Welcome to the Aug / Sept edition of RenewU, a nearly monthly publication to provide ideas and resources for grounding, connection and inspiration to leaders and professionals who serve. We welcome your ideas and feedback. Please email us here: RenewU@thejourneyonline.org. Enjoy!
Nov / Dec Thinking...
- "There are only two ways to life your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is though everything is a miracle." -- Albert Einstein
Featured Resource: Nov / Dec
Daniel Gilbert: Stumbling on Happiness
You'll be happy to know that getting what you want won't necessarily make you happy or thankful. Read this so you don't have to keep searching.
Grounding: Use Routines to Pay Attention to What Matters
Because I know most of us would prefer more time to stop and smell the flowers (let alone plant and grow them), I'm here to encourage you to consider the role that routine plays in your life.
It's a way to free up the time you want and need.
Maybe you need more routine because you could stand to ensure that important things get attended to. Maybe you could stand less routine because you are bored or could stand to bring greater creativity to your meaningful (and mundane) pursuits.
As the fall looms, many of us are getting "back to the routine," by which we usually mean, onto the school schedule, plugged into a rhythm of work that doesn't involve so much beach and pool time, and often, getting ourselves geared up for a race toward holidays, winter and the end of the year.
In the spirit of realizing that we are all CREATING much of our own lives as we go, I invite you to consider how having your own morning routine, evening routine, weekly routine etc. might help you either:
(a) pay attention on a more regular basis to those people or things in your life that are most important or
(b) get all the little (important) stuff done that can have a tendency to get pushed to the bottom of your list or gets relegated to a last minute scramble (your taxes are due yesterday, guests are coming over in an hour)
So...Five Questions For You To Consider About Routines in Your Life
(1) Morning Routine: What 2-5 things...if you did them every morning, would ensure that you would have an awesome day?
(2) Automation: What things, that you really dislike doing, or are so monotonous to do COULD BE AUTOMATED? I know that bills get paid, checks get deposited, coffee gets made, lights go off automatically in many instances at my house. Also...I get reminded automatically about important things via outlook / google calendar, etc.
(3) Rituals / Traditions: What kinds of experiences would you like to have with those closest to you at work and home...that would be worth repeating every year (or month or quarter etc.) Examples include family movie friday, staff tuesday breakfast, neighborhood bonfire, monthly breakfast for dinner night; You don't even have to have an official reason...if you want to do something...make up your own tradition.
(4) Ruts: In what areas of your life are bored and on autopilot? The simple way to wake it up and shake it up is to simply do it differently: Drive home another way, eat something just as healthy but different, turn up the romance, inject a little mystery, ask someone new how they do it. You get the picture.
You might also consider turning whatever you either don't like to do or are bored doing into a game. Set a goal and compete with yourself. Or invite others to participate in a friendly competition to get things done.
(5) One habit. What is one behavior you would like to have as a habit for yourself. Not because it's popular or someone says you should. What one thing would you like to be doing routinely, as second nature, the same time next year? [Insert every piece of advice you've ever heard about habits here: it takes 21 days to form, self-discipline, simple etc.] But really...when are you going to start?
In the accompanying post below, you'll find several links to examples from other people: their routines and why they think they're important. Take them in...though, only commit to those things that matter to you.
The best part about routines is that they free up our time, energy and focus so we can play, be creative, invent, transform ourselves, take risks and explore new possibilities...all because we have put in place ways to make sure that all that other important stuff gets done too.
Best of luck with your new fall schedule!
Tom
Connecting: (more than) Routine Ideas from Others on the Path
What could be part of your daily routines
...exercise, rest, breakfast, journaling, reading, play?
Use these ideas to trigger or create your own for a fabulous fall.
12 Ways to Get Out the Door Faster
http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/home_200404_morning
Daily Routines Site
http://dailyroutines.typepad.com/daily_routines/
Optimize Your Productivity with Daily, Weekly Routines
http://zenhabits.net/2007/06/optimize-your-productivity-with-daily-weekly-routines/
Tapping the Power of Your Morning Routine
http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/leadership/23188
Daily Routines (from The Bamboo Project)
http://michelemartin.typepad.com/thebambooprojectblog/2009/01/daily-routines.html
24 Daily Habits (the change blog)
http://www.thechangeblog.com/24-daily-habits/
12 More Daily Habits (the change blog)
http://www.thechangeblog.com/12-more-daily-habits/
10 Killer, Daily Habits to Boost Your Confidence
http://timelesslessons.com/boost-your-confidence/
