An ode to the little things in life
Twinkies: Enjoy the little things in life
Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash
Playing one note a day
“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.
The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”
— John C. Maxwell
In the grand symphony of personal growth and achievement, sometimes it’s not about playing a grand overture but rather focusing on a single, resonant note. It’s about the gradual, incremental journey that hinges on consistent and persistent effort. While motivation can ignite the spark to get you started, it’s not a perpetual flame that burns forever, especially on those days when you face the grind. Discipline plays a pivotal role in this process but instilling it can be a difficult task.
This is where you can simplify your path and pave it towards success by integrating effective structures to propel you toward your objectives. These three “Rs” have proven invaluable in my journey: Rituals, Routines, and Rules.
Rituals play a pivotal role in preparing your mind and setting the stage for success. Think of them as the opening chords of your personal symphony, setting the tone for your journey of growth. These rituals are your daily touchpoints, your moments of mindfulness, and your deliberate actions that signal to your brain: “It’s time to focus.”
Routines serve as the steady rhythm that carries you through your day. By incorporating routines into your life, you effectively remove the unnecessary burden of constant decision-making. This allows you to channel your mental energy toward what truly matters, free from the clutter of mundane choices. Routines are the backbone that supports your journey, providing structure and predictability.
Rules are the guidelines and principles that help you stay on course and hold yourself accountable for your actions. Much like key signatures and chord progressions in music, rules establish the boundaries within which your growth can flourish. They act as a compass, keeping you aligned with your values and goals.
Now, let’s dive a bit deeper into each of these aspects.
Rituals - prelude to productivity
How many times have you found yourself saying, “I’m just not motivated to tackle X or Y”? I’ve certainly been there. However, as I’ve grown, I’ve come to realize that relying solely on the fleeting spark of motivation isn’t a sustainable strategy for productivity. Instead, I’ve learned to focus on the mode of work required and the mindset that can make it enjoyable. This shift in perspective has been a game-changer.
For those deep work sessions, where unwavering concentration is paramount, I’ve honed a set of rituals that serve as my gateway to the zone. It all begins with a brain dump, a simple act of jotting down all my open to-dos for the day. This clears any mental clutter and primes my mind for the task at hand. Next, I sever the digital distractions by shutting down my phone and silencing notifications on my laptop. A trusty flask of tea, within arm’s reach, keeps me hydrated and focused. These seemingly small yet purposeful actions establish the right environment and align my mental state with the work ahead.
On the other hand, when faced with the prospect of household chores, my rituals take a different twist. I reach for my AirPods, ensuring I’ve lined up an engaging audiobook to keep my mind entertained while I tackle the mundane. Having all the cleaning supplies conveniently assembled from the basement shelf eliminates any friction that might deter me from starting the cleaning process.
Jumpstarting my morning exercise routine follows its own rituals: laying out my workout clothes, a quick check on the scale, a generous glass of water, and queuing up my favorite Metal playlist on the smart speaker. These acts serve as cues to both my body and mind that it’s time to pump some iron.
These examples paint a picture of what I mean by rituals—these are the small, yet impactful tasks that set the stage mentally and environmentally for the work ahead. They are my secret weapon for getting started, especially on days when motivation is in short supply, for it’s often the first step that presents the greatest challenge. Once you’ve conquered that initial resistance and overcome your inner reluctance, the task already seems half-done. That’s when your next ally steps in: your routines.
Routines - rhythm of progress
Think of routines as the reliable gears in the machinery of our lives. They play a pivotal role by alleviating much of the cognitive burden that accompanies decision-making. Our brains are wired to seek the path of least resistance, a tendency that saves energy. This natural inclination toward shortcuts and routines is a double-edged sword, as brilliantly illustrated by Daniel Kahneman in his celebrated book “Thinking, Fast and Slow.”
However, we can harness this cognitive economy to our advantage. By instilling routines in areas of our lives that can operate on autopilot, we conserve valuable mental energy and focus. This preservation of cognitive resources allows us to direct our mental prowess toward more creative and intellectually demanding tasks that command our full attention.
Consider the iconic “uniform” clothing choices of individuals like Steve Jobs (the black turtleneck) or Mark Zuckerberg (the gray T-shirt). Their embrace of this concept eliminated the daily wardrobe decision-making process, freeing up mental bandwidth. While some may have assumed they had a lack of interest in fashion, it’s a testament to the power of routines in simplifying life.
In my own life, routines serve as the invisible scaffolding that keeps everything running smoothly. Whether it’s the note on my fridge tracking pantry supplies to replenish, or the weekly meal planning that streamlines my Saturday morning grocery shopping (yet another routine). My workout plan is another example with four days a week training in a defined body split; it removes the need for me to deliberate over exercise choices, allowing me to simply follow my sets and reps. The same applies to my household chores, where I’ve established a cleaning flow around my house, a laundry routine, and a structured approach to managing my finances. Routines are the unsung heroes of efficiency in my life.
What all these routines share in common is predictability. No surprises, uncertainties, debates, or justifications are required; it’s a straightforward process with an unwavering focus on completion. By removing friction, we can devote our full attention to the process. In doing so, we may even discover joy and experience a sense of fulfillment from executing a task well, preventing us from merely pushing through and doing a lackluster job.
You might have noticed my enthusiasm for routines—they are my trusted allies in taming the restless “lizard brain” inside my head. Yet, there is a potential pitfall in adhering to routines blindly. As valuable as they may have been at one point, our lives and environments are in constant flux. Without periodic assessments to ensure that our routines align with our evolving goals and enable growth, we risk stagnation, which can ultimately prove detrimental.
Therefore, it’s essential to establish a routine for evaluating your routines 😉 — a “routine-check,” if you will. I would say every half year or so should suffice to ensure that your routines continue to serve your evolving aspirations and facilitate progress.
Rules - keys to consistency
Life, as we know it, is often an unpredictable journey. No matter how dedicated we are to our routines, there are days when sticking to them seems challenging, if not impossible. It’s all too easy to veer off course. One day, an early morning appointment throws off your workout routine. The next day, it’s pouring rain, and you can’t muster the motivation (despite your well-crafted rituals 😉) to leave your cozy bed. Before you know it, two weeks have passed, and you haven’t exercised once.
This is precisely where rules step in to play a vital role. Rules act as guardians of your progress, holding you accountable to your principles. Their primary mission is to help you win the battle against your inner inertia—the part of you that’s inherently lazy and resistant to putting in the work.
Two well-known rules I adhere to are the “2 days” and “2 minutes” rules. The first allows me to skip a task, such as exercise, once, but never twice in a row. I even employ a nifty app called “Streaks” (no sponsorship involved) to help me keep tabs on my adherence. The second rule serves as a constant reminder: If a task can be completed in two minutes or less, just get it done. This simple principle significantly reduces the accumulation of small, lingering tasks that can otherwise pile up, creating a cacophony of open loops—untackled tasks that become distracting nuisances.
There are many more, some very explicit and some more implicitly ingrained in my identity. Some serve me well, others not so much. That’s why to remember that rules are not rigid laws, and there’s no judge to sentence you when you break them, except for yourself. They exist to remind you of what’s important and what aligns with your values. Their true power emerges during those moments when maintaining focus feels like a Herculean task.
Much like routines, rules are not static entities. They evolve over time. As long as they serve your goals and objectives, it’s wise to stick to them. However, just as in other facets of life, periodic evaluations are crucial. Occasionally, you may need to make them stricter, loosen them, or even replace them with entirely different rules to adapt to your ever-changing circumstances. Rules, like guiding stars, help you navigate the unpredictable terrain of life while staying true to your course.
The symphony of your life
“Sometimes Tallahassee’s right. You gotta enjoy the little things.
Even if that means destroying a whole lot of little things.”
– Columbus, Zombieland
As I reflect on these concepts, it becomes evident that each of us possesses our unique versions of rituals, routines, and rules. The crucial question is, are we consciously aware of them, can we harness their potential for achieving the growth and progress we desire, and perhaps most importantly, can we find enjoyment in them?
In a world where many view these elements as mere obstacles or obligations to endure, a shift in perspective can prove transformative. Instead of dismissing them as nuisances or chores, we have the opportunity to deliberately experience them. By giving our full attention to these seemingly simple moments, by embracing rather than merely pushing through them, we can uncover their profound meaning.
In this process, we may discover the beauty and joy hidden within our daily rituals, routines, and rules and by that uncover the beauty and joy in our daily lives themselves.
As James Clear eloquently states, “To love your habits is to love your days, and to love your days is to love your life.”
Much love
