When your routine breaks, show up anyway
My morning routine is simple:
I wake up, drink a glass of water, go out for a 30 minute run, shower, eat breakfast, then sit down to write.
Through trial and error, I’ve noticed that if I don’t drink that glass of water, I’ll feel it on my run. And if I don’t go for a run, I’ll find it significantly harder to sit down and write.
That’s why I’ve been guarding this routine very closely.
The day can take me where it wants to once I’ve finished writing, but — please — not before.
But, as much as we try, there will be times when the simplest plans will get slapped in the face by reality.
Today was such a day.
My wife woke up feeling a little ill, and as she normally takes our daughter to kindergarten on her way to work, I had to do it instead.
Of course I was more than willing to do so but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel some frustration bubbling up — ‘what about my run? What about my writing?’
By the time I had dropped my daughter off, I no longer had time to go for a run and write.
I had a choice: to say ‘ah, f*** it, I won’t write because I didn’t run’ or to just sit down and try to write.
I’m not telling you about this banal, everyday, anecdote because it’s particularly meaningful. Rather, it reminded me of the importance of being adaptable.
Adaptability is the skill of dealing with what actually happens in front of you, not what you wish was happening. It’s about integrating what you wanted with what is.
When your plans change, and they will, there’s not much point cursing the piece of reality that’s to blame.
The important thing is, how are you going to react?
It’s so easy to use these interruptions as excuses to stop what you committed to. (‘If I can’t do this perfectly, I might as well not do it.’)
Your intent to continue though, your willingness to adapt to unexpected obstacles, is key.
Yes, you might have to take a detour and yes it might take you a little longer. You might not do or finish what you wanted to today, but you will have proven something to yourself.
You will have shown up.
That you are who you say you are.
Till next time,
Ben
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