routine /rōˈtēn/ noun. A sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program. Example: Make your bed, brush your teeth, walk the dog.
We all have one: a set of chores or tasks, a list of things we need to attend to in our daily lives to maintain a sense of order. It’s not surprising to have a routine or even a detailed one; routines are as old as time itself. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), however, can complicate a person’s relationship with this age-old dynamic.
Routines forever and always
You could say routines are engrained in us at a molecular and cellular level. Our biological processes follow strict routines to ensure the proper functioning of our bodies, such as the circadian rhythms regulating our sleep-wake cycles.
In the plant kingdom, routines are evident, too. We see them in seasonal cycles and daily patterns, like plants opening their flowers at specific times to attract pollinators. Animals also exhibit routines essential for survival, such as migratory birds traveling the same routes annually and predators following established hunting patterns.
Our primitive ancestors relied on routines for activities like hunting, gathering, and tool-making, ensuring efficiency and safety. Modern humans continue this tradition with complex daily routines that structure our work, leisure, and social interactions.
Routines help us manage the complexity of the world around us. Through repetition, they simplify our lives and enable us to focus on and succeed in the things we value. Yet, is the constancy of order always the healthiest? Don’t get me wrong, I’m one of routine’s biggest fans, but can too much routine be a bad thing? Can there be too much order? Does OCD tip the kettle?
I know it has for me before, so I want to share what I’ve learned about routines with OCD and what’s helped me take a more balanced approach to them.
When routines go wrong
Let’s think of a tyrannical government, which operates with an excess of order and oppression. OCD can be similar when it comes to routines. Like tyranny, OCD can involve an overwhelming need for order. For those of us with OCD, routines can feel like more than just guidelines; they can become urgent, seemingly life-or-death tasks that feel as though they must be completed precisely, or else the individual will face immense distress.
The perception of routines for someone with OCD can be complex and intricate. At times, compulsive behaviors can veer into a “superstitious” realm, being done with the goal of bringing order to the unknown. From flicking the light switch a certain number of times to turning off the faucet in a specific way, these minute activities can become an integral part of someone with OCD’s daily routine.
OCD, after all, is an anxiety disorder, and anxiety is essentially a fear of the unknown or uncertain. A routine is something put into place to bring order to the unknown and diminish the state of anxiety caused by uncertainty. Thus, it is apparent how someone with an anxiety disorder can warp routines in a way that can actually hurt them rather than help them.
Get your life back from OCD
A more balanced approach to routines with OCD
So how can someone with OCD learn to approach their routines in a healthy manner?
Well, in my experience, I’ve found that it can help to start by looking at how those around you—your friends, your family members, or even your broader community—approach their routines. Their relationships with routines may offer insight into how we can bring more balance into our own lives.
I’ve also found it helpful to take cues from the world around me. For example, the structure of our workweeks is predicated on the idea that too much routine is not beneficial, which is why we have weekends. And in the Bible, an ancient religious text, there is the commandment “On the seventh day, you shall rest.” Then there’s New Year’s Day, and practically every other holiday for that matter. Even on the cellular level, after a big workout, we need to rest for our muscles to grow.
The point being, there are countless examples of why too much routine and structure, despite what OCD might suggest, might not be in our best interests.
Instead, in my experience, it can be more helpful to intentionally introduce something new into the routine that OCD has established for us. By doing this, when life’s inevitable and uncontrollable events occur, we can feel less disrupted by them. We can prepare ourselves to welcome these changes on our own terms.
By introducing flexibility and embracing change, we can manage our routines in a way that promotes overall well-being—and it can start as simply as not making your bed for a day, or taking a different route to walk your dog.
About the author: Sina Tadayon is an advocate for those suffering from OCD and other anxiety-related disorders. His path in OCD advocacy is rooted in his life experiences and a strong belief in the power of education to shed light on what living with OCD truly means. As a storyteller, he understands the impact of narratives in our lives. Everywhere we go, we hear and share stories, and Sina firmly believes that the complexity of OCD, along with the challenges it imposes on many, is a story that desperately needs to be shared.