Getting back into routine after a break has taken me longer this time than at any point I remember. I have been home from Andorra for nearly a week. Today is Wednesday, day 2096 of my running streak, and I am still not back in the routine I live and stand by.

What happened

We flew home last Thursday after a family skiing break. I was back at work on the Friday. The weekend came and went quickly, and on Monday and Tuesday I was away again for two days. At no point did I stop and find my bearings.

Somewhere on the journey home I picked up a head cold, and I am still fighting the back end of it. The last couple of days have been rough. My best guess, and it is only a guess, is that skiing and running at altitude took a toll on my body during the break. The tiredness of travelling on top left my immune system low.

I was not hungry, so I ate and drank poor quality food. I slept badly. My mood dropped, and I will say so plainly: the week has been demoralising. I have been in survival mode.

Why routine matters to me

I have ADHD. Routine and structure hold my life together. Moderation is not a word in my vocabulary, and anyone else with ADHD will recognise this. I run working routines, dietary routines and exercise routines. A streak of 2096 consecutive days is evidence of how I operate when the structure is in place.

I do not see this as a weakness. Building routines is one of the best things I have done for myself.

On holiday I loosen the structure on purpose. I eat foods I would not eat at home, I relax and I enjoy my family. I do not regret this. Normally I face a small amount of resistance on the way back and settle within a day or two. This time the holiday mode did not shift.

The run

During today's run I had to get past a group of horses. Running past horses is a pet hate of mine. I look at the muscle and power in those animals and the last thing I want is a back leg connecting with me. I got past them and carried on. A small moment, but a fair picture of the week: no drama, just one careful step after another.

The lesson for me

Do not beat yourself up. A reason usually sits behind a bad week. Mine was illness, tiredness and travel. Blaming my character would have been inaccurate and no use to anyone.

Expect a lag. When you travel, you arrive tired. Expecting to step into a full routine the next day is unrealistic. Sometimes you have no choice, and work or family demands you back on day one. Most times, with careful planning, you build in one or two days to transition and find your bearings.

Restart when you are ready, not before. I plan my life in time blocks. One block ends and the next begins. Real life leaves a gap between the two, and I usually ignore the gap. Acclimatising to normal life is the job of the gap.

My own mistake is clear to me now. I booked work for the Friday and two days away on the Monday with no buffer. Before the next break, I will plan the transition days first and book everything else around them.

What the streak showed me

Through this entire week, the run did not stop. Food, sleep and mood all wobbled. The daily run held. I do not say this to claim I am tougher than anyone else. I decided long ago that the run is non-negotiable, and a fixed daily habit gives the rest of my life something to rebuild around when it slips.

Where this sits in the mission

Day 2096 takes my cumulative distance to 16,140.92km of the 40,075km lap of the world. 23,934.08km remain. This vlog is part of my fundraiser to raise £1M for children's causes through the ultimate ultra marathon of run vlogging on consecutive days of distance.

A mission measured in years will contain weeks like this one. Illness, travel and low mood will return. Consistency over intensity means I plan for those weeks instead of hoping to avoid them. The more people who see the vlog, the more people I reach, which is why I record an episode every day.

If you struggle to get back into routine after a holiday or a trip away, tell me in the comments what helps you. Watch episode 2096 for the full story, and subscribe to follow the daily diary.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/3dPoW7Pn4OI