[browningstreet]

Routines should be a mix of things you develop expertise and efficiencies at (say, compound barbell movements or heavy KB base movements), and other things that you aren't efficient at. Strength training (simply one modality) is about progressive overload. So, it helps to get better at some of your exercises, but it's also advantageous to stress your body in ways that you're not efficient at -- but, if that's all you're doing, you'll never truly push yourself because the progressive overload gains won't come.

My advice in the past is that 60% of your time in training should be for things you like and you're getting very good at. The non-compound movements have benefits, but unless you're competing at something, the benefits are across a broader impact spectrum.

How will this translate into a fitness routine? If you look at some of the 5/3/1 periodization routines, it'll be something like: bench press, shoulders/chest, lats, triceps. Doesn't matter as much which shoulder/chest or lat exercises, just take them to a proper RPE (search it).

Routines, in and of themselves, aren't super helpful if you don't understand some of the basic principles. For which some deeper resource -- a book, possibly -- is a wise investment.

[fdw]

Thank you (and also the responders, u/Afton and u/jnosCo) for your help!

While I have certainly a lot to learn on that topic, I feel like I haven't failed completely - of course all kinds of exercises come around again, and I'm increasing difficulty/number of sets. So there's room for optimization, but it's not a bad start, I think.

Thanks again :)