidays too, but you know what I mean!

HiCandles · 04/11/2025 21:17

What you describe does sound fairly nice. I enjoy the routine on my days off with the children.
I like the regular playgroups, the farm visits, the enjoyment of my little people who find joy in tiny things.

I wish I could leave work at 4.30! I'm there 8.30-7, 3 days a week. Those days it's stressful getting out the house on time with 2 preschoolers, work is hectic start to finish, 10 mins for lunch, barely get time to wee. I do enjoy the actual work, but I wish there was more time in the day for it.

BePinkOrca · 04/11/2025 21:28

Me… my brain goes into chaos if I have too many days without my routine…mines quite structured like yours it really helps us have a calm house. I enjoy the occasional holiday/break from routine but after 5 days I am desperate to have it back.

Mandylovescandy · 04/11/2025 21:33

Yeah, I quite like it. I struggle with not knowing what the plan is when there are lots of people to consider and so sometimes I can find the weekend quite stressful whereas week days it can be hectic and busy but at least I know what is happening and when. And the wider routine of Halloween, then DC birthday, then Christmas etc I quite like looking forward to the next thing but I do find it feels like it all goes by really fast and it can be nice to do something really different

pumpkinscake · 04/11/2025 21:35

Yes love routine. When it is interrupted I get stressed and tired.

Statsquestion1 · 04/11/2025 21:36

Oh how lovely! I have found some of my tribe! 🙌

OP posts:
Didimum · 04/11/2025 21:36

I’d say you don’t have many stressors that combat the routine. So it’s not necessarily a fair comparison.

In my life:

  • DH and I both have high stress jobs
  • I have long commute
  • Kids are at school out of town (a 10 min drive) due to past school closure
  • House with very high maintenance issues
  • Parents with care needs
  • My job is unstable
SwanSong30 · 04/11/2025 21:36

I love a routine! It makes me feel calmer and more in control, especially in a morning before school. If I’m calm then that can only be a good thing for DC!

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 04/11/2025 21:38

Mrs Doyle does…

To ask if anyone else loves the routine and doesn’t see it as repetitive drudgery?
WonderlandWasAllAHoax · 04/11/2025 21:39

Me! My entire life is a routine and I get really stressed if it changes (unless that change is within my own control).

peanutbuttertoasty · 04/11/2025 21:39

You sound like you live extremely close to school and work. You get home from work very early, and your husband cleans. I’d be quite content with that too. An evening to go to Pilates would be an unimaginable luxury for me.

Statsquestion1 · 04/11/2025 22:01

peanutbuttertoasty · 04/11/2025 21:39

You sound like you live extremely close to school and work. You get home from work very early, and your husband cleans. I’d be quite content with that too. An evening to go to Pilates would be an unimaginable luxury for me.

Yeah I’m a 12-15min drive to work. DCs schools are both on the way so it adds on an extra 10-15mins at a push. DH does drop offs/collections too. We share it out depending on who needs to be in for 8. Working hrs are 8-4:30 but we have flexi time. (We work for the same company) it does work out well. Our jobs are stressful enough (him more than me) but we rarely go over hours tbh.
everything is a 5-10min drive as we live in a large town..so kids activities etc are all closely.
school is a bit further out for ds (there’s literally 4 other schools closer)but that’s due to choice.
work is on the outskirts of the city so it’s handy enough.

OP posts:
Whyjustwhy83 · 04/11/2025 22:25

Hate it and don't really have a routine tbh other then school run for oldest housework, cooking entertain toddler.the rest of the day After school 4 day's of finding something to burn off older child's energy, he's not suited to clubs due to send, no family or friends, we walk the streets mostly. Friday he has a additional needs youth group it kills an 1 hr or so, then weekend he's at his dads and I have housework and toddler.

Rainallnight · 04/11/2025 22:27

I’m not great at routines so following with interest!

VikaOlson · 04/11/2025 22:32

I'm not sure I'd say I 'enjoy' routine but with three kids and two working parents it's what makes life work.

Tretweet · 04/11/2025 22:34

I do like the routine too OP but it feels like the rest of the world is always out to wreck mine tbh. Like when school randomly announces there is another PE day and kit has to be washed earlier - thinking of this specifically with your washing on a certain day. When the cars have to go in for MOT/service so you have to do the car planning juggle. Half term again. Kids off sick. There always seems to be something every week that disrupts routine or is my life just chaotic?

I think I crave routine so I do agree with you but it never feels like our routines can be that rigid week on week.

Hdpr · 04/11/2025 22:37

No, it’s boring and I long for the freedoms of holidays, lazy days and the chance to explore

Thepeopleversuswork · 04/11/2025 22:44

I quite enjoy the domestic routine providing there is some variation at times.

I do enjoy the little rituals of daily life and knowing that everything is ticking along nicely. My job is mega stressful and I need the structure and not having to stress about things at home.

But I also need to know there will be something to break the monotony. A holiday, a night out with friends etc.

I could never retreat into only being with immediate family and never having any fresh perspective.

eone · 05/11/2025 00:29

Me. I love it. Makes me feel safe. I could eat the same breakfast every day, go to the same places, buy the same things. I have favourite cross trainer at the gym and if isn't free I won't exercise on any other 🤦‍♀️ there Is many more favourites 🙈

WaryHiker · 05/11/2025 00:33

This is something I have always struggled with. Until I was diagnosed as an adult with AU/ADHD, I couldn't make sense of it. Part of me wanted a fixed, unvarying routine. The other part wanted constant change and excitement.

Now that I understand myself a little more, I arrange my daily life to give me a decent helping of both🙂

User0311 · 05/11/2025 00:35

I’m a sucker for a routine!

Bluemin · 05/11/2025 08:36

How do you only do laundry on two days a week?!

SomethingFun · 05/11/2025 08:51

We have a routine but I wouldn’t say it brings me joy, stops me going mad maybe. I have 2 dc and I have to do at least one load of washing a day, more on whites and bedding days. Also have to feed everyone everyday, dishwasher, tidy up, clean up, get bags ready, homework, work, life admin, ferrying around, etc etc. it’s only possible with a routine and with endless calendar notifications and it spirals out of control if you miss a couple of days of anything.

Statsquestion1 · 05/11/2025 08:55

Bluemin · 05/11/2025 08:36

How do you only do laundry on two days a week?!

I have an 11kg machine. It fits loads. 2-3 loads and it’s all done 🙌

OP posts:
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