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, ...

Many of us know someone who genuinely seems to enjoy routines: The colleague who meal preps their lunches for the week on Sundays. The sister who has had a consistent gym routine for the last decade.

We’ve been force-fed the idea for decades: The secret to success is routine. Wake up at 5 a.m., step into a punishing physical routine, follow a strict schedule and stick to your plan no matter what.