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.
Thanks buddy. You hit the nail on the head. It is hard in the seemingly repetitiveness of each day to not make it go by quicker. I struggle with that too. Productivity has become synonymous with your worth/value in Western society. But each day is like a snowflake. Although they look alike from far away, each can be unique in it's own way through thoughtful action. Also important to remember that article about the five regrets of the dying: not one of them had wished they worked harder or spent more nights at the office.
I listened to a great clip of Dr. Gabor Mate saying that he would have lived his life differently if he could do it over. He regrets working so hard in an attempt to justify his existence in the world. He says he lost track of what matters because he was so focused on work and emphasized the importance of playfulness and joyfulness.
Appreciate you reading and commenting, as always :)
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.
Thanks so much, Rob. You make a great point on widening your field of view. I hadn't thought about it this way but I do the same. When I'm walking quick, I'm focused on the ground a few feet ahead of me. But if I look around more, I can get myself to slow down. Consciously adding this to my slowing down toolkit.
Maybe I'll keep this no-sugar thing going past April. You've inspired me... especially with the point about reaching a point where you don't miss it anymore. For me, having the iron clad rule of "I'm not eating sugar" makes the challenge easy because it removes my decision making ability. There's no self-negotiation... it's just a no. We'll see how I feel in 17 days but I like the idea of keeping rolling on the no sugar challenge.
Thanks for reading and showing up in the comments, Rob. I appreciate you.
Haha, yes! My daughter is a really good baker. She'll make one of my favorite desserts for my birthday--olive oil cake or the Momofuku "crack pie." I have a piece of either of those, on a holiday... and it's explosively good. It's kind of one of the side-benefits... when I do enjoy something, it tastes like I've never had dessert before... just amazing.
That is such a good point… it’s so much better when you don’t have it regularly. But damn you for informing me of two delicious sounding desserts that I can’t have 😆
Thanks Bennett, appreciate you reading and showing up in the comments. The hardest part for me is remembering—so easy to get wrapped up the daily grind of a routine.
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.
Thanks so much for reading and leaving your thoughts here, Susan. You are so right. And I’m trying to take the same approach as you: creating novelty within the routine. I did a good job this week of balancing routine with novelty — cooking new things, stand up comedy, and dinner with a friend — and it was great.
Thanks again for showing up in the comments. I appreciate you.
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.
I really like the idea of "Ritual" over "Routine." I'm going to start thinking that way because it does make a difference. This is also such a good point: "The key is to make them intentional and let them take the time they take."
Thanks for sharing this, Jeremy. You've really helped clarify my thinking. I've always been a huge routine person so I'm just trying to find ways to make sure I don't go through life doing "productive" routines on autopilot.
Appreciate you reading and dropping a thoughtful comment here!
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. . .
That's a great question. I have 150+ highlights from the book. My single biggest takeaway might change depending on what's going on in my life, but right now it would be this:
Know the game you're playing and use it as a filter to weed out all of the opinions you get and pressures you feel.
For example, I'm 25 and am completely invested in a variety of ETFs. When a 64 year old who wants to retire next year is on TV panicking about the next impending market plunge, should I panic too? No, I'm playing a different game. My net worth could get cut in half but it will almost certainly come back up before I need the money.
When my peers sacrificing their lives to a cubicle to get salary bump after salary bump to keep living paycheck to paycheck because they're house poor and keep buying stuff they don't need, should I worry I'm making less and try to follow suit? No, not if I make enough money to live a lifestyle I love while having free time to do the things I love with the people I love.
So often we compare ourselves to people playing an entirely different game than us. So, know the game you're playing and don't let yourself be influenced by others playing a different game.
My last note on this is that when we observe others, we miss 97% of the picture. We can see the clothes they wear, the house they have, and the car they drive. But we don't know what their actual financial picture looks like. So when we try to play someone else's' game, we're operating with a very limited view of what that game actually consists of behind the scenes.
I am so glad I asked you this question! Know the game you're playing and don't let yourself get distracted by other games that are not yours to play. That's just what I needed today! Thank you.
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.
I love that, Robyn. Making it a checklist rather than time boxing everything is such a great addition to the "slowing down strategies." I've always been a huge routine person but I'm slowly getting better at finding ways to break up my days without the guilty feeling of being less productive (which is 100% societal pressure because your productivity is your worth in the Western world).
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your approach with me :)
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!
Completely agree. I am naturally a big routine person but when I anchor too far to that side I can feel my days slipping away faster and faster. Adding new and interesting experiences on top of my routines allows me to still do what I need to do while slowing down my experience of time and engaging in parts of the world that my routines would never allow for.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Jeremy. I appreciate you.
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 (:
Thanks buddy. You hit the nail on the head. It is hard in the seemingly repetitiveness of each day to not make it go by quicker. I struggle with that too. Productivity has become synonymous with your worth/value in Western society. But each day is like a snowflake. Although they look alike from far away, each can be unique in it's own way through thoughtful action. Also important to remember that article about the five regrets of the dying: not one of them had wished they worked harder or spent more nights at the office.
I listened to a great clip of Dr. Gabor Mate saying that he would have lived his life differently if he could do it over. He regrets working so hard in an attempt to justify his existence in the world. He says he lost track of what matters because he was so focused on work and emphasized the importance of playfulness and joyfulness.
Appreciate you reading and commenting, as always :)
Clip: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5WNwseNL1u/
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.
Thanks so much, Rob. You make a great point on widening your field of view. I hadn't thought about it this way but I do the same. When I'm walking quick, I'm focused on the ground a few feet ahead of me. But if I look around more, I can get myself to slow down. Consciously adding this to my slowing down toolkit.
Maybe I'll keep this no-sugar thing going past April. You've inspired me... especially with the point about reaching a point where you don't miss it anymore. For me, having the iron clad rule of "I'm not eating sugar" makes the challenge easy because it removes my decision making ability. There's no self-negotiation... it's just a no. We'll see how I feel in 17 days but I like the idea of keeping rolling on the no sugar challenge.
Thanks for reading and showing up in the comments, Rob. I appreciate you.
Although, I do love a Christmas gingerbread house. So maybe that will be my once a year indulgence. Just have to make sure it's contained...
Haha, yes! My daughter is a really good baker. She'll make one of my favorite desserts for my birthday--olive oil cake or the Momofuku "crack pie." I have a piece of either of those, on a holiday... and it's explosively good. It's kind of one of the side-benefits... when I do enjoy something, it tastes like I've never had dessert before... just amazing.
That is such a good point… it’s so much better when you don’t have it regularly. But damn you for informing me of two delicious sounding desserts that I can’t have 😆
Loved this essay Jack, agree with every point and they’re all things I try to remind myself of more often. Great reminder!
Thanks Bennett, appreciate you reading and showing up in the comments. The hardest part for me is remembering—so easy to get wrapped up the daily grind of a routine.
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.
Thanks so much for reading and leaving your thoughts here, Susan. You are so right. And I’m trying to take the same approach as you: creating novelty within the routine. I did a good job this week of balancing routine with novelty — cooking new things, stand up comedy, and dinner with a friend — and it was great.
Thanks again for showing up in the comments. I appreciate you.
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
I really like the idea of "Ritual" over "Routine." I'm going to start thinking that way because it does make a difference. This is also such a good point: "The key is to make them intentional and let them take the time they take."
Thanks for sharing this, Jeremy. You've really helped clarify my thinking. I've always been a huge routine person so I'm just trying to find ways to make sure I don't go through life doing "productive" routines on autopilot.
Appreciate you reading and dropping a thoughtful comment here!
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. . .
That's a great question. I have 150+ highlights from the book. My single biggest takeaway might change depending on what's going on in my life, but right now it would be this:
Know the game you're playing and use it as a filter to weed out all of the opinions you get and pressures you feel.
For example, I'm 25 and am completely invested in a variety of ETFs. When a 64 year old who wants to retire next year is on TV panicking about the next impending market plunge, should I panic too? No, I'm playing a different game. My net worth could get cut in half but it will almost certainly come back up before I need the money.
When my peers sacrificing their lives to a cubicle to get salary bump after salary bump to keep living paycheck to paycheck because they're house poor and keep buying stuff they don't need, should I worry I'm making less and try to follow suit? No, not if I make enough money to live a lifestyle I love while having free time to do the things I love with the people I love.
So often we compare ourselves to people playing an entirely different game than us. So, know the game you're playing and don't let yourself be influenced by others playing a different game.
My last note on this is that when we observe others, we miss 97% of the picture. We can see the clothes they wear, the house they have, and the car they drive. But we don't know what their actual financial picture looks like. So when we try to play someone else's' game, we're operating with a very limited view of what that game actually consists of behind the scenes.
I am so glad I asked you this question! Know the game you're playing and don't let yourself get distracted by other games that are not yours to play. That's just what I needed today! Thank you.
Awesome, makes me so happy to hear :) Have a wonderful weekend, Rick.
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.
I love that, Robyn. Making it a checklist rather than time boxing everything is such a great addition to the "slowing down strategies." I've always been a huge routine person but I'm slowly getting better at finding ways to break up my days without the guilty feeling of being less productive (which is 100% societal pressure because your productivity is your worth in the Western world).
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your approach with me :)
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!
Completely agree. I am naturally a big routine person but when I anchor too far to that side I can feel my days slipping away faster and faster. Adding new and interesting experiences on top of my routines allows me to still do what I need to do while slowing down my experience of time and engaging in parts of the world that my routines would never allow for.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Jeremy. I appreciate you.