Is it time to break up a routine?
?? Michael Bungay Stanier
Author of *The Coaching Habit* (1 million+ sold), *How to Work with (Almost) Anyone* & more ? I help people unlock greatness: theirs and others' ? #1 thought leader on coaching ?Top rated keynote speaker ? Rhodes Scholar
The following is an excerpt from my free weekly newsletter The Works . Each edition shares an insight, tool or story that will help you be a force for change, written by me, MBS - recognized as the #1 thought leader on #coaching in the world. Subscribe to get the full impact delivered straight to your inbox.
Changing the rhythm
They say the universe tends to entropy, and everything will, in the end, fall apart and go dark.
That’s certainly true in the big scheme of things, whether you’re measuring it by your own lifespan or by our universe’s. (This schematic of where we are in the universe’s arc blew my mind.)
But before the chaos, it seems that things fall into a routine. Our brain is all in favor of making us habitual. A study from Yale found that close to 50% of what we do in a waking day is done on automatic. 50%! That’s a lot of comfortable rut.
It’s because routine is efficient and safe, two things the brain loves.
And there’s also the risk of a life accidentally and carelessly pre-programmed.
Here’s a working plan to keep things fresh.
Design your routine. Try and make it less complicated rather than more complicated. Sometimes, it’s adding something to do. Sometimes, it’s removing things that don’t actually need to be done.
领英推荐
Have some idea of what success might be. How will you know if it’s working for you?
Give the routine a good shot. It takes time for anything to become a habit (estimates vary).?
If you’re like me, figure out how you’ll hack your good intentions. Then, figure out a way to manage your upcoming hack. (I find having other people involved helps a lot.)
Now things are ticking along, you want to make sure you don’t slip into a comfortable rut.?
At some point, re-examine what’s going on. Is that routine still serving you? Check back on your success criteria.
Decide to stop something, add something, or double down on what’s working. Make some tweaks as required.
Speaking of which …
We’re tinkering with this newsletter, and we’re going to try it out once every two weeks. Often enough for you to remember us, but reducing the overflow of your inbox.
I Give Words to Your Story | Personal Branding Strategist | Ghostwriter | Script & Content Writer for Founders, C-Suite Executives ,Coaches & Creators.
1 年"Exploring the unknown with curiosity and courage. Keep turning those dials, embracing the rhythm of discovery!"
╰┈? Helping you overcome limiting beliefs and unlocking your full potential in life. Certified Coach | Career Coach | Speaker I help you navigate life transitions, build resilience, and create an empowering future.
1 年Your thought-provoking narrative has indeed instigated a self-reflection. I realized that I, too, have areas in my life running on "automatic." For instance, my daily routine has been quite rigid, from the morning meditation to my evening reads. While this structured routine has helped maintain a disciplined lifestyle, it somewhat dulled the spontaneity and the joy of unexpected experiences. Now, when it comes to turning the dial, I think it's about finding that sweet spot between structured routine and spontaneous endeavour. I'll turn the dial towards a bit more spontaneity - perhaps by altering my workout routines, exploring new hobbies, or even taking different routes to work to shake things up a bit. This way, I hope to introduce fresh perspectives and experiences into my day-to-day life, breaking the monotony yet retaining a sense of structure. Your question is a reminder that the dial is in our hands, and we have the power to adjust our rhythms to create a more harmonious and exciting life tune.
Life Coach & Business Strategist for Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurs | ex-TikTok Corporate Strategy, ex-Management Consulting
1 年Good stuff, as always!