Love the idea of injecting some slowness into your routine. It's hard with something repeated to not make it more and more efficient. A little better each day. To not feel the urge to speed up.
The part I struggle with slowing down is guilt. Letting go of the never-ending list of things I could be doing, accepting most of it will pass by anyways.
Love this piece. I've definitely noticed a tendency to even turn my nature walks/hikes into steps I need to get in before my next Zoom. Not bringing the headphones has helped, as well as remembering to scan, to use my panoramic gaze. I find when I'm hurried, I'm contracted, spotlight focus on the trail ahead. Slowness feels more... expansive, open.
A friend of mine quit sugar a few years back, and we often had dinner parties with them where she'd skip dessert and I'd think, eh, that's a bit much. Now I've been sugar-free, pretty much, for over a year. I won't say I *never* have dessert, but it's maybe 3-4 times per year. My kids think I'm nuts, but after a while, I stopped missing it.
Jack, I wrote a similar post last year. It's interesting that we love routine gives us rest, but we also love the memories made be novelty. My trick has been to look for novelty in my routine.
I pictured the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland (the Disney cartoon version) while reading this. It reminded me of myself and an article I wrote a few years ago about a running streak. In a follow-up, I had a conversation starter about how my Habit (a single, “deliberate practice” had become Routine (“mindless repetition”) and the importance to think of my morning Ritual - a string of intentional actions - as the foundation of my day. Jesse Itzler talks about lot about taking his vitamins in the morning - the things he doesn’t compromise on - and I think there’s something to that. The key is to make them intentional and let them take the time they take.
With an endorsement like that I guess I must read "The Psychology of Money." You're like the 10th person who has raved about that book. In case I once again get distracted from ordering it, what is the one single biggest take away from Mr Housel? But I know, I should slow down and read the whole thing. . .
I can see myself in this piece. My morning routine makes me feel so accomplished early in the day. However, what I have done is make my routine a checklist. It takes away the time constraints. So if it's a lovely day we go out for a coffee in the fresh air. Items on the checklist can be ticked off at any time in the day.
One of the lessons I’ve learned (and it seems to be implicit in your essay), is that routines are powerful, but there is such a thing as too many of them! I find I need margin as well as routines to anchor my day. Thanks for writing this Jack!
Love the idea of injecting some slowness into your routine. It's hard with something repeated to not make it more and more efficient. A little better each day. To not feel the urge to speed up.
The part I struggle with slowing down is guilt. Letting go of the never-ending list of things I could be doing, accepting most of it will pass by anyways.
Great piece (:
Love this piece. I've definitely noticed a tendency to even turn my nature walks/hikes into steps I need to get in before my next Zoom. Not bringing the headphones has helped, as well as remembering to scan, to use my panoramic gaze. I find when I'm hurried, I'm contracted, spotlight focus on the trail ahead. Slowness feels more... expansive, open.
A friend of mine quit sugar a few years back, and we often had dinner parties with them where she'd skip dessert and I'd think, eh, that's a bit much. Now I've been sugar-free, pretty much, for over a year. I won't say I *never* have dessert, but it's maybe 3-4 times per year. My kids think I'm nuts, but after a while, I stopped missing it.
Loved this essay Jack, agree with every point and they’re all things I try to remind myself of more often. Great reminder!
Jack, I wrote a similar post last year. It's interesting that we love routine gives us rest, but we also love the memories made be novelty. My trick has been to look for novelty in my routine.
I enjoyed reading this piece.
I pictured the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland (the Disney cartoon version) while reading this. It reminded me of myself and an article I wrote a few years ago about a running streak. In a follow-up, I had a conversation starter about how my Habit (a single, “deliberate practice” had become Routine (“mindless repetition”) and the importance to think of my morning Ritual - a string of intentional actions - as the foundation of my day. Jesse Itzler talks about lot about taking his vitamins in the morning - the things he doesn’t compromise on - and I think there’s something to that. The key is to make them intentional and let them take the time they take.
Adding the original post here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/kathekon/p/were-going-streaking?r=7j6pb&utm_medium=ios
With an endorsement like that I guess I must read "The Psychology of Money." You're like the 10th person who has raved about that book. In case I once again get distracted from ordering it, what is the one single biggest take away from Mr Housel? But I know, I should slow down and read the whole thing. . .
I can see myself in this piece. My morning routine makes me feel so accomplished early in the day. However, what I have done is make my routine a checklist. It takes away the time constraints. So if it's a lovely day we go out for a coffee in the fresh air. Items on the checklist can be ticked off at any time in the day.
One of the lessons I’ve learned (and it seems to be implicit in your essay), is that routines are powerful, but there is such a thing as too many of them! I find I need margin as well as routines to anchor my day. Thanks for writing this Jack!