It has been said that man is largely a creature of habit. We all develop routines and habits in our everyday lives, whether are aware of it or not. To some people these routines are very important and even a small change, such as missing the morning paper, can affect the way they feel all day. Other people dislike routine and change their habits often in order to ward off boredom. They may even go so far as to change their residence or job frequently. These two different approaches to life are extremes, but each has advantages and disadvantages.

In the first case, that of people who dislike change, a dependency on routines and habits can provide a sense of security and convenience, but it can also be limiting. Routines provide security because people do not have to wonder ‘what will happen. In this rapidly changing world, it is sometimes reassuring to have a schedule to follow. Habits also make life more convenient because people do not have to think about what they must do next and do not need to worry about forgetting something. They can go through their daily routines automatically. However, this way of life is limiting when people are too dependent on their routine. They may not only be upset when things do not go according to plan, but also miss many good opportunities to try new things.