Routines: a lot of work or worth it?

If my own experience with ADHD has taught me one thing, it's that routines are not only worth it, they work! Routines are life giving strategies that once in place, only need minor tweaking. An environment without routines is easy for me to spot. It is noticeably loud, often chaotic, the person in charge sounds like a broken record and everyone around is operating at fever pitch. Does this sound like your home? It doesn't have to.

In times of uncertainty, the fight, flight or freeze portion of the brain is engaged and ready to respond in one of those ways. A home without routines in place is a breeding ground of uncertainty. Things are lost, there are power struggles, people are yelling and it is LOUD! Simple routines can change all of that. How?

1). Morning, afternoon and nighttime routines prevent power struggles. Things can be predictable, structured and everyone knows what to expect. 
2. Mom and Dad don't have to nag. There are simple, age appropriate expectations. Routines lesson repeats, even in cases where ADHD is a factor, especially in those cases!
3. Routines in place and adhered to create environments where items are lost much less often. When objects belong in a certain place, especially shared items that multiple people use daily, children and adults know where to look.

I could go on and on about the peace and sunshine simple routines naturally bring to a home, a classroom, and even adult life. If you are a parent who didn't set routines with your toddler, I can imagine the power struggles that you are experiencing with your child academically and behaviorally. Routines won't solve every problem, but proactively prevent a multitude of problems. Let's work together to simplify your life.