Ever see a pro athlete do something weird before a game? Maybe they always put their left sock on first, or they eat the exact same bowl of pasta at 4:17 PM. From the outside, it looks like a glitch in the matrix. From the inside, it’s their superpower.
But for many of us, “routine” is just a fancy word for “a list of things I’m failing to do consistently.” If your routine feels like a heavy backpack you’re forced to carry, it’s time for a mental performance rebrand.
Here are three ways to stop enduring your routine and start using it:
1. Is the Routine Serving You, or Are You Serving It?
In the lab, we talk about “autonomy.” If you’re doing a 20-minute meditation just because a TikTok influencer said so, but you actually hate it, your brain is going to rebel like a toddler in a grocery store wanting that candy bar at the checkout.
- The Pivot: Find “Maintenance Routines.” These are the things that make your life easier, not harder. Does setting your gear out the night before reduce your “morning-of” panic? That’s a routine that maintains you. If a step in your pre-game prep feels like a chore, cut it. Your routine should be a warm hug for your brain, not a math test.
2. “Romanticize” the Repetition
Routines are a form of storytelling (Boyes, 2026). In mental performance, we call this Symbolic Significance.
- The Pivot: Don’t just “stretch.” Tell yourself that every time you reach for your toes, you’re “activating the beast” or “locking in the focus.” When you connect a boring movement to a big goal (like that championship trophy or finally sticking that landing), the boredom disappears. You aren’t just tied to a schedule; you’re a character in a montage. Cue the Rocky music.
3. Think Seasons, Not Sentences
We often think a routine is a life sentence. “I must do this every day until the year 2090.” Yikes.
- The Pivot: Use the Quarterly Shift. Your routine during the playoffs should look different than your routine in the off-season. In the off-season, maybe your routine is “Explore one new hobby a week.” In mid-season, it’s “Sleep and hydration.” By changing your routines with the seasons, you prevent “Mental Plateaus” (the fancy term for being bored out of your skull).
The Bottom Line: Routines aren’t about being a robot; they’re about clearing out the mental “background noise” so you can actually perform when the whistle blows. If your routine doesn’t make you feel more capable, it’s just a to-do list with a better outfit.
Which part of your pre-game prep actually makes you feel ready? Tell us in the comments—the weirder the better!
Inspiration for this Post: Boyes, A. (2026). 5 Ways to Love Routines. Psychology Today.