Building Daily Routines That Actually Stick

Most advice about routines focuses on consistency: same time, same steps, same structure.

That's not wrong.

But it misses the reason routines often fail:

The routine wasn't right for the person in the first place.

At ENGEN, we think alignment matters more than consistency.

A routine that fits who someone is, and where they're at right now, tends to hold on its own.

One that doesn't fit needs constant effort just to keep going.

We've seen both.

Some people settle into a routine and thrive.

Others become restless or resistant because they've simply outgrown one that used to work.

That's not necessarily a discipline problem.

It can be a sign that the routine stopped matching the person.

Routines can support participation and independence, but they are more likely to work when they connect with a person's needs, preferences and everyday environment. [1,2]

It's also worth recognising that keeping a routine can sometimes be easier for a service than changing it.

Change can mean more administration, disruption and uncertainty.

But those reasons have nothing to do with whether the routine is still helping.

The real question isn't whether a routine holds.

It's whether it's still right for the person, right now.

Because a good routine isn't fixed.

What helps one person can genuinely hold another back.

People's circumstances, goals and abilities change. A routine that once worked well may eventually need to change with them. [3]

The goal was never structure for its own sake.

It's structure that fits the life it's built for.

References

[1] Gardner B, Lally P, Wardle J. Making health habitual: the psychology of “habit-formation” and general practice. British Journal of General Practice. 2012;62(605):664–666.

[2] Eakman AM, Carlson ME, Clark FA. The Meaningful Activity Participation Assessment: A measure of engagement in personally valued activities. Occupational Therapy International. 2010;17(2):88–99.

[3] van der Meer L, Nieboer AP, Finkenflügel HJM, Cramm JM. The importance of autonomy support in the relationship between support workers and people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 2018.

[4] Wood W, Rünger D. Psychology of habit. Annual Review of Psychology. 2016;67:289–314.

[5] Mlinarić M, et al. Person-centred planning and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a systematic review. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 2022.