Recently, I’ve noticed how routine my routine is getting. Wake up. Gym. Shower. Pack school lunches. Get kids ready for school. Go to work. Teach. Take kids to afterschool activities. Drive kids home.

This story is part of our mental health series. Find out more here. We all know people who are very dedicated to their daily routines. Maybe they go to the gym at the same time every day or have a set ...

Tension: Routine is mocked as monotony, yet it quietly forges resilience, focus, and emotional bandwidth that sporadic willpower can’t match. Noise: Productivity hacks glorify novelty and disruption, ...