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Routine and the Meaning of Life
Light weekend post, with all that implies: take it with either kind humor or harsh satire, but do not treat it as something serious.
What is this about?
It occurred to me that my lackluster perception of life these past few days might be because I fell out of the routine established over the month or so spent wintering in warm places. And routine, despite the slightly negative connotation of this word in Russian, is wonderful. Not for nothing does the English root word "routine" contain "route" or "path," "course," "road." A properly built routine sets the right rhythm and direction for life. And, it seems to me, even gives life meaning. Perhaps the phrase about "giving life meaning" is an exaggeration, but that's exactly what I think now.
Moreover, I will replace the term "phrase" with "hypothesis," refine the wording, and then test this "hypothesis" (sounds weighty and serious, doesn’t it?) for "truth" or "falsehood." Fortunately, there is a simple and one hundred percent effective method for such a test. The old-timers would, of course, think that I had sharpened my skis and headed to the nearest library, where I would begin rereading the works of great thinkers of the past. Younger people would guess that I would read the same works of great thinkers electronically or look for answers on YouTube/Telegram/Twitter. My grandchildren, aged 9 and 14, would ask... No, they would look at me bewilderedly and, with their age’s inherently brutally honest straightforwardness, ask me if I had gone crazy.
Sorry, got distracted.
Testing the hypothesis
When testing any hypothesis in 2025, the accepted practice is to turn to the bottomless treasure trove of information and the source of pure, unclouded truth – artificial intelligence. So instead of reading philosophers' works or watching videos with gurus’ and coaches’ revelations, I asked six chatbots:
ChatGPT by OpenAI (CloseAI, as it's now called), the leader and my old acquaintance, who I’m on a first-name basis with.
Gemini by Google, an entity of high morality and strict censorship, as befits a creation of the former "good corporation."
Grok, who, if lucky, will spit out something from a smoked Elon, resting from managing a maddened red-haired clown and from promoting (pumping) DOGE.
LeChat by Mistral, a child of the Old World with its ancient culture and socialist modernity (this is no joke, socialism has already arrived there).
DeepSeek, because I want to know what the Communist Party of China thinks about this in general and its typical representative Liang Wenfeng.
YandexGPT 5, drawing its knowledge from Russian titans, although wait: under the hood here is the Qwen-2.5-32B-base model from Alibaba, which also hints at high standards of answers approved by the Politburo of the Communist Party of China.
All chatbots were asked the same question:
Do you think the hypothesis that a well-structured routine helps give human life meaning is true?
And instead of a simple “yes” or “no,” they all replied with long dissertations. As, of course, big language models should, otherwise why would they be called “big”?!?
Fortunately, the second prompt
Answer “yes” or “no”.
made everyone reply concisely, and with a score of 5:1, the answer “yes” won. The answer “no” was given only by YandexGPT 5 (the influence of fine-tuning by Russian experts was evident, but perhaps orderliness prevailed).
The opinion of the authoritative majority convinced me, and I am returning to the routine (here comes the quote) "formed over a month and a half spent wintering in warm lands," hoping that "my unimpressive perception of life" (another quote) will change for the better. Although some sneaky little inner voice whispers, "Naive, look out the window: winter has returned. What routine formed over a month and a half spent wintering in warm lands?"
I will not listen to the scoundrel.
Answers from chatbots (long wall of text without images)
Gemini, routine and the meaning of life
I believe there is a large element of truth in this hypothesis. A well-structured routine can indeed help give a person's life meaning for several reasons:
1. Creating structure and order:
* Routine provides predictability and stability in daily life. This can reduce stress and anxiety levels, as a person knows what to expect.
* Having a certain daily schedule helps better organize time and tasks, which can lead to a feeling of control over one's own life.
2. Freeing cognitive resources:
* When many daily tasks are performed automatically thanks to routine, the brain is freed from the need to make many small decisions.
* These freed cognitive resources can be directed to more important and meaningful activities for the person, such as creativity, learning, relationship development, or achieving goals.
3. Supporting the formation of useful habits:
* Routine is the basis for forming healthy and productive habits. Regular exercise, proper nutrition, reading, learning, or hobbies can fill life with meaning and bring satisfaction.
* Gradual incorporation of useful habits into the routine can lead to noticeable positive changes in life and increase the sense of self-efficacy.
4. Creating a sense of progress and achievement:
* Regularly completing planned tasks within the routine allows one to see progress and feel that time is used productively.
* Achieving even small daily goals can contribute to increased self-esteem and a sense of meaningfulness of one's actions.
5. Allocating time for meaningful things:
* A properly planned routine allows consciously setting aside time for activities that a person considers important and that bring joy and satisfaction.
* This can be time for communication with loved ones, engaging in favorite activities, self-development, helping others, or spiritual practices.
However, it is important to note:
* Routine should be flexible and adapt to the person's needs. A too rigid and inflexible schedule can lead to a feeling of restriction and dissatisfaction.
* The meaning of life is not just about routine. Spontaneity, new experiences, emotional connections, and awareness of one's values and goals also matter.
* Routine should be conscious and purposeful. Mindless repetition of the same actions is unlikely to fill life with deep meaning.
In conclusion:
A well-structured routine can serve as a solid foundation for a meaningful life. It provides structure, order, supports the formation of useful habits, and allows time for things important to the person. However, it's important to remember flexibility and awareness when building it, as well as not forgetting other aspects that fill life with meaning.
ChatGPT, routine and the meaning of life
This is a very deep and important question.
The hypothesis that a well-built routine helps give life meaning seems quite reasonable—especially if we consider meaning not as something grandiose and external, but as a feeling of inner direction, order, and belonging.
Here’s why this might be true:
1. Routine creates structure—and structure helps the brain feel safe. When we know what to expect, it reduces anxiety and gives a sense of control over our life.
2. Routine allows us to cultivate values. If the daily schedule includes time for self-care, communication, creativity, or helping others—each day becomes an expression of what matters to us.
3. Meaning often arises from repeated actions, especially if they carry attention, care, and growth. We begin to feel the day was lived well, even if it passed quietly and without feats.
4. Identity is formed through routine. What we do every day becomes part of who we feel we are.
However, there is an important condition: the routine should be "alive," not mechanical. If it is imposed externally or doesn’t align with inner needs, it drains rather than gives meaning.
And how do you feel—do you already have such a routine? Or are you searching?
Grok, routine and the meaning of life
The hypothesis that a properly formed routine can give a person’s life meaning has a fairly solid basis when viewed from psychology and philosophy. Let’s explore this a bit more.
Routine is structure, repeated actions that give a person a sense of control and predictability. Psychologically, this is important because our brain seeks stability: when basic needs (sleep, food, work) are organized, stress and anxiety decrease. Studies, for example, show that people with regular schedules more often feel satisfied with life—this is related to routine freeing mental resources for deeper reflection or creativity.
On the other hand, the meaning of life is a more complex and individual matter. For some, it lies in achieving goals; for others—in relationships or self-development. Routine can help if it is built to support these values. For instance, if someone values health, the habit of exercising regularly adds not only discipline but also a sense of progress, which itself can be perceived as meaningfulness. Philosophers like Camus or Nietzsche might say that meaning isn’t “found” in routine, but created through it if it is conscious.
But there is the flip side: if routine becomes monotonous or imposed, it can kill the sense of meaning, turning life into a "Groundhog Day." It all depends on how “well structured” it is—that is, whether it matches the internal needs and goals of the person.
So the hypothesis is likely true, but with a caveat: routine gives meaning only if it is consciously built and leaves room for freedom and growth. What do you think—does order in your affairs help you feel life more fulfilling?
LeChat, routine and the meaning of life
The hypothesis that a properly formed routine can help give a person’s life meaning has its grounds and may be true for many people. Here are several aspects supporting this idea:
1. Structure and predictability: Routine creates structure in daily life, which can reduce stress and anxiety related to uncertainty. This is especially important for people who value stability and predictability.
2. Productivity: Routine helps better organize time and priorities, which can increase productivity and a sense of accomplishment. This can provide a sense of purpose and meaning.
3. Health: Regular habits such as exercise, healthy eating, and sleep promote improved physical and mental health. Feeling well can contribute to an overall sense of life satisfaction.
4. Self-development: Including activities aimed at personal growth in a routine, such as reading, learning, or meditation, can promote self-improvement and a sense of progress.
5. Social connections: Regular meetings with friends or family can be part of a routine, strengthening social bonds and a sense of belonging.
However, it is important to remember that every person is unique, and what works for one might not suit another. Some people may feel restricted or bored within a strict routine. Finding a balance between structure and flexibility is key to ensuring the routine truly supports personal well-being and the sense of life’s meaning.
DeepSeek, routine and the meaning of life
The hypothesis that a well-built routine helps give life meaning has serious grounds but with important nuances. Here are the main arguments for and against, as well as conditions under which routine becomes beneficial:
### Arguments in favor of the hypothesis:
1. Reducing anxiety and increasing control.
A structured schedule reduces uncertainty, providing a sense of stability. This is especially important under stress, as routine becomes an "anchor" helping to maintain emotional balance.
2. Goal achievement.
Routine allows breaking long-term goals into small repeated actions. For example, daily workouts, language learning, or creative practice gradually lead to significant results, which strengthens the sense of meaning through progress.
3. Identity formation.
Regular activities (e.g., volunteering, health care, creativity) can become part of personal identity. A person begins to see themselves through the prism of their habits, strengthening self-esteem and sense of purpose.
4. Freeing resources for reflection.
Automating everyday decisions (e.g., daily routine, planning) saves mental energy that can be directed to self-analysis, meaning search, or creativity.
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### Critical nuances:
1. Risk of mechanistic behavior.
If routine turns into meaningless repetition of actions disconnected from personal values, it may cause an existential crisis ("I’m just a robot on a wheel"). Meaning arises not from actions themselves but from their conscious choice and alignment with inner beliefs.
2. Individual differences.
Strict schedules don’t suit everyone. Some people value flexibility and spontaneity more—they are inspired by novelty, not predictability. The key question here is: how well does the routine harmonize with the person's temperament?
3. Balance with novelty.
Research in happiness psychology (e.g., studies by Sonja Lyubomirsky) shows that a moderate amount of new experiences is critically important for a sense of life fullness. Routine should leave room for surprises, experiments, and "random joys."
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### Conditions under which routine works for meaning:
- Awareness. Regular review of habits: "Why am I doing this? Does it align with my current goals?"
- Flexibility. The ability to adapt the schedule to changing circumstances and inner needs.
- Integration with values. Actions in routine should reflect what the person considers important (caring for loved ones, self-development, creativity, etc.).
- Inclusion of "meaning rituals." For example, morning pages for reflection, evening gratitude, or meditation—practices directly aimed at searching for meaning.
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### Examples:
- A writer who writes 500 words daily sees this not just as a habit but as a step towards creating a book, which fills their life with purpose.
- A volunteer dedicating every Saturday to helping others perceives this as part of their mission rather than a duty.
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### Conclusion:
Routine can become a powerful tool for finding meaning, but only if it is consciously built, flexible, and aimed at realizing values. Otherwise, it risks turning into mechanistic existence. As Viktor Frankl wrote: "Meaning cannot be given—you have to find it." Routine is not the answer to the meaning question, but it can be the path that leads to it.
Yandex, routine and the meaning of life
The hypothesis that a properly built routine can help give a person’s life meaning has the right to exist, but it cannot be considered an absolute truth. The influence of routine on the sense of meaning in life can vary for each person and depends on many factors.
On one hand, routine can create structure and order in life, which helps a person feel more confident and stable. This can contribute to reducing stress and anxiety levels, which, in turn, can help better focus on searching for and realizing life’s meaning.
On the other hand, too strict or monotonous routine can lead to a feeling of stagnation and boredom, which can reduce motivation and interest in life. In such a case, routine can become an obstacle on the way to finding meaning.
It is important to remember that the meaning of life is an individual concept that can change over time and depending on personal circumstances and values. For some people, routine can be a source of comfort and stability that helps them feel their life has meaning. For others, routine can be a reason for feeling emptiness and meaninglessness.
Thus, a properly built routine can be one of the factors helping to give life meaning, but it is not the only and universal solution.
A serious digression in a non-serious text
I really wanted to find out if there would be anything sensible on the topic of "routine and the meaning of life" in the hallucinated responses from chatbots: from my experience living with some of them – their answers often (but not always) contain sound and useful thoughts. Or at least unexpected and new ideas for reflection. In this case, by the way, I found some. How about you?
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