Lesson

Describing habits and routines - advanced

Complex routine descriptions

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Describing habits and routines — advanced

This lesson focuses on advanced expressions and idioms used to describe habits, routines, and repeated behaviors in professional and everyday contexts. You will learn nuanced phrases that show intention, frequency, and attitude toward routines.

  • Learn idiomatic expressions: make it a point to, be in the habit of, fall into a routine, stick to a routine.
  • Distinguish nuance: deliberate habit vs automatic behavior vs tendency.
  • Use these expressions in business contexts to describe team practices, personal disciplines, and workplace rhythms.

Table

Advanced expressions for habits and routines

Expression Nuance Example
make it a point to + verb Deliberate, intentional habit She makes it a point to review the KPIs every Monday.
be in the habit of + -ing Established regular behavior He is in the habit of replying to clients within 24 hours.
get/ fall into a routine Something that becomes regular (often unintentionally) After onboarding, new hires often fall into a routine of daily stand-ups.
stick to a routine Maintain a planned routine The team sticks to a strict weekly reporting schedule.
have a tendency to + verb A habitual inclination or pattern The manager has a tendency to micromanage during tight deadlines.
break the habit of + -ing Stop a habitual behavior She decided to break the habit of checking email at night.

Tip

Key rule: Choose the expression by intention and permanence

Pick the phrase that matches whether the habit is deliberate, ingrained, temporary, or changing:

  • Deliberate, intentional actions: use 'make it a point to + verb' (e.g., make it a point to follow up).
  • Stable, established behaviors: use 'be in the habit of + -ing' or 'have a tendency to + verb'.
  • Unintentional or developing patterns: use 'get/fall into a routine'.
  • Active maintenance: use 'stick to a routine' when someone follows a plan.

Match nuance: intention vs automaticity vs maintenance

Example

Examples in context

I make it a point to prepare the weekly report on Fridays.

Our team is in the habit of starting meetings with a quick status round.

After the reorganization, many employees fell into a routine of daily check-ins.

She has a tendency to postpone non-urgent tasks until the end of the week.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Watch out for these universal errors when describing habits and routines:

  • Confusing 'used to' (past habit) with 'be used to' (accustomed to) — they are different structures.
  • Using present continuous for regular habits without adverbs (e.g., saying 'I am going to the gym every day' instead of 'I go to the gym every day').
  • Mixing up nuance: using 'fall into a routine' for deliberate, planned routines.
  • Overusing simple adverbs (always/often) instead of idiomatic expressions to convey intention or change.

Think about time (past vs present), intention (deliberate vs automatic), and correct verb forms.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence that shows a deliberate, maintained habit:

Hint: Look for an idiom that expresses deliberate, repeated action.

Quiz

Complete: She _____ to double-check her reports every morning.

Hint: Think of an idiom that expresses deliberate habitual action.

Quiz

Which sentence correctly uses 'fall into a routine'?

Hint: Focus on past change leading to a new regular pattern.

Key Points

Expression

make it a point (to)

expression CEFR B2 //meɪk ɪt ə pɔɪnt (tuː)//

To deliberately ensure that you do something regularly.

I make it a point to read industry news every morning.

Expression

be in the habit of

phrase CEFR B2 //bi ɪn ðə hæbɪt ɒv//

To have an established regular behavior or practice.

He's in the habit of backing up files every evening.

Expression

fall into a routine

expression CEFR B2 //fɔːl ˈɪntuː ə ruːˈtiːn//

To begin to follow a regular pattern or sequence of actions, often without planning.

After a few months, she fell into a routine of preparing summaries every Friday.

Expression

stick to a routine

phrase CEFR B2 //stɪk tuː ə ruːˈtiːn//

To continue following a planned schedule or habit without deviating.

To improve productivity, the department tries to stick to a routine for document review.

Expression

have a tendency to

phrase CEFR B2 //hæv ə ˈtɛndənsi tuː//

To often behave in a particular way; a habitual inclination.

The team has a tendency to rush projects near deadlines.

Expression

break the habit of

phrase CEFR B2 //breɪk ðə hæbɪt ɒv//

To stop a recurring behavior or practice.

He is trying to break the habit of working through lunch.