routine is a series of habits. If you've got a good routine set up--say a morning routine of breakfast-exercise-shower-dress-commute, you've freed yourself from a lot of small decisions that could slow you down or capture valuable brain-space that you'd prefer to use for something else. You can now go on autopilot and still accomplish your goals. In this way, paradoxically, a good routine can be freeing. No need for constant decision-making about what's coming next or what you should do. You're gonna brush your teeth before you leave the house, and that's that!

Along with your routines, maybe you have a ritual--a routine to which you've attached some meaning. Many people, for example, might meditate, exercise, or pray as a daily ritual to remind them to be present, be grateful, or for simple restoration after a stressful day. If a ritual like this is part of your routine, you've taken a giant step toward good self-care.

Of course, an unhealthy routine--stay up too late, press snooze button 5 times, think about what to wear, shower, think some more about what to wear, get dressed, skip breakfast because you must get going--slows you down, is hazardous to your health, and wears you out before you can even begin. Many addicts have negative rituals surrounding their drug use or cutting; they find false comfort in a series of familiar acts that disguise the treacherous nature of their habits.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/changepower/201009/rout...

Psychology of Daily Routines (or Why We Struggle with Habits)
If you’ve tried to establish daily routines and failed, don’t feel bad. Your struggle is a common one—and something you can overcome it if you understand the psychology behind daily routines. You see, there are many underlying reasons why you might have failed with building routines in the past. Once you understand why these failures occurred, you’ll be able to take the first steps needed to stay consistent with your daily action plan.

http://www.developgoodhabits.com/psychology-daily-routines/