Free Essay Example: Structured Routine versus Spontaneity

Working all week long on a schedule can often seem monotonous and boring. People who repeatedly work under a structured routine may try to counter the boredom by adding spontaneous activities to their free time such as weekends. They could aim to sleep more, adopt new eating habits, as well as changing their attitudes towards activities they have not partaken before. It is because most people believe spontaneous activities offer us a chance to rest, and relax, offering people freedom from routine. Spontaneity is associated with fast and nonconscious automatic thinking, which in most cases is associated with heuristics or the use of mental shortcuts in daily lives. In most cases, informal rules of our behaviors are used in spontaneous activities such as decision-making. Routine is more slow, controlled and deliberate in their decision-making and activities whereas spontaneity is more abrupt, unplanned and makes decision making harder.

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Spontaneity is more abrupt, unplanned and makes decision making harder. A routine person engaged in a spontaneous activity may experience stress, irritability and tiredness once they get back to their routine. It is because of disrupting ones biorhythm, which once set up becomes a habit. If one engages in a spontaneous activity, the biorhythm is disrupted and a new one starts to form; consuming a lot of energy in the process. Habits give us a structure, which if interfered with can be more harmful than helpful. Routine makes us adopt a way of doing things and with time less effort is needed to carry out certain activities both mentally and physically. We master the art and method of doing certain things through routine.

Routine structures form an organization that allows a person to develop knowledge of an activity. Routine is beneficial as it shapes life which allows a person to feel more in control. By focusing on a set plan one feels purposeful. It also increases stability by reducing stress that is experienced while performing an activity. Routine also helps one manage time efficiently and effectively (Bob, 194). With proper time management skills constant assessments concerning the future are unnecessary. Thus more time can be dedicated to task completion rather than figuring out what should be done, when and why it should be done in a particular way. Routine allows one to identify the advantages and the disadvantages of doing things in a certain manner.

It requires honest assessment of ones skills, abilities and capabilities. It is characterized by an over estimation of how much one can achieve in a given period of time. These unrealistic expectations are frustrating leading to stress and pressure. Stress has been identified as a leading cause of health issues such as high blood pressure, forgetfulness and depression. Eliminating spontaneity variable through structuring and planning ones day reduces anxiety and stress associated with the unknown. Routine allows smooth and easy transitions between activities and allows one to allocate time for resting; it is crucial to health and social bonds.

Routine is more slow, controlled and deliberate in their decision making. It reflects well on self-confidence. Repeatedly engaging in the same action allows one to know the steps and procedures. In fact routine can give time for spontaneity since one can carry out the activity efficiently within a shorter period. The extra time can be used spontaneously. Habits associated with spontaneity need to be practiced daily and that with consistency too. Routine requires high levels of self-discipline that reflect positively on professionalism. The certainty offered by routine serves as an incentive for one to put more efforts. The authors book, The power of habit. Why we do what we do in life and business, writes that our brains are very dependent on automatic routine. Routine allows our brains to perform certain activities automatically, with more ease and confidence (Duhhigg 14).

Routine is more slow, controlled and deliberate in their decision making and activities whereas spontaneity is more abrupt, unplanned and makes decision making harder, but even so some people do not see any need for routine. For instance, Biesalki edits for Alifeofblue.com and strongly suggests that routine models your life and becomes an integrated part of you. It commands how you live which can be devastating especially with the knowledge that habits are very hard to break and replace. To this editor the ability of spontaneity to give us freedom in our lives and free us from schedules allows us to deal with sudden events better. The multitude of surprises that come with spontaneity in life offers a diversified, a distinguished, and an independent way to enjoy life. Routines make one a robot and one misses the rich natural occurrences and experiences that are spontaneous. These are significant, educative and beautiful in their way (Biesalski n.pag).

Routine is slow and controlled, thus, it helps us form habits. Habits develop as we repeat an action many times with consistency. Habits train our minds to handle instinctively some activities. Unexpected and unfamiliar circumstances are easy to deal with when one has a habit and necessary skills to handle the activity. The National Institute of Mental Health Grant taking a group of people who lived a routine lifestyle and another group who were spontaneous in their lives conducted a study. The former group was able to make decisions calmly and within short periods. They performed this naturally. The latter group was less decisive and anxious of their decisions. The conclusion of the study was that habitual template responses can only be developed through stabilized and consistent routine (1281).

Routine is healthy. Health experts recommend getting enough sleep to keep one fit and healthy. With enough sleep we can function in an orderly and effective manner. We spend a lot of energy when we are awake especially as we work. This energy is used to maintain stability and balance in the functions of different body parts. Sleep is an opportunity for the body to rest and rejuvenate energy. It plays vital roles in growth and development. A person who sleeps well wakes up feeling re-energized. Waking up at a specific time stabilizes our circadian rhythm providing the much-needed balance. These rhythms regulate our hormone levels throughout the day and night. Doctor Ballantyne emphasizes on the importance of a routine waking up time especially its ability to reduce risks of chronic disease (Ballantyne 151).

Routine plays a vital role in determining and adopting healthy and balanced diets. Ones diet is directly related to their health status. Adopting a routine in consumption of healthy diets reflects well in the overall health. It is critical that form routine in consuming food with nutritional values for health maintenance. Healthy habits develop as we perform daily routines consistently including eating healthily. When we form healthy eating habits mentally, we will see a connection between healthy eating and the fulfillment of our goals. With the right food, we are energetic, vibrant, and healthy enough to spend more time in our career needs as well as social needs. Routine dietary and exercise habits as professor Unna advises will allow us to set goals in our minds and these goals will automatically enhance how we perform and select targets that are unconnected to these goals (Danner 190). Spontaneous diets may pose health risks due to their ingredients, cooking methods, preservation, sugar and fat contents. Scientists argue that persons who eat anything spontaneously have a higher chance of suffering from allergic reactions and developing lifestyle diseases.

Spontaneity is abrupt and unplanned offering one a chance to experience surprises. Not living an arranged life at work or in ones personal life shows that surprise elements are not feared and one is confident they will handle the surprises well as they present themselves. Spontaneous people believe that people who make plans are afraid of the unexpected. According to Michael, a blogger at Lifehack.org, planning does not offer a guarantee that events in our lives will follow that plan. He emphasizes that the unpredictable nature of life should teach us not to plan what we do not know about (Davidson n.pag). He advises people who rely on plans to conquer their fears by altering routines, which will allow them to adjust better to sudden occurrence. He believes that we can never be too sensitive to random events that suddenly change our routines.

Routine is slow and can effectively sharpen and improve skills. Practice makes perfect. It helps one to set positive incentives and gain efficiency in performing tasks. One can develop worth and positive habits through routine. Routine offers more productivity compared to spontaneity. The quickness and efficiency associated with routine as well as the brains ability to operate well with habits is an advantage compared to the brain confusion related to spontaneity. People engaging in spontaneous activities may easily be distracted or bored with the unfamiliarity of the tasks. Having to figure out steps to be taken and the order in which they should be performed can be both exhausting and time consuming. A solid professional and structured lifestyle, therefore, should have little room for spontaneous decisions or actions.

Spontaneity is more abrupt offering both exciting and risky opportunities. Spontaneous people may term routine as an obsession and an unimaginative way to lead ones life. Routine seems to be downright boring. But routine offers the much needed structure to our activities. Routines offer an anchor to how well we can do activities. But routine makes us predictable whereas spontaneity allows us to develop the capability to respond to surprises of all kind. In most lines of work, routine keeps employers sane whereas spontaneity provides the fun and jovial mood that allows them to release tension and anxiety from their jobs.

Routine is effective achieves a goal. A personal experience gave me an opportunity to appreciate routine. When I first started to exercise I was spontaneous in the exercise positions and machines that I chose. It is estimated that over 45 million Americans spontaneously log onto to online dating sites. Airlines have observed that over 58.3% of their customer book within three days of travelling. Advertising agencies have been a leading cause of to the spontaneous travelling, purchasing and other activities as modern advertisements are more compelling. Technology has also enabled people to access, utilize and arrange activities and tasks spontaneously (Trend Watching n.pag).

Routine is deliberate in cementing peoples positions in society. For instance a good teacher will be described as the one who is always in class when they are required to be there. A good student is one who follows the routine outlined in a timetable for a semester. Positions and the roles that come with these positions may require routine for them to be well conducted. Spontaneity may be inapplicable in our societal roles especially when the profession one holds is a high determinant of peoples security, wellbeing and health. A doctor needs to follow routine when treating specific disease as spontaneous treatment and diagnosing maybe life threatening.

Spontaneity is abrupt, unplanned and makes decision making harder. It may lead to a guilty conscious if a decision or an action taken spontaneously has detrimental consequences. It may be worse if the consequences affect people other than oneself. Routine allows us to be more analytical of situations and point out the pros and cons of our decisions. Routine makes us better critical thinkers and decision makers. Spontaneity may lead us to have a whatever comes attitude even in situations that need serious well-thought out choices.

Routine is slow and controlled allowing us to unlock creative inspiration. The habits developed through routine arouse and alert the brain at certain times of the most conducive time to focus on creative work. Routine allows us to familiarize with work surroundings, objects and other stimulant objects that can trigger our mind to become more creative. Although major discoveries have been attributed to a single moment of spontaneity, the knowledge that has been gathered through routine experiments, studies and comparisons is what makes a person realize the aha moment. Spontaneously visiting new places and meeting new people will allow one an opportunity to view things differently. It could triggers creativity but more often than not, the end result of this creativity relies on knowledge gathered through routine. Spontaneity just magnifies or makes the realization more observable.

Routine involves more deliberation in decision making and activities. It allows us to pay attention to all aspects of personal and work life. We can make plans on how to coordinate and manage time well in a way that each activity in the routine has its share of time to be carried out. With routine accessing information is easier because one know where to find exactly what they are looking for. Routine helps build trust due to its safe and stable nature. Routine allows people to make explorations within steady boundaries. Candace Linderman, a children author who is also an education consultant, points out that routine play and familiar activities with children such as routine role playing with dolls is an effective way to teach children positive aspects of life. Routine role playing makes children develop a sense of responsibility and learn to maintain balance and proper navigation skills when faced with excitement in the real world (Linderman n.pag).

Routine nature of being slow, controlled and deliberate offers stability. I firmly believe that having a routine in life does not take away from experience or the significance of it. Supporters of spontaneity encourage an unstructured lifestyle as they believes that routine negatively influences people making them lazy, and stops people from thinking outside of the box. Personal experience has taught me that one can manage their plans and still create an engaging atmosphere with exciting events.Spontaneity means variety as it provides us with a chance to have a new experience every day, and frees us from plans, rigid schedules, and it doesnt limit us. Routine I orderly and it allows us to better handle spontaneous eventualities. Although around 80% of the people follow routine, there are instances when spontaneous actions are needed. These include emergency cases.

Spontaneity can be good for us. Every new experience enhances our life in one way or the other, even negative ones as we can take them as learning experiences. Conversely, structured and monotonous routines turn actions into habits, which are completed automatically in a repetitive, albeit more productive way, as habits becomes automatic. Additionally, a similar daily schedule stabilizes the circadian rhythm; it keeps people healthy as it matches with natures inner cycles. It allows the achievement of balance and harmony. Knowledge of scheduled tasks provides convenience for future plans and allows us to stay calm and stress less (Bob 23).

Routine is more slow, controlled and deliberate in their decision-making and activities whereas spontaneity is more abrupt, unplanned and makes decision making harder. Others would argue that there is need to be a routine as well as a spontaneous person. Changes in life are inevitable thus being spontaneous allows us to embrace change and make room for it in our lives without necessarily suffering the anxiety, and the anger associated with interruption of routine. It is however, clear that having routine is more conducive and favorable as compared to spontaneity due to its numerous benefits.

Works Cited

Ballantyne, S. (2013). The paleo approach. reverse autoimmune disease and heal your body. New york: Victory Belt Publishing Inc.

Biesalski, C. (2015 September). The less routine, the more life: how to kill monotony. Blue beliefs, Alifeofbkue.com.

Bob, A. (2001). The everything time management book: how to get it all done and still have time for you. Maryland: Adams Media Corporation.

Danner, U. N. (2011). Paving the path for habit change: cognitive shielding of intentions against habit intrusion. British Journal of Health psychology, 189-200.

Davidson, M. (2015, October). How To Become More Spontaneous or Stop Being Boring. lifehach.

Duhhigg, C. (2007). The power of Habits. Why we do what we do in life and business. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks.

Linderman, C. (2014). Structure or spontaneity: find the right balance, and kids will thrive. LeapFrog Enterprises Inc.

McKay, B. (2015). Safety and Behavioral economics: making choices and decisions in the workplace. Alaska: Alaska Business Monthly.

Trend Watching. (n.d.). Retrieved december 10, 21015, from trendwatching.com