Predictable, Consistent and Flexible Routines

When we are working on projects or jobs we love, we somehow expect it to be fun and fulfilling. It often is, but a lot of the time, it’s not fun. It’s work, it’s hard, and it’s messy. It’s unpredictable.

I know that if I am going to be consistent - at least 80% of the time - I need to set up predictable and efficient routines. I also need to give myself permission to be flexible roughly 20% of the time.

That means I have the same yoga practice two days a week, the same cycling/weight routine two days, and then the other three days, I am flexible. I realize the math doesn't quite add up to 80/20, but there's a perfect opportunity to be flexible! (The reality is, I usually wing it two of those days and take one day off).

While I don't always totally enjoy the workout, it feels good to put energy and attention where I intend to put it. And that is part of the fuel in the predictable, efficient routines.

Even though I know this, I have been struggling to put predictable structures in my morning routine.

I do my best thinking from 6 am until about 11 am. But that time can just slip by, leaving me facing the afternoon and a whole lot of unmet obligations and desires.