The more I explore myself, the more I realize that my “freedom” is not from not having anything to do but by doing things that give me purpose.
Watching the Clock with Nothing to Do
I spent many years without a daily routine. Not having a routine made me watch the clock, not getting anything done and I found it hard to feel fulfilled at the end of the day. Not having a routine made me check the time often and gave me a feeling like I was wasting time in some way. I wasn’t sure how to get things done or which item I should start next. There were no priorities and therefore, no way to know what was important.
Creating a Daily Routine
It seemed counter intuitive to me but setting a full daily routine has helped me feel more free. I think part of the freedom feeling is feeling fulfilled. Doing what is important to me helps me feel like I have taken care of my list, even if some office work doesn’t get finished. Creating a daily routine for me is about simplicity. If I do the things that are most important for my welfare, I feel fulfilled. For me, if I do my daily meditation and mantra practice, I feel good, even if more work came in than I was able to finish. I have noticed that doing something daily, even if it is only for a few minutes a day, makes me much better at it. Aly Dunne (@thewayofmantra) explains how a daily practice is like a river wearing down rock over time. Here is a quick view of my daily routine:
- Wake up, meditate, chant
- Drink elixir (modified from Apple Cider Vinegar Elixir), walk dogs, start hot water for tea, sing to my kombucha scoby
- Work on graphic/web projects
- Eat lunch
- Work on graphic/web projects
- Go for run, walk dogs, walk by myself
- Meet with friends, network
- Wind down, sleep
Resources for Optimizing the Daily Routine
Here are some of the tools and resources that help me develop and stick with my routine.
- Aly Dunne, my Sanskrit Mantra teacher
- Insightly, meditation timer
- Amazing routines of 7 successful entrepreneurs, Buffer blog
- Benjamin Franklin, Parade
- Leo Babauta, founder of Zen Habits
- StayFocused, Chrome tab blocking app
- Buffer, social media sharing tool
Your Routine
Do you have a daily routine? If so, what have you noticed by following it/not following it?