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Why you need both rituals and routines to power your workday

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Re: Why you need both rituals and routines to power your workday

#3

I hate that this might actually be true. I don't want routines or rituals, I just want to do the smart thing at any given second. Empirically, however, that's not what actually happens.

Kind of makes me wonder if there are people that live without routines and rituals, and what causes the transition to and from between living with and without routines and rituals.

Can anyone give their experience on the matter?

Re: Why you need both rituals and routines to power your workday

#4

I hate that this might actually be true. I don't want routines or rituals, I just want to do the smart thing at any given second. Empirically, however, that's not what actually happens.

Make it a ritual to pause and think before any significant decision, so you do the smart thing. Eventually it'll become routine.

Re: Why you need both rituals and routines to power your workday

#5

I hate that this might actually be true. I don't want routines or rituals, I just want to do the smart thing at any given second. Empirically, however, that's not what actually happens.

Make it a ritual to pause and think before any significant decision, so you do the smart thing. Eventually it'll become routine.

You have to notice when you're making a significant decision, but yeah, that's a good start. :)

Re: Why you need both rituals and routines to power your workday

#6
post #3

I hate that this might actually be true. I don't want routines or rituals, I just want to do the smart thing at any given second. Empirically, however, that's not what actually happens.

Kind of makes me wonder if there are people that live without routines and rituals, and what causes the transition to and from between living with and without routines and rituals. Can anyone give their experience on the matter?

People who live like that are almost always dysfunctional

Re: Why you need both rituals and routines to power your workday

#7
post #3

I hate that this might actually be true. I don't want routines or rituals, I just want to do the smart thing at any given second. Empirically, however, that's not what actually happens.

Kind of makes me wonder if there are people that live without routines and rituals, and what causes the transition to and from between living with and without routines and rituals. Can anyone give their experience on the matter?

I’m not anyone super important but this is how I’ve lived my life. Honestly it feels chaotic. My mind is always running via executive control. In some ways this, I believe, has provided me with a very unique worldview where anything seems possible - any path is within my grasp. I think it has led me to be more (forgive the possible arrogance, it’s not intended as such) intelligent than the average bear. I don’t let many facts into my mind without intense scrutiny and I tend to have a much more complete high level picture of how things work. In fact, I realized these traits early in life and believed they were something I should pursue to be more effective. Which in many ways has come true.

However the down side is that you’re incompatible with most other people. I dread routine to the point where ive lost relationships and a sense of purpose in most work. Being a cog is extremely unpleasant and it’s more and more apparent to me that that’s where most success in the world comes from (think millions of workers vs a single ceo.)

This article touched on all of that and I think I need to incorporate the routine and ritual more. Even if it’s so I can just get through the parts of life I currently struggle.

Sorry if this is a bit rambling. I’m working now but wanted to share. If you have any questions or want to chat I’d be happy. Still not sure how hacker news replying and all works so my apologies if I miss you.

Re: Why you need both rituals and routines to power your workday

#8
post #3

I hate that this might actually be true. I don't want routines or rituals, I just want to do the smart thing at any given second. Empirically, however, that's not what actually happens.

Kind of makes me wonder if there are people that live without routines and rituals, and what causes the transition to and from between living with and without routines and rituals. Can anyone give their experience on the matter?

[deleted]

Re: Why you need both rituals and routines to power your workday

#9
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kind of makes me wonder if there are people that live without routines and rituals, and what causes the transition to and from between living with and without routines and rituals. Can anyone give their experience on the matter?

I’m not anyone super important but this is how I’ve lived my life. Honestly it feels chaotic. My mind is always running via executive control. In some ways this, I believe, has provided me with a very unique worldview where anything seems possible - any path is within my grasp. I think it has led me to be more (forgive the possible arrogance, it’s not intended as such) intelligent than the average bear. I don’t let m…

Maybe not as pronounced as in your case but I can definitly understand where you’re comming from. What worked for me was trying to understand some martial arts / eastern spirituality, which brought a lot of peace and stability to my mind.

I remeber being tald about all the spiritual things that seem bonkers to a western educated mind, but with the idea that - all models are false, some models are useful, I just “tried” to imagine it working, and it actually did, the mind is an interresting thing.

Now whenever I am presented with those ancient patterns of thought I don’t dismiss them outright as false, but think of them as a model that can influence your emotions, and act accordingly.

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