I have been into self-help or self-growth since I started getting into skincare 4 years ago. That time I was a fresh 101 in Film school. Since then, my skin has been improving, and when skin care videos eventually became self-growth videos, my life and mindset hasn’t been the same way as before. Adulting became a little easier.
Back when I was in college, I was the type of person who’s afraid of what’s going to happen when I graduate. I didn’t want to disappoint my family and most of all myself. I was afraid that I was going to be very dependent on my parents because I was too afraid of the real world; that I wasn’t ready for it.
But after watching a lot of videos and reading a lot of articles, you would’ve thought that I got it all figured out. Well, it’s not that simple.
In the day and age of wanting instant success and fulfillment, it may come easy for us to think that way; that whatever you see in the web, that whatever your favorite vlogger says is the right thing to do and you should follow to be instantly fulfilled. I mean, I’ve fallen under that spell when I first started.
After around 3 years, I realized that it’s not the case. We have to be reminded that we are all very different human beings. We look different, we have different beliefs, different cultures, different personalities, different opinions, different environment, different experiences, and most of all, different lifestyles.
I have watched different vloggers talk about their morning routines, and each has a different way of starting their mornings, each wakes up at different times (most promote waking up at 5:00AM). There are similarities, but how they set up their routine really caters to how their life is built for them. I only realized that I can’t do one Youtuber’s routine because it doesn’t suit my lifestyle.
I have office work from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It takes around 15-30mins to get to my workplace, sometimes an hour when the Manila traffic is bad. My work is really demanding a lot from me. I’m an introvert. I have a brother for a roommate, and we live in a condo. When I come home, I want to write and make time for writing.
We have different lives. So, it’s apparent to say that we can’t follow all vloggers’ routines. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t follow anyone’s routine at all. It’s better to listen and watch the routines, the tips, the advice the vloggers or writers give to you and at least, try out if it works for you. Trial and error.
This is how I do it:
1. TRIAL FOR A WEEK (OR SO)
After watching or reading the tip, advice, or routine, try it out for a week, more or less. It is also better to keep track if you were able to do these things properly like a to-do list with checkboxes.
2. EVALUATE
At the end of the week, evaluate. Have you been consistently doing it? How did you feel every time you do it? How did it affect you when you do it? Was it sidetracked or unfulfilled because of a certain task or event?
3. DIFFERENT APPROACH
If things aren’t working out, try a different approach. Shift the timetable of your routine. Shift the time you do this certain task. Maybe you should try meditating in the evening rather than in the morning so you won’t be late for work. Maybe you should wake up earlier, and sleep earlier.
From there, I was able to build a routine of my own, based on my own lifestyle. Don’t be easily swooned by Pinterest posts saying “The Routine That Changed My Life”. Remember it changed THEIR life. That doesn’t mean it would probably change yours. Let’s see.
Try it out for a week more or less, and if you think it suits your lifestyle then go for it. Do assess why it does suit for you, and you can adjust here and there. If you think it doesn’t suit you, then assess why it doesn’t work out for you. If you think it’s because you need more discipline (especially when this part of your new routine is good for you), then tackle it in a different way and discipline yourself.
It’s really all about helping yourself and learning about yourself during the process. That’s the fun part. If you keep on doing this, you can really become giddy whenever you see a new video on YouTube. Yes! Some new advice to explore and see if it helps you. But at least, now, you feel less restricted. Until now, my routine changes and evolves as life changes as well.
You can create a routine, a self-growth package if you will, catering to yourself; to your own needs, for your own good.
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