“Unfolding” and “routine” don’t seem to go together but there are certain things we would like to do every day. Some we do willingly like shower and eat. Others are more loosely organized. How, I wonder, if you allow your life to unfold, do you establish a regular pattern that you want in your life?
Piggyback onto triggers
Let’s take physical movement. The idea of a specific time each week or each day does not follow an organic life pattern. However, you can piggyback new habits onto things you have already chosen to do on a regular basis.
Every time you go into the kitchen, use the sink for some stretches. You can click on the microwave timer for five minutes or three minutes or assign yourself a specific number of moves.
I have a small stepper platform and it is “conveniently” in my way between my desk and the bathroom. Each trip calls for a pause to take 10 or 15 steps.
Brushing your teeth is a good time to do some abdominal tucks.
See how this works?
Look for organic triggers
I watch The View every day. First I stretch and then I have a cup of tea. Combine activities to expand your routine.
I have a timer by my computer that I set to remind me to change my body position, to relax my shoulder, look out the window to rest my eyes and take a few deep breaths.
A little prep work goes a long way
I eat when I am hungry. That turns out to be some rather odd times. One major change I have made it to set aside some time twice a week to cook things that can be easily assembled on other evenings.
I’ve begun to try new recipes and do some meal planning. That gives me a tight grocery list and lets me make certain I’ll take the time that week to cook the meals I’ve planned. I want to begin to turn on music when I eat and add a bit more ceremony of gratitude and mindfulness around each meal.
What else is in your daily routine that you could piggyback some movement on? Or surround with some more mindfulness?
Measure
This can be a painful step. If your focus is around health, write down your starting pace like weight and distances you can move.
If it’s around a business goal, take thorough and conscious stock of where you are now and what you need to do to move in the direction you desire. Then design one piggyback move that’ll gradually and steadily move you forward.
Substitute
Music makes you move. Music makes you happy. I’ve selected one rhythmical music that I like, which I play at least once a day. I find myself dancing and strengthening my body and moving in a way no amount of repetitions can provide.
How can you sneak in an activity by finding another source of motivation?
Push yourself a little
If you spend a week doing 10 of whatever it is you choose to do, up it to 12 or 15 the next week. Keep adding until you hit a number you’re willing to sustain.
My body is doing odd aging things and I have to fight off that un-cooperative inner voice that says, “That’s enough, this is getting hard.”
Make a choice. Do you want to preserve the health you have? Do you want to regain a bit of what you lost?
Do you have some business habits you’d like to change or develop?
Then you know something has to change — you, and your choices.
To Sing a Deeper Song consider:
Mindfulness and the Moment
How to Track Your Self-Awareness
What Do You Save Space for in Your Life?
Live Like Water
Mindfulness as a Path to Self-Awareness
06– Unfolding And The Art Of Wu Wei
