23 Apr My (Kinda Weird) Daily Routine & Creativity Rituals
“The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.”
– Mike Murdock
“So what do you do each day?”
I get that a lot – for all kinds of reasons, especially from those who think my full-time job consists solely of writing one blog post each week. 😉
But many of you have specifically asked about my daily routine, so I figured that today, I’d humor you.
Most weekdays, I try to stick to a pretty specific schedule – for reasons I’ll explain below. But most importantly, because my routine helps me answer a question that holds most people back from making the changes they know they want to make…
“How do I find the time?”
That’s not to say that I have hours to burn each day (I absolutely do not), but my routine helps ensure I do the things I actually care about.
I’ve studied routines quite a bit, and it turns out that odd rituals have been the foundation of some of the most creative minds in the world. The book, Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, uncovered a few…
- Mark Twain would stay in his study writing and working from breakfast until dinner, writing straight through lunch
- Hemingway usually wrote while standing
- Composer and pianist Igor Stravinsky did headstands
- Winston Churchill often drank throughout the day
-
Novelist Somerset Maugham would think about the first two sentences he wanted to write while soaking in his morning bath
- Patricia Highsmith worked in bed surrounded by cigarettes, an ashtray, matches, a mug of coffee, a doughnut and a cup full of sugar
- Benjamin Franklin apparently spent his mornings naked
But it’s not about getting naked or drinking or whatever.
The point is not what these people did (as fascinating as it might be) – it’s that they had a pattern that led them to their best output. Their dedication to routine consistently put them into their peak creative and productive states.
There are a million ways to slice a routine. And for the most part, it’s the repetition, not the specific ritual, that leads to results. What matters most to me is knowing what I want to build and developing a daily process that’s consistent with making it happen.
My routine is far from perfect and is always evolving, but I hope it helps you develop your own system for creating the things you actually care about.
My (Kinda Odd) Daily Routine & Creation Rituals
6:00 am: Wake up
Timing varies between 5:30-6:30 am, but we’ll assume 6 here. I don’t like alarms, so generally I’ll wake when I wake, unless something early and important is happening. And if I’m deep into product creation mode, the excitement and nerves often have me up between 4 and 5 am when I’ll dive right into my first creativity window.
6-6:10 am: Drink a pint of water
I need to get some hydration back after being dry for 7-8 hours.
6:10-6:30 am: Meditate
Either on a cushion on the floor or Indian style on the couch, I spend 20 minutes with eyes closed focusing on my breathing and observing thoughts. This is a big part of my tranquility campaign (AKA stress management) and something I’m constantly working on. Monkey Mind is still incredibly hard for me to avoid, but I usually enjoy the practice.
For a refresher on the importance of mindfulness, check out this article in Scientific American: You Need More Down Time than You Think
6:30-7:00 am: Take in some inspiration
I watch a TED talk or do a little reading (in a real book), to get a few ideas flowing before the day actually starts. If I don’t do it first thing, it’s easy for it to slip. It also opens up the idea flow for what’s next…
7:00-8:00 am: Relatively high-intensity workout
If I don’t start by moving and breathing, I’m off my game all day. It’s also my best way to activate my body, mind and ideas. I often get back from a workout and go straight to sweating over my keyboard to get out the thoughts that came up. I cannot overemphasize the importance of exercise for gaining perspective and generating and processing ideas, not to mention the obvious health benefits. I rotate between stair sprints, high intensity bodyweight/plyometric work (jumping around), kettlebells, weights, jogging and yoga. If schedules align, I love doing getting out with a friend (see picture of James Clear and me above, at my favorite “gym” in SF).
If I’m training for something big (like last year’s 50-miler), my session might be as long as four hours, which means a lot earlier wake-up time. And lately I’ve been adding in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on some evenings. After reading Play it Away, I’m also starting to do more fun activities like playing catch with an Aerobie.
And whenever I get stuck on a problem or overwhelmed by something new, I’ll step away for a walk or ideally a run. The problem looks totally different once I return.
8:00-8:10 am: Take a cold wake-up shower
Ever since my friend Jesse Jacobs, founder of Samovar Tea Lounge, told me about his daily cold shower “Success Ritual”, Chelsea and I have oddly been hooked. I’ll take a regular warm shower to get clean and then end with 10-30 seconds of pure cold (lately I’ve been adding a bit more time). I hated it at first. Now I love it. Even if I forget, I’ll jump back in. It makes for a super energizing boost, and the health benefits are pretty interesting, including increased testosterone, better circulation, fat burning and building courage through voluntarily dealing with discomfort. Read about the benefits on Jesse’s post here.
8:10-8:40 am: Green breakfast and play with Chelsea
Our breakfasts can seem a little odd – we only realize this when we have people stay with us. We usually drink it, and lots of veggies are involved. Fresh green smoothie (in the Vitamix) or veggie juice (in the Breville). If it’s juice, we eat some nuts or banana and almond butter with it. We’re always trying new odd renditions, like toasted rice cake with avocado, sea salt and olive oil or open-faced veggie taco.
A super light and fresh meal helps for creative time, which comes next. I also love taking some time to hang out with Chelsea first thing. And on the odd hyper-focused days I’ll blend up enough green smoothie to last until dinner (like today).
Then I’ll brew up some Ryokucha Green or Turmeric Spice tea from Samovar to gear up for creative time…
8:40 am-noon: Creative and important task time
This is sacred, so sometimes I start much earlier. No time for email or screwing around online before I do some writing and tackle the big creative tasks at hand. Since I’ve already scheduled what to work on during my Monday morning weekly planning session, I can dive right in. Willpower and cognitive ability seeps away throughout the day, so saving the hard stuff for later is a recipe for killing productivity. This is also a good case for not making big decisions, negotiations or purchases later in the day. This New York Times article was very eye-opening: Do You Suffer From Decision Fatigue? Getting something important done first also guarantees the day will be a win and creates awesome momentum.
Most my work is done at my stand-up desk, with sitting breaks at the couch, unless I go wandering to a local cafe. I usually put on Relaxation Radio on Pandora (no lyrics) or listen to the zen-like background music that comes with Om Writer (my favorite writing app).
Noon-1:00 pm: Emails and small tasks
Emails are a constant battle for me, so I’ve been scheduling an hour later in the morning and early afternoon to crank through them. I tackle mainly business emails relating to projects, with a few personal items scattered about. I would love to have a better handle on emails, but it’s never worth sacrificing my creative time. Sometimes I’ll neglect emails to a fault (like now!), but it’s worth the tradeoff.
1:00-2:00 pm: Veggie lunch
Chelsea and I eat about 90% plants at home and keep lunch pretty simple with a homemade salad – but we pack it full! Sticking to veggies also keeps digestion from sapping too much energy out of the afternoon.
2:00-2:20 pm: Power nap
I’ve known about the importance of napping for creativity, thinking, energy and overall health for a while now, and have recently been giving siestas a lot more priority. Even if I don’t fall asleep, it ends up serving as a nice meditation. The science in this article makes for a hell of an argument for more non-thinking time in general, including sleep, napping, meditation and walks in nature.
2:20-5:30 pm: More important tasks and occasional meetings
I’ll dive right back into creation and big project mode with a fresh mind following nap time, before getting lost in late afternoon minutiae. If I have meetings or interviews, I’ll schedule them for later in the afternoon, after creative time (or during lunch). And I usually batch most of my meetings for Thursday afternoon, ideally. I can’t stand little meetings spread throughout my week. If my calendar looks like Swiss cheese, so will my output.
5:30-6:30 pm: Emails and small tasks
My last batch of catch-up time for the day. Ideally my computer is closed for the night once 6:30 hits.
6:30-7 pm: Sunset date walk
I like to close with a final dose of nature for the day. Chelsea and I love walking out along the water, catching up on the details of the day and maybe even feeding the ducks at The Palace of Fine Arts. It makes for a fun decompression ritual, and we’ve been in love with sunsets since we first met. Sometimes we’ll bring a little wine or tea.
7:00-8:30 pm: Dinner with Chelsea and/or friends
Food is such a cool vehicle for connection, and Chelsea and I love cooking together. But she’s the creative genius in the kitchen, so lately I’ve just been following her lead with all she’s whipping up at Food Life Balance. We always sit down and have a nice slow meal, and I look SO forward to it. We try to spend a couple nights a week breaking bread with friends too, either at our house or out and about.
If we’re with friends, this will last until 10 pm or so, and we’ll skip relax time. Routine fun interactions with close buddies is also priceless for stress reduction and staying present.
8:30-10:00 pm or so: Relax, play, read, movie, decompress
If it’s just the two of us, this is wind-down time. We almost never turn on our TV, except for the occasional movie, documentary date night or local basketball game (we became first-time sports fans when my brother-in-law started working with the team). It’s not uncommon for a lot of nights to get filled with a little Scrabble, Bananagrams (Chelsea kicks my butt), reading or travel planning for the next adventure. That’s assuming we’re not on a breakdancing or tennis kick or some other odd date night. And if all goes as planned, I’ll end with a warm epsom salt and eucalyptus oil bath – another part of my tranquility campaign.
10 or 10:30 pm-6 am: Pre-sleep and deep slumber
Consistently getting to bed early has been a huge focus for me this past year. I used to think I could train myself to run on six hours or so, but the more I read, the more I’m realizing I’m wrong. Eight hours is my goal and I do everything I can to get over seven at a minimum.
From bed, I try to stick to all paper reading, if any reading at all. No screens or other jarring bright lights, as those can mess with deep sleep. Sometimes I’ll also put down a spoonful of almond butter and/or raw Manuka honey to increase blood sugar, which I’ve heard can contribute to deeper sleep.
Then I throw on my sleep mask and ear plugs, turn on the fan for background noise and drift off to do it all over again. Sometimes I even put on a special sleep mask that’s supposed to facilitate lucid dreaming, although I’ve yet to see much correlation. I still have hope, though. 😉
So that’s more or less how it goes…
Except of course when it doesn’t – like when I get sucked into some mindless YouTube video or procrastinate on a project I just can’t seem to get my head around, which happens more than I’d like to admit. Things throw me off all the time, but this structure gives me a standard to continually return to.
Consistency Creates Results
The right routine makes space for creating and building the things I actually care about – those actions that can too easily fall into the black hole of “not enough time”. I still constantly struggle to fit everything in, but what’s nice is that I don’t even have to think for most of this to happen, especially the morning routine. It just happens. And when it does, that momentum builds towards everything else.
So that’s what I shoot for, plus or minus a couple hours. It’s not perfect, not even close. In fact, I’m breaking it tonight as I finish this article. 😉
But more often than not, the important and creative stuff gets done. And during my sunset walk, I get to be proud of the focus I had and the work I produced. Confidence comes from knowing the building continues.
And that’s a pretty nice place to start.
Your routine can either shape the impact you want to make or it can provide excuses for progress never happening. If your process isn’t moving you forward, it’s time to start experimenting.
Hopefully it’s helpful to see a window into my world – and that the image of me in a lucid dreaming mask and ear plugs garners at least a slight chuckle.
You have my permission to point and laugh.
-Scott
How about you? What’s one daily ritual you’ve come to swear by? Bonus points if it’s somewhat odd… Tell us in the comments!
P.S. My borderline obsession/addiction with routines lead me to create our Weekly Planning Workbook. It’s free to our community and you can download it as part of the Passionate Work Toolkit. Or start with this article: How I Plan My Week (My 5-Step Process + free workbook download)
My (Kinda Weird) Creativity Rituals & Daily Routine - Introverts Power
Posted at 18:51h, 23 April[…] My routine is far from …read more […]
Mike Goncalves
Posted at 20:13h, 23 AprilGreat stuff Scott… Thanks for sharing your “weird” daily routine and rituals, awesome! I love that exercise is one of the first things you get done in the morning, same here. It always gives me way more energy and creative ability throughout the day…not to mention the great ideas that come to mind while exercising. Also think it’s great that you and Chelsea spend time together in the morning to start the day and then again at night with a walk and then dinner to finish the day and give thanks together, very cool. One of my daily rituals I swear by is taking about 15-20 minutes in the afternoon (around 2 or 3pm) to play acoustic guitar. It relaxes me and my mind before finishing the afternoon on a strong note. It’s my form of meditation I guess. Dreaming mask huh?…. 🙂 Cheers!
Scott
Posted at 20:20h, 23 AprilI love the guitar ritual and I’d be all over that if I knew how to play! It’s actually on my list. Seems so relaxing to just play. I actually took lessons for about a year when I was 12, but I don’t have much to show for it…
And yes, I’m very grateful to get to spend so much time with Chelsea each day. I’m realizing more and more how rare that is.
Jon D
Posted at 20:52h, 23 AprilI love it Scott. It sounds like you’re living a dream from another era, coming from the perspective of three kids and a 60+ hour global corporate job. I am going to take a cue from your morning routine to increase my focus! Keep up the great work.
Sneha
Posted at 21:31h, 23 AprilNice Stuff Scott, I am a new member of our family and happy to join.
I want to thank you for introducing Leo Babuta to me. I read his articles and impressed.
Both of you have change my point of view towards life…
Get back to the point, my creative ritual(don’t know it is creative or not).
I live in India and travel by local train daily. I like to observe the people in the train and guess their mood, habits and their nature. I like to write short stories and my this daily ritual help to find new characters for my stories.
Anna
Posted at 21:32h, 23 AprilThank you for sharing your daily routine, Scott. I have always wondered how the leading figures of the blog world do their job and stay so incredibly productive. I’ve been trying to implement a system, or set certain daily rituals that will help me get more organized. I am a mother of two very active teenagers, and my family has always been my priority, so I am managing a few schedules instead of just my own, and I get distracted a lot. I guess, I am just wining and trying to find an excuse… :/ no, what I need (and lack) is a structure. A well thought out structure and reprioritizing of tasks will do the job.
Thank you, Scott for that kick in the butt at the end of the day. I will have a lot to think about tomorrow.
Mark Beard
Posted at 22:14h, 23 AprilHi Scott, New member as of this year and I enjoy your posts. Your green drinks remind me of how odd my family feels when people are invited into our lives. Wife and 5 children, we are vegan and health-nuts. It is funny how our lives and habits seem very normal to us… then we put them out there for examination. Cheers!
Nick Elvery
Posted at 22:53h, 23 AprilI loved this article. I read it this morning and found so many similarities. Recently I has been beating myself up for taking too much time for myself and feeling overwhelmed with everything later in the afternoon. It’s wonderful to hear we are all the same. Thanks for the share. I would love to know the recipe for your green drinks and the tea.
Seth S.
Posted at 22:58h, 23 AprilI love structure and daily rituals but with my many involvements I have different ones for different days, depending on kid/work/community activities. Scott, your daily ritual sounds awesome, the “white space” aspects of it speak to me. I’m typically going from 6am – 11pm everyday but with a ton of variety and positive stimulation that keeps me fueled.
My three keys are to a.) operate from my place of passion and purpose, b.) maximize my interaction with positive people who lift me up (and minimize the opposite) and c.) maintain an “in joy” perspective as I power through it all. When I can do this and function from a deep rooted place of presence and gratitude, I find I rarely get tired or stop smiling.
And my weird habit is no matter how late I go to bed, I step outside and look at the night sky to feel the grandeur of it all before retiring for the night.
Thanks for sharing, I enjoy this subject and love learning from others!
Stephanie
Posted at 23:27h, 23 AprilInteresting read, it all sounds lovely! My ritual consists of trying to creep out of bed at 5:30am without waking up my two wee one’s so that I can sneak an hour of writing time before they wake up. It doesn’t always work unfortunately but when it does it is bliss, one of my favourite hours of the day. I have developed a good creep (my husband is hopeless, like an elephant running through the house) although I can be undone by a squeaky door.
Amy
Posted at 21:25h, 21 SeptemberSqueaky door? WD-40 on the hinges…
James Houston
Posted at 23:41h, 23 AprilThis is awesome and very inspiring.
It has a lot of the elements of the routine I’m trying to get in place–right down to the green smoothies and cold-ending showers (AKA “Scottish Showers” or “James Bond Showers”).
This makes me realize I need to front-load the day with the really important things. Too often I find myself scrambling to get in exercise, meditation, journaling and other things that are top-tier importance at the end of the evening.
On the flipside I’m still stuck on a mega-mug (or two) of coffee first thing, which I’d like to swap out for AM exercise and tea like you have. Maybe do a coffee after lunch, since I just love how it tastes. But chemical cravings are probably better left out of most strong routines.
Marcel
Posted at 23:57h, 23 AprilAnother great article Scott! Always good to read other people’s routine as I try to keep mine to a strict schedule as well.. Yes I try, because I don’t always succeed but it’s very nice to have some kind of schedule to remind yourself of the things important to you to do daily.
During the week my alarm clock goes at 5.00, then I try to follow this schedule;
05.00-05.30 Start the day with my 30-minutes to thrive; 10 minutes time to reflect my life, being grateful for what I already have, visualize what I want to have and 20 minutes of running exercise
05.30-06.30 Having my breakfast and creating watch list for stocks to trade later that day/week
06.30-07.30 Commute to my day-job by car, listening to audio books while driving.
07.30-08.30 Important tasks of the day at the office
08.30-12.00 Working + meetings at the office
12.30-13.00 Lunch time
13.00-16.00 Working + meetings at the office
16.00-17.00 Commute to home by car, listening to some music to reflect and get loose of the day at the office.
17.00-17.30 Quality time with my girl-friend
17.30-17.45 Power nap to recharge
17.45-18.30 Checking the stock market, my current holdings and how the stocks on my watch list for the day are acting. Preparing a trade plan for the rest of the day.
18.30-19.30 Dinner time
19.30-22.00 Trading time on the stock market.
22.00-23.00 Reviewing the current trading day, researching stocks and preparing concept of watch list for next day
23.00-00.00 Relax, decompress from the day
00.00-05.00 Sleep
As I’m from the Netherlands but trade on the US markets I’m able to do this in the evening hours. The market opens at 15.30 our local time and closes at 22.00.
In the weekends I spend more of my time working out (running and cycling/mountain-biking), having quality time with my girlfriend, more time with friends and family, cooking or eating out, reading online and real books and everything else that comes up 🙂
Brendan Baker
Posted at 00:10h, 24 AprilHey Scott!
I loved this post… I always find it really interesting getting a closer look into the lives of others. I’m 100% with you on the consitency of routine. I’ve found that routines and sticking to them is critical when working for yourself.
I’ve also implemented the email only twice per day rule and I LOVE it. It has increased my productivity dramatically. So has the scheduled bed time and rising time. For me, I goto bed at 10 and read for 30 mins and sleep from 10:30 – 7am.
A few other daily routines I do but I might even write a follow-up article on my own website… great idea!
Brendan
Thomas
Posted at 00:57h, 24 AprilThat’s a great routine Scott! I should take an example to it. Personally, when I wake up, I immediately do 3×20 pushups to start the day. Then I start the day by studying an hour of Chinese. After that, I usually work out for approximately an hour (which I do about 4/5 times a week) before I start writing a blog post or working for school. I check my emails at around 12 and then usually have class. After that, I hang out with friends or read to finish off my day.
Tom
Posted at 01:01h, 24 AprilScott, I do like your routine. You might like dry skin brushing after the cold wake-up shower, I do.
So here’s how I’m starting my days now. I’ve adapted it from a reply I sent to an email from a friend. One definition first; budi=higher self.
First thing, when I wake up I check to see, is it there? Complete awareness including the budi, if not, I’m checking, checking inside. Where is my awareness at? What are its qualities? How large is it? Is it comfortable, uncomfortable, calm, agitated, serene, worried? You’re getting the picture.
Can I let go of focusing for a bit and let it grow to include the budi? This isn’t taking long. In a couple of minutes, if the answer is still no, then I’m leaving it, I have backup plans.
Still before getting out of bed and regardless of yes/no it’s; what am I grateful for? I’m aware, I’m alive, I’m free. These three often top the list. I don’t prepare a list; I don’t know what’s going to come up. You are seeing what I mean.
Then I’m getting up and throwing on a few clothes and drinking some water.
If the answer to “am I completely aware yet?” (are we there yet?) is still no, I’m trying a short special meditation, a couple of minutes max. This is not my actual morning practice yet. It’s just an exercise to determine whether or not I can collect all aspects of myself in a couple of minutes to be aware of myself in total again.
Did that work? Yes, good. I’m just remaining completely aware with the budi as a component, included in the overall impression of myself in total as it grows and cleans. As you know, it’s something like being aware of having enough room to experience all the aspects of one’s self, here, together, in the one big basket. I’m briefly shining a bit of that light throughout my entire self with a “thank you for allowing me to be able to do this”.
If no, that’s good. Thank you for allowing me to determine where I’m at. I’m letting it go, moving on.
I’m heading for some physical exercise but I’m deciding now on whether I want to go it alone with my awareness for the rest of the day, or whether I’m seeking help right now concurrent with my exercising or a bit later during special meditation. Whatever gets you through the night.
If I want to use outside help now, does meditating with, guided meditation recordings, meditation music, binaural beats O_o, whale and/or dolphin communication, C# tones!, Beethoven, Mozart, Hayden, Brahms, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Debussy, Charlie Parker, Paul Hindemith or Jimi Hendrix usually work for me?
If I feel like it, then playing a recording while doing my exercise routine is working for me. After all, I’m paying attention to my condition as it changes during exercise, right?
After physical exercise, I’m checking, am I aware of myself in total? (possibly a redundant question). Yes, all good, if not yet, still good, it’s all good.
Now I’m doing whatever else it is I’m getting to do before my special meditation, it could be showering, eating, dressing, that sort of thing.
Then, if I’m still not all here, I’m deciding, shall I go it alone with my special meditation practice or will I avail myself of more help or some help for the first time today, depending on what the previous decision regarding help was.
Now my special meditation, just me or with help? Do it. OK, it’s over. Afterwards I’m checking, did I become aware myself in total? There’s that possibly redundant question again. If yes, good, I’m remaining aware of the field of awareness containing myself in total and within which, all my perceptions takes place. Allowing it to grow and clarify but, particularly paying attention to consciously including the budi all the time.
I’m checking and rechecking my condition often during the day. Especially often if, the budi is not constantly showing its living presence in my daily meditation. You know what I’m talking about.
As you have noticed the key to remaining completely aware in perpetuity, once this condition has been established, is remembrance. Remembrance by checking your condition more or less often as necessary, throughout the day”.
Scott, as you can see, my passion is all about the quality of my consciousness mainly, is it complete? If it’s complete, everything seems to work well, to flow for the rest of the day. Apart from that and the basics; air, water, food, exercise and enough sleep, I don’t really have a set prescription for the rest of the day, except another special meditation before sleep.
AndriaYiasmin
Posted at 01:57h, 24 AprilAwesome article! I’ve been looking for (detailed) daily routines around the web for months and realised that it’s so difficult to find them. I deeply appreciate you taking time to write this for us Scott!
How easy is it to implement a daily routine in one’s program though? I’ve been trying for months and it’s harder than I thought!
Thanks a lot!
Andrew Kopke
Posted at 02:44h, 24 AprilScott I loved this behind the scenes, personal post. Ending my day with Sarah is something I always look forward to no matter what kind of day it was. We turn off our internet from 9 PM to 10 AM which has been really impactful (when we do it).
I think there is a relationship between eating decisions and the other decisions we make in a day. I’ve dropped the flour, sugar, processed foods and coffee 6 days a week, but I need new ways to add in more veggies and not get hungry so fast. Chelsea’s blog looks like an amazing resource for me. Thanks for sharing it!
Anna
Posted at 02:54h, 24 AprilAwh go away Scott, you kicked my ass again- “Your routine can either shape the impact you want to make or it can provide excuses for progress never happening.”
So damn true. I lot your standing up workplace- that’s what I do too, somehow it gets my brain more creative.
Never been a gym bunny, but susssh lately finding how jogging helps me get more motivated, positive even win felt down before and how I’ve tons of energy after.
Plan- put my kicked ass into it and actually schedule my next week.
Thanks Scott.
Sindhu
Posted at 04:37h, 24 AprilGreat article! Needed this one the most. Trying to get my life in order with a routine.
ScrewtheSystemJoe
Posted at 05:26h, 24 AprilThis is awesome Scott – really useful to get an insight into other creative people’s routines.
The thing I HAVE to get in every day is at least 10 mins of meditation and reading of written statement.
The temptation is to say it can be put off and that it can easily wait another day but I now view it as THE most important 10 mins of my day. It doesn’t matter whether I have an important client, a blog to finish or a new date, those 10 mins are the foundation of my life. I guess you do something similar with your 20 mins meditation – appreciated the strictness of your routine btw – they’ve got to be.
Davis Nguyen
Posted at 05:46h, 24 AprilWow, I always wondered how you structured your day.
One daily routine is before I turn off my electronics (9:30 pm), I take out a gratitude journal and write down at least one thing I am grateful for.
Anna
Posted at 05:49h, 24 AprilLove the Gratitude Journal Davis, especially as a last thing before you fall asleep. I have a gratitude huge jar- write little happy events, thoughts each day, fold it & put in a jar.
My new routine is to read them all on New Years Day, to see clearly all the little miracles.
Best wishes
Jeff Goins
Posted at 07:03h, 24 AprilI loved this, Scott. Made me think about how I could be better spending my time throughout the day. I’ve always believed in the importance of morning routines (though mine looks a little different since having a kid), but I think I need to apply the same intentionality to the entire day. Thanks for your example.
Winnie
Posted at 07:21h, 24 AprilHi, Scoot,
Thanks for the sharing and great to know that.
I am curious to know (not sure if you have shared or not), how do you make your living to support this kind of lives? I think it will be an interesting topics for many readers in LYL. 😀
Alexis Meads
Posted at 07:47h, 24 AprilLove this article, Scott!
I posted a question recently on my Facebook fan page to ask if routine was easy or difficult for people?
I agree that routine is so important, but if you’re more of a Vata (dosha) person like me, we fight routine tooth and nail!
Do you have any tips on how to get into a routine without it feeling too overwhelming or constraining?
Thanks!
Alexis Meads
Sam Larson
Posted at 07:48h, 24 AprilThis gives me some ideas on how I should probably change my daily routine. Love that you use kettlebells! Did you use them a lot while training for your ultra?
Awesome post, as always
Laura G. Jones
Posted at 09:50h, 24 AprilI loved reading this, Scott! I’m one of those people who loves being a “fly on the wall” and observing how other people live their lives. I work with creative grasshoppers, and they often have trouble with structure because they feel it impedes their creativity. I’m the same way (and I can’t stand being told what to do, even by me) so I focus more on being purposeful in everything I do.
I have a rough schedule (I try to do something relaxing and introspective in the morning, followed by a few hours of uninterrupted work, then a break, then more work) but what I find most valuable is the little rituals I have in place to keep me productive while maintaining my creativity.
For instance, every time I sit down to work, I do a gratitude exercise in my mind and prepare my focus so that I’m not thinking about what I will get in return or what anyone would think about my content, but I’m just giving to serve. That makes a huge difference in my results.
veronica
Posted at 10:16h, 24 AprilScott, another good remedy for deep sleep is taking above-ground coral calcium with a full glass of water right before bed. It is full of minerals and balances your pH. If you can pair it up with MSM and glucosamine, even better.
JAYSON
Posted at 10:16h, 24 AprilI purposely set my alarm clock early so that I can snooze a couple times and gradually wake opposed to having to get right up. I always say to myself, ‘today is Thursday, April 24, 2014 (or whatever day / day is it)…One day at a time with focus and positivity.’ I always have towel and closed laid out the night before. I try to briefly write in my journal as soon as I get downstairs and prior to leaving for work. I get to work half hour early every day to read. I generally eat only salads and drink only water for dinner followed by about another 15 – 30 minutes of reading, then I walk for 1 hour. My day normally ends at 10PM where I sit aside and 30 minutesish for reading. Try to be asleep by 10:30 and wake up 5:30ish for at least 7 hrs of sleep…
Sarah Kathleen Peck
Posted at 12:38h, 24 AprilAmazing. On a good day, my routine looks surprisingly similar.
My favorite routine to date was from my time in Bali — 6am run, 7am yoga, 8am meditation + breath work. We woke, drank a liter of water and some lemon in water, then went for an easy 45 minute jog. Enough to break the sweat and burn the calories distilled in our bodies overnight. (Some theorists say that you store glucose in your muscles overnight so you can wake up, hunt, and chase/kill your food). In my own experience, as long as I’m not working out more than 45m-an hour, I’m good.
Then, we drank a liter of green juice, with only non-sugar vegetables; no apples or carrots or beets (all high sugar). Then at 7am, yoga—light body work, and stretching, extending, and focusing on the core. About 45 minutes to an hour of yoga practice with yoga and mindfulness to get us into …
8am: very deep meditation. 15 minutes of guided breathwork and vocal work (warming up the lungs, vocal cords, stretching out the chest and neck, making sounds and softening our faces), followed by a meditation.
The day would then start at 8:30 and I would be crystal-clear, on fire, and not hungry at all. Just peacefully satiated, well-moved, and with a deep hunger and fire for thought.
Here in the states, our routine is similar to yours—I try not to do any mindless / meaningless “checking” tasks until after 11am, after my deeper creative, writing, and building work is done. Some days it all goes to shit, because I’ve got to respond to people signing up for a webinar, or I’m on response mode, or I got distracted in my own internet engagements—but so it goes.
One small deviation from yours: we try to take a 12 hour “no screen” sabbatical overnight, which is similar to yours—we try to put our screens down by 9pm, and then no screens again until 9am at the earliest—so half of every day is spent away from screens. We learned this from Tiffany Schlain, and I find my brain sanity is much higher when I’m cognizant of this.
As for crazy routines—another one I love is “all day outside Saturdays.” Rather than focus on something I want to NOT do (ie, stay inside and check the computer all day), I focus on getting up, getting outside, and doing something with my body all day. From triathlons to long runs to playing in the park to a full day of yoga (10am class, hanging out with friends, go back for a 2pm class, walk in the evening with a friend and read a book in a cafe) — those days are genius for resetting my week. My ambition, focus, concentration, and general love for life are renewed.
Sarah Kathleen Peck
Posted at 12:41h, 24 AprilOn another note, whenever I’m trying to start a new habit, I try to do the smallest piece of action related to it immediately. The quicker I can bring something into my repertoire, the easier it becomes to build it into part of my routine. Sometimes that’s sequential, like: drinking my coffee in a new chair by the window, and putting a book there on the chair. Then, I do whatever I can to build the “read in this chair” habit, even if it’s just one page a day for two weeks before I get distracted by my cell phone. Eventually, I end up reading a full chapter, and then the more often that happens than not, the easier it is to keep going.
I’ve also heard various advice about when to drink caffeine, if you drink any at all. Depending on your dosha (or constitution), some people do well with firing up in the morning (Kapha-types); and others do NOT (Vata types, like me). I need my coffee when my natural awake-ness starts to slow down—around 10 or 11am. If I drink it first think, it’s a guarantee for a headache and a 3-pm nap and the Sine-Wave curve of alertness is maginified so the highs are too high and the lows feel like depression. More on that another time. 🙂
Michael
Posted at 12:46h, 24 AprilI really enjoyed this article! Consistency and discipline are such a huge part of success and happiness. Like Brian Johnson says, it’s all about consistency on the fundamentals!
Here are some of mine:
Mourning routine
– Wake up ~5:15
– 20 min yoga
– 20-30 min meditation
– Plant based smoothie breakfast (Vega + SunWarrior Protein + almond butter + chia seeds + hemp hearts + water + ice)
– Cold shower
– 10 min AM journaling adopted from the 5 minute journal (3 things I’m grateful for, 3 things that would make today great, affirmations: I am…)
– 15 min bike into the office/25 min bus ride practicing Spanish or French using Duolingo
– 15 min lacrosse ball massage on feet and chest
– Drink 2 liters of water
Mid day
– Work
– Learn new things via various online courses
– 5 min guitar finger exercises using PocketStrings
– 15 min email
Afternoon
– Bike home/ride bus and read
– 20-30 min meditation
– 20-30 min walking the dog around the park
– 1-2 hr workout (run, swim, box, yoga, lifting, etc), 80% of the time done with my wife Kristen
Evening
– Delicious vegetarian dinner made with love by Kristen during which we talk about 3 things each we were grateful for that day
– 15 min-1hr playing music (piano or acoustic guitar)
– 10 min PM journaling adopted from the 5 minute journal (3+ awesome things that happened today, how could I have made today better)
– Asleep before 10:30
Darren
Posted at 08:04h, 25 AprilLOVE THIS!
I’ve been ‘trying’ to figure out my best schedule, which currently needs to be flexible because I work as a personal trainer and my client bookings can change on the same day.
How you seem to work best (wake, eat, creative time) is similar to mine. I just wrote out, “Darren’s (Flexible) Daily Routine.”
For now I need to be flexible with when my workout happens (morning or afternoon if I have a big gap between clients), and allowing for my Creative Time to be a large block most mornings, and a 1-hour block on other days that I absolutely need my workout to happen first thing. Your 7am high intensity workout is my time walking with my dog — a time I love to have with him. I don’t ever listen to podcasts of music when I’m out with him, but I usually get a couple of article ideas for my blog that I will dictate into my iPhone.
It’s awesome how seeing someone else’s routine has helped me to gain great clarity on my own.
Be well!
Jim M.
Posted at 11:36h, 25 AprilI’m terrible with keeping routines, as there are so many things that creep into my life to kill any momentum (for instance, this week I had tried to set a time of 9:30am to do a 10 minute meditation, this is a time no one ever bothers me at work, until this week three days in a row I was interupted for different things…).
The one routine that really helps me is something I’ve adopted from The Artist’s Way book, called Morning Pages. The goal is to just free-form write what ever is on your mind for 3 pages. It’s really helped me work through some significant personal blocks over the past two years. But I really struggle to make it a good routine, becuase I have a 3 year old, who is so inconsistent when she wakes up, so even if I get up at 6am to try to do it, for some reason that’s the day she’ll wake up early too… I just try to make the writing the first “production” I do of the day.
Cheers,
Jim M.
Posted at 11:38h, 25 AprilOh, and I love to work-out at lunch, go for a run or do Taekwondo, or even yoga. Anything to get me moving and breathing, and away from a windowless cubical… but this isn’t a productivity booster for me, just a mood booster.
Angie Dixon
Posted at 13:45h, 26 AprilThanks, Scott.
I don’t think this is weird at all. In fact, I tried warm milk with honey last night because you mentioned sleeping better if you raise your blood sugar. It worked! I’ve been having horrible trouble sleeping, and I went right off to sleep. Now it’s part of my routine.
Amy
Posted at 09:47h, 27 AprilScott, Thanks for a great share! I have been really putting focus into tweaking my morning ritual. Realizing what a sacred time it is and your post totally hits that point home for me.
My kind of weird ritual is jumping on a rebounder every morning for ten minutes or more. It brings me a sense of joy with the jumping and feeling free as my feet float in the air for a few seconds. Lightness of being. There are cardio benefits too. And I find that any stress/anxiety that may be held in my body is released. Some days I do rebounding with tunes playing and sometimes I simply listen to the sound of my own breath. I love it!
My morning cup of tea is also a really important part of starting my day as well.
I’m re-designing my meditation space…morning meditation was a key part of my routine and I am bringing it back! (after falling off of this practice for a couple of months…I can totally feel it).
Hope you are enjoying a great weekend!
-Amy
And They Said I Was Stupid – A Thought from 21,400 Feet in the Air
Posted at 17:05h, 29 April[…] are some of my favorite blog posts to read, like this one from Glen Allsop from Viperchill.com, and this more recent post from Scott Dinsmore from Live Your […]
And They Said I Was Stupid – A Thought from 21,400 Feet in the Air | Socialsweep
Posted at 18:01h, 29 April[…] are some of my favorite blog posts to read, like this one from Glen Allsop from Viperchill.com, and this more recent post from Scott Dinsmore from Live Your […]
Naveen | Best Kettles
Posted at 19:58h, 29 AprilHi Scott,
This is great routine. However, I have seen people choose early mornings or even late nights for getting creative works (like writing) done.
Great to see that this schedule works for you.
Some Small Illumination | Song Drummer Chronicles
Posted at 22:24h, 29 April[…] And reading this was like having a life raft being thrown down to me while drowning. It was like, “that could help–that could work, yes!” (If you want to see the details of Scott’s process, check it out here.) […]
Axel
Posted at 03:51h, 30 AprilHello Scott! Here a little greeting from the cold north, I am in Norway at the moment working, but I am originally from Denmark, and live in Copenhagen.
I want you to know that I enjoyed reading your daily routines, and really found that alot of them was something I personally am aspiring to do myself.
But here is one routine I’d like to share with you, and I actually just started this a few weeks ago and I am hooked!
Sauna + ice cold shower.
This habit actually originated from the whole “cold shower philosofy” that I’ve read so much about lately.
I do it in the public “inside swimming pool” area, which has a sauna and a regular showering room.
In the beginning I went in for 5 minutes, got out and took the cold shower all done within 15 minutes.
But as I am getting more and more addicted to the whole process of sweating & freezing I can now stay in the sauna on the top bench (The warmest) for about 15 minutes until I get out under the cold shower.
Originally the toughest part was staying in the cold water for a decent amount of time, but I have now realized that staying inside the sauna for a fixed amount of time is the real challenge.
Sometimes when you look at the clock in there, it feels like time is standing completely still and all you can think about is that ice cold shower when you get out. The contrasts betwean the two opposites really does something to your overall well-being. It’s hard to explain it really, but this is something I would recommend for everyone.
I even get to meet strange people with even stranger daily routines in there because it is a public place.
Regards
Axel
Larry
Posted at 10:38h, 30 AprilGood stuff Scott. I greatly appreciate your discipline and routine. That is what makes a champion. Welcome to a day in the life of Lawrence Ward III…@Directorofpma
5:15-6:15 am Our wonderful son Aidan will awaken me from his slumber with “daddy daddy”. I yawn like a lion and say a quick prayer of gratitude for our health, family and home–as you know a positive mental state and “attitude of gratitude” is critically important. As my wife got up with him for 24 straight months it’s daddy’s turn…Aidan is either smiley or grumpy…he just turned 3 so I am occasionally greeted with his saturated bed as I stagger into his room with one eye open I will usually allow him to crawl down on me if he did not have “an accident”.. I then rinse Aidan off if necessary whilst starting the first load of laundry.
6:15/6:30 am (depending on “bed” situation) I am usually pulled by one finger into the kitchen were Aidan asks for “ORANGE juuuuice”, if he does not say please and ask nicely this routine is repeated. I then hit the button on the Keurig while our bearded mutt dog from Hawaii begs for attention and a bathroom break of her own.
6:30-6:45 am Read 5 books to Aidan. This is done without fail. Arguably the most important thing I do everyday.
6:45-7:15 am Breakfast. Usually paleo based eggs/bacon or Vitamix blended “smoothie woke shake–hidden with kale/spinich/almond milk/local bee pollen, but occasionally I have to succumb to the cheerios request and serve up a cold bowl of GMO goodness.
7:15-8:0 am Success Brainwashing. Listen to inspirational videos. Subliminal Sales Success Secrets and visualize the limitless abundance of the land. Read some “Live Your Legend” or a T.U.T. Quote. Write about something inspirational. Social Media posts.
8–9:30 am Emails/work. I am on call 15 hours a day 6 days a week and work from home. Busy is a decent way to put it. However the freedom to play and take 5-10 minute breaks with Aidan at my choosing keeps it worthwhile. After all the sands of time cease for no one and school is just around the corner…
9:30 am The Great Debate. Do I dare have a second cup of coffee? Sometimes yes, sometimes know. Occasionally this additional burst of caffeine will lead me into a wild eyed productive twister of activity. Other times it will leave me in an eye twitching unfocused state of self reflection and non-productivity. Answer emails.
9:32–9:45 am The dog stares at me with neglect. Feed the dog. Do dog related “chores” with plastic bag. Answer emails.
9:45–11:00 am American Ninja Warrior Training or “Adventure with Aidan” rotated daily. If it is a true exercise day expect P.I.T. Training–burpees/plyometrics/sprints
H.I.I.T/Tire flips training. One does not get to audition for American Ninja Warrior without being a beast (two audition tapes…no takers yet..show me another mid thirties dad that can crank our a perfect single set of 30 pull-ups…If an Aidan Adventure this can be even more rewarding and exciting. This can include such incredible stimulations as “going to pinecone town (where the pine trees are) or a 1-2 mile run to the park to see the “bees, butterflies and hummingbirds”. Reflect and smell the flowers. Be grateful. Know that one day instead of pushing a stroller or throwing a tennis ball to the dog I will be pushing a walker with tennis balls on it.
11:00 am—Stretch and Smoothie. Vitamix. Kale. Orange Juice. Vanilla Protein. Flax oil. Spinich. Local Bee Pollen (allergy medicine is for the masses and we are not sheep).
11:15 am–Emails/phonecalls
11:18 am–Aidan needs to go Potty. He must pull down his own pants (very challenging) and pull them up himself or he does not get to go to pre-school in the fall. This can take 1-10 minutes.
11:28 am–Emails/phonecalls
12:30 pm –Lunch. Mostly Paleo. Veggies/Meat/Leftovers. Emails…
1:00–2:45 pm Emails/phone calls/ 5 minute breaks here and there to play hide and seek/blocks/read another book
2:45-3:00 pm Vacuum. No Roomba yet…
3:00–pm Nap Time–for me! Just kidding…ha ha your funny:) Nap time for Sweetpea of course!! Read another book with Aidan and wifey, who has no returned from her morning of being a personal trainer. Shower. Yes, I shower at 3 in the afternoon. I also shower in the morning when rinsing the pee off of Aidan.
3:15–3:30 pm Meditation/visualization. Peace and tranquility preferably done in the hot tub. Overhear Aidan playing with toys and not napping.
3:30–6:00 pm Emails/phone calls. Await the Prince to arise from slumber. Plop prince in front of TV to watch “Frozen” for the 135th time. However this routine is sacred and must not be broken for the sanctity of the household peace.
6:00-6:30 pm Wifey is teaching Spin Class…time to make dinner. The 50s are gone. Daddy’s making dinner (as I should of course). Grilled chicken/homemade sweet potato fries/roasted vegetable and salad. Ranch no longer exists in this house. Cheerios are probably the only processed thing we have in the house. Check emails.
6:30–9:00 pm Emails/dishes/emails/hide and seek/emails/fold laundry/emails/deep breathes. Remind myself that life is short and I am a champion. Do what I need to do before I do what I want to do. Play handoff with wifey to ensure our son gets proper attention.
9:00 pm Aidan’s bedtime. Brush his teeth, read another book.
9:30 pm Emails/watch news or Game of Thrones.
10:00 pm Rub wife’s feet or given her soft caresses on her back.
10:20 — 11:00 pm Emails (go to sleep already people. You can book your condo in Maui for next February IN THE MORNING!).
11:00 — 11:30 pm Write/Yoga/Meditate/Visualize. Depending on the stress level of the day this may also include “tapping” or the “emotional freedom technique” that Dr. Mercola so highly prescribes to. Honestly this last part of the days routine has been life changing. Say prayers of gratitude. Take 10 seconds to think of everything I am thankful for in my life.
And They Said I Was Stupid – A Thought from 21,400 Feet in the Air | FireMoney
Posted at 11:41h, 30 April[…] are some of my favorite blog posts to read, like this one from Glen Allsop from Viperchill.com, and this more recent post from Scott Dinsmore from Live Your […]
And They Said I Was Stupid – A Thought from 21,400 Feet in the Air
Posted at 14:26h, 30 April[…] are some of my favorite blog posts to read, like this one from Glen Allsop from Viperchill.com, and this more recent post from Scott Dinsmore from Live Your […]
Chris
Posted at 15:31h, 30 AprilI wish I was this strict with things. My biggest issue is the consistency. I do really well at a routine for a few days, and then I fall out of it. I think my biggest issue is I try to get up really early, but then some days I am on a role and continue coding well into the next day, which then makes it impossible to wake up early.
Any thoughts on how to shut off at night, no matter what?
Thanks Chris!
My Daily Routine for Self-Employed Entrepreneurs | Steven Johnson
Posted at 14:36h, 01 May[…] Dinsmore created a blog post called My (Kinda Weird) Daily Routine & Creativity Rituals – outlining what he does throughout the day. This helps his audience learn more about his […]
Miguel Lyons-Cavazos
Posted at 21:49h, 01 MayLove this article!
I’ve started adapting it to my schedule and so far I’m loving the 8 hrs. sleep (I’m a musician, this is unheard of…), the cold shower and the power nap rituals. Yeah!
My weird thing is not a daily, but a ‘when needed’ ritual. Whenever I am low in energy, uninspired or even if I have a migraine, I drum! So yeah, since I’m a drummer, I’m a little biased towards that activity, but anytime type of engaging activity works (walking, running, working out, meditating, etc.). Just helps to get the blood flowing in a different way, I guess.
Now, all we need to do is figure out what to suggest to the neighbors when my drumming gives THEM a migraine.
Cheers!
P.S. And, I’m totally serious about my migraines being helped by drumming. Doesn’t work 100% of the time, but it does work in certain situations. I do have to note that I have a whole process to manage the migraines incl. diet, exercise and meds, and THAT is more important that the drumming. More important, but not nearly as weird…;)
HannahLL
Posted at 04:21h, 10 MayHello Scott!
I really enjoyed reading your daily routine and creation rituals! (This is my first time commenting, hoping to comment some more in the future hehe)
I tried to plan my day daily which consumed some time. Thus, I want to take yours into account and make my own. Planning my week sounds great (the next article I want to read is: How I Plan My Week). Anyway, thank you so much for sharing!
Justin Stowe
Posted at 07:08h, 10 MayDoesn’t seem like a strange routine to me at all! Personally I’m still trying to get my routine down- right now it’s REALLY difficult because I have a newborn baby at home. My wife takes care of her during the night, but during the day… it’s a bit more of a coin toss. Basically whoever feels less tired at the time takes care of the baby.
Good man doing your workout in the morning though. I’ve found that if I wait until the afternoon/evening, it just doesn’t get done because by then I’ve lost the motivation.
And They Said I Was Stupid – A Thought from 21,400 Feet in the Air | My Blog
Posted at 14:13h, 18 May[…] are some of my favorite blog posts to read, like this one from Glen Allsop from Viperchill.com, and this more recent post from Scott Dinsmore from Live Your […]
Janet
Posted at 14:16h, 01 JuneGreetings! Very helpful advice in this particular article!
It’s the little changes that will make the greatest changes.
Thanks for sharing!
Chantal
Posted at 18:05h, 22 JuneHi Scott,
Reading how you spend your day certainly inspired me…I really needed this reminder right now to find a good routine and stick to it, thank you!
My Daily Routine for Self-Employed Entrepreneurs
Posted at 09:58h, 24 June[…] Dinsmore created a blog post called My (Kinda Weird) Daily Routine & Creativity Rituals – outlining what he does throughout the day. This helps his audience learn more about his daily […]
And They Said I Was Stupid – A Thought from 21,400 Feet in the Air | IM Aggregator
Posted at 12:50h, 15 July[…] are some of my favorite blog posts to read, like this one from Glen Allsop from Viperchill.com, and this more recent post from Scott Dinsmore from Live Your […]
Winederlusting
Posted at 11:14h, 24 SeptemberGreat routine. Actually very inspiring. I want to make a conscious change to start getting up earlier and getting more done before I go to work. Ideally at least fitting in the workout, more time for the blog, and definitely a green breakfast.
Adderall withdrawal
Posted at 19:35h, 10 OctoberI am really thankful to the holder of this site who has shared this wonderful post at at this place.
Who controls your life? 5 essential practices to regain control. | introvert inspiration
Posted at 16:37h, 26 May[…] Scott Dinsmore from LiveYourLegend […]
Kathline Sacarello
Posted at 03:26h, 15 JanuaryThanks for sharing your thoughts on stick. Regards
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Posted at 21:22h, 14 February[…] Live Your Legend | My (Kinda Weird) Daily Routine … […]