Sameness

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Hi, I was just wondering. Being aware of a condition unevitably makes you more self-counscious of its symptoms. So I have a question concerning the need for sameness (routine). When you get aware of it in certain parts of your life, do you don't care about it and simply go with the habit of doing things the same way or do you feel you have to break those habits to be more "normal"? (speaking about habits that do not hurt day to day living as such, as in eating the same thing every meal or whatever).

I like my routines and don't feel the need to change them to try be more 'normal'. I'm sure that NT's have routines that they don't like to change for certain things too- such as always going out on a particular night to the same place.

I like the feeling of control over my life that my routines give me- without them I get cranky. I think this is partly because there seems to be so much in my life that I can't control so I need something that lets me feel more in control.

I HAVE to have my routines! If something comes up that changes my daily routine, I become very anxious.

You are right though, once you are aware of how different you are, it does make me stop and think about it. I would never want to change though.

I am who I am, routines and all, why should I need to break them to be 'normal' when others won't change things to be more like me?

My routines are calming... I wouldn't change something that calms me.

Exactly!

I do not have routines so much, atleast, not more than I think most NTs do.

For me, what is essentially is stability and predictability. As long as I can plan for something, I am usually ok with it (though if it is a big change it will get me anxious). I wish that I could change the way I feel about changes, though (that was an odd sentence, wasn't it?) I have a very very hard time accepting transition or change in my life, and I do not want to be that way.

I like having things the same, not so much in routine, but in environment. As long as my home environment is stable, I am usually all right. I like to wear the same types of clothes and shoes all the time, and have the same things decorating my room (though eventually, these things change, gradually, and over years of time, eheh). I see nothing wrong with this, and it's actually more economical than buying a new wardrobe every year, so I plan on staying the way I am in this regard.

I don't need to change my routines to be "normal" but I would like to be able to change some of my unhealthy routines. Like my routine to not excercise because I don't want to leave the house. I would also like to change my routine of low self esteem. I would like to be able to change the routines that would allow me to feel better about myself. And for the most part I don't worry about what routines are "normal".

I do not break my routines in order to be 'normal'. If anything, I actively seek out ways in which to do things that other people may not have thought of....

I do sometimes vary my routines though. I like to ascertain that the way in which I am doing something is the best, most efficient, or easiest way to do it.

Example: at work, I ran through a number of different ways in which to bread chicken and stack it in the tubs before finally settling on the method that seemed best to me. Every so often, I will ask myself if this is actually the best, if it could be improved at all, and I will try something slightly different, decide I like the old way better, or if the new way is preferable, and act accordingly.

I do the same with routes to and from places. I will try a number of different routes until I settle on the one I like best. Once I've done that, I rarely vary except to check that my usual route has the fewest stoplights, delays, turns, encounters with heavy traffic, and less likelihood of seeing a cop (even though I do nothing wrong, I don't like them).

If someone else attempts to force me to change my routine, I become extremely rigid and unyielding about it, and will even meltdown....

Routines are good. Routines help me keep myself together.

Routines help me function ~ why would I want to change them?

Me too!

I like to at least be able to plan things and know I can handle obstacles, problems, and challenges comming at me. However, as long as I'm on solid enough ground I really don't get too worked up about things changing; as long as I have enough chill out time and can still be who I want then it's all good.

I try to break it, not because I want to be more "normal" I just don't want to be a stereotype.

Besides, I want good manners.

The degree of sameness in my life is something I have no desire of changing. I feel it is an essential part of my character and usually it is beneficial. This way of life is “normal” to me, so attempting to change it would be like me trying to be something I am not. I like having a structured life, but I’ll admit it can bother others around me who are more spontaneous. There are times when my routines can be a hindrance, such as adjusting to a new work schedule. Adjusting to a schedule devised by someone else is difficult for me and can cause me to become anxious, depressed, and sometimes angry.

I like to think of the positives. For example, my day-to-day life is scheduled primarily around exercise and nutrition. My natural ability to maintain schedules and routines has been a tremendous asset in improving my health and losing fat.

From a larger perspective of sameness, I still have the same interests as I did when I was young. If sixteen years ago someone asked the question, “where is synchro and what is he doing?” the answer would have been “either he’s in his room reading, listening to music, or he’s walking around in the hills.” If someone asked that question today, twenty years later, the answer would be exactly the same. While my intellectual interests may change from time to time, the activities I indulge in do not. I have very little desire to be adventurous and try new things. From the perspective of many potential mates, this type of sameness can be a huge turn off.

I'm not completely bound by my routines and can go days (or even weeks) without them. My biggest problem though is that I can't stand to stay anywhere that isn't my own home - I haven't stayed anywhere but my own home for more than 2 days at a time in 20 years...... This isn't a problem to me per se (I absolutely love being alone in my own place all the time, and have no desire to travel anywhere whatsoever), but it does cause me problems with career progression obviously.... C'est la vie.

I don't understand this. What do you mean changing routines to try and be normal? How would a person know if another is normal of not because of their routines?

I hate routine, yet if i try to break it i get really edgy. Does that make sense ?

Just i hate the idea of routine, but it seems im more comfortable when im stuck to it.

I guess if someone's unusually obsessive or anal about their adherance to routines it tends to raise a few flags. Aside from that, unless they're mowing they're lawn at 3 AM, its pretty much what you said - individual, private, and really not payed much attention to unless it's destructive (like an alcohol addiction for example).