Routines matter and so do you

 Routines Matter

As much of a free spirit as I am—I love last-minute road trips, long drives through the countryside, and wandering into small towns to explore nature or hidden little shops—I’ve come to learn that I thrive with a routine.

Most of my routines in this season are personal investments. I’ve organized my home to make weekly cleaning easier, and it just feels better to live in a clean, peaceful environment.

I’ve also started a boot camp. And I know this about myself—if I don’t do it first thing in the morning, it won’t get done. So I’ve set a routine: as soon as I finish my morning meds, it’s time to work out. Non-negotiable. With being a full-time caregiver and still soaking in every moment I can with my grandbabies (a part of my life I absolutely love), I’ve learned I must make time for myself while still keeping everything else moving.

Between therapy appointments, medications, and doctor visits, it would be easy to just exist and get lost in the caregiving. But I’ve been there before—running on empty, pushing through until I hit a mental wall. I made a decision: this time, it will be different.

So here’s what it looks like.

I’m up around 4:45 AM. I spend time in quiet, read my Bible, and pray while my oldest gets ready for work. I make sure he has breakfast options, then drive him in. When I get home, I set out the meds so they can warm up, then wake Scott. We do his meds and breakfast, then he heads back to bed. That’s when I work out—my time just for me. If one of the grands is with us, they usually wake around 7:30, and then it’s breakfast round two—for him and for me.

If I didn’t do it this way, my day would unravel fast, and I’d be left feeling frazzled and unanchored. So for me, getting up early and keeping things in order is wisdom. This season may not allow for spontaneous road trips, but yesterday, between medication windows, I caught a movie by myself—and it was lovely. (If you haven’t seen The Last Rodeo, you should.)

Now, as I get ready for work—yes, I still work with all this going on and handle all the bills too—I’m choosing to be grateful. Grateful that I can do it. That my mind and body are still able.

Emotionally, it’s a roller coaster. But even there, I’ve noticed—when I’m more mindful of my food choices, the emotional waves start to settle. So today, I step into another week of choosing to put myself first after God, even in the middle of the mess.

Because here’s the truth: most caregivers get lost when they don’t find a way to care for themselves. Bitterness builds quickly—trust me, I know.

So take this as your gentle reminder:
Make time for you. Even in the mess. Especially in the mess.

Have a great day, y’all.
—Dawn 🤍

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