Finding Your Way Back to Routine

It happens to all of us. Whether it’s sport, study, job hunting or professional networking, once a routine slips, it rarely snaps back into place overnight. The good news? You can recover your rhythm — you just need to approach it with intention rather than guilt.

Here are a few practical steps to bring your routine back into shape:

1. Acknowledge the lapse, but don’t dwell on it

Missing a few weeks doesn’t erase the progress you made before. Be honest about what knocked you off course — illness, bad weather, birthdays — but avoid slipping into self-criticism. Life gets in the way for everyone.

2. Start smaller than before

When we try to jump straight back to our old level, it feels overwhelming. Instead, make your return easier to achieve. If you played two tennis sessions a week, commit to one. If you used to job hunt every morning, start with a single hour on alternate days. Consistency matters more than intensity at this stage.

3. Rebuild structure and accountability

Put your chosen activity back in your diary, set reminders, or tell someone your plan. A scheduled time turns a vague intention into a real appointment. Accountability — whether through a friend, colleague or coach — helps you turn up when motivation dips.

4. Focus on process, not perfection

Rather than aiming for your previous best, concentrate on simply showing up. Every time you do, you strengthen the habit again. The performance will follow.

5. Reflect on why it matters

Remind yourself of the original reason you started — whether that was feeling healthier, progressing your career, or staying connected with people. Reconnecting with your “why” reignites purpose, which naturally fuels action.

Bringing It Back to Work

The same pattern plays out in professional life.

Perhaps you began your job search strong — updating your CV, sending applications, booking mock interviews — but after a few rejections you took a week off. That week turned into three, and suddenly the motivation to even check job boards has faded.

Or maybe you and your team used to hold weekly catch-ups that slowly fizzled out when workloads increased. The first missed meeting didn’t matter, but months later, communication gaps have appeared, and people are working in silos.

Just like getting back on court, the fix is simple but deliberate: start again. Schedule one meeting. Send one application. Make one call. Once the action restarts, momentum builds.

Final Thoughts

Losing a routine doesn’t mean losing progress — it’s just a pause. What matters is recognising when the pause has gone on long enough and taking that first small step to restart.

Because whether it’s tennis, training, or your career, it’s not about how many times you stop — it’s about how often you choose to start again.