When Exceptions Become the Rule: The Danger of Letting Work Take Over
We all know those intense, out-of-the-ordinary work seasons. Something big, urgent, and non-negotiable comes up, and you just have to get it done. So, you buckle down, work late nights, power through weekends, and push through until it’s finished. It might take a few days, weeks, or even months. And you know what? That’s okay. Sometimes, that’s just life.
The real challenge comes after the dust settles. How do you reintroduce balance into your life? How do you ensure that this season of intense focus doesn’t quietly become your new normal? Closing the laptop, shutting off the emails, and resisting the urge to sneak in just a bit more work over the weekend—these are the real tests.
So, how do you make sure that your exceptions don’t become your rule?
The truth is, it’s shockingly easy for exceptions in our routines—whether in work/life balance, study habits, exercise, or relationships—to slowly morph into the new status quo. And often, we don’t even notice the shift.
Recognizing When Routines Shift
I remember a conversation I had with a classmate back in university that perfectly illustrates how our perceptions can lag behind reality. She was stressing about asking for yet another extension on an assignment, and she kept saying, “This just isn’t me. I always finish assignments on time. I never ask for extensions. This is so out of the ordinary.”
I didn’t know how to respond because, honestly, I was thinking, “What are you talking about? You almost never finish assignments on time. You’ve asked for extensions on nearly every paper this term.” Obviously, this dialogue was happening only in my head!
Clearly, there was a time when missing a deadline was an exception for her, something that rarely happened. But somewhere along the way, without her even realizing it, that exception had become her rule. Her perception of her habits hadn’t caught up with her reality.
Now, let me be clear—I’m not criticizing her or anyone else for needing an extension. Life happens. But the point is, this is exactly how our routines can shift, almost imperceptibly, from healthy rules to unhealthy norms.
The Disconnect Between Our Rules and Reality
We all have certain ‘rules’ that we try to live by—guiding principles that define our routines:
“I show up on time.”
“I make time for my friends.”
“I meet deadlines.”
“I don’t work through the weekend.”
“I don’t check emails unnecessarily.”
“I eat well.”
“I exercise regularly.”
“I go to church.”
But then life gets busy. We fall out of our habits. What starts as a one-off exception gradually becomes the norm, and before we know it, it’s the rule. Sometimes, this shift happens without us even realizing it.
Recalibrating Our Routines
Living a deliberate life—one that honors the things that really matter, that prioritizes the important over the merely urgent, that invests in what helps us become who we want to be—requires constant recalibration.
It’s not about never allowing exceptions or cutting ourselves some slack when needed. That’s just life. But it is about being intentional in rebalancing afterward.
It means reinvesting in those disciplines that slipped, cutting back on commitments, and, yes, walking away from the laptop when the work is done - something I still have to remind myself of sometimes too!