Perfect little lesson from life. When I retired from employment I promised myself I would spend time doing nothing at all. I've managed to do that quite a lot. And it's quite beautiful.
It took a while. I had to be conscious about it for a while. 'Today I will spend 20 minutes looking at the sea/sky/garden without fidgeting'. 'Today I will spend a half hour listening to music and not doing something else at the same time'. It gets easier.
Andrei, I've been thinking about this and it's given me a theme for my next stack. I'd like to use it as a springboard to talk about my own journey to being less organised. Is that OK?
Yeah, same, but why should productivity be the only measure of worth? Why shouldn’t it be interest, or awe? I don’t know, I’m still very much figuring it out. Thanks for reading, Mikey!
You’re so right. It’s not the only measure of worth. And yet I can’t seem to switch it off. Thanks for drawing attention to it with this lovely essay! Always enjoy your pieces so much. You’re an excellent writer, Andrei.
I'm definitely more rhythm than habit - in awe of your discipline but know it is not for me. I hope the spell of spontaneity survives the return to work!
So far, it has, and wonderfully! I’m taking more time for myself and have resigned from the “a little every day” mentality, when it comes to working out and reading. I now work out 2-3 days a week for 90 minutes, and read when I get the urge. It makes for a more enjoyable time overall.
Wow, absolutely incredible. Outside GOING to work, I can't hold a routine to save my life. I admire your tenacity and hard work. My wife is a routine person, too. Most Japanese are.
It’s something I’m proud of, but it’s very tiring and it gets very boring after a while. I don’t know how the Japanese do it, they are some of the most disciplined people in the world. Must be hammered into them from a young age, I guess.
Yeah, thats really it. Hammered into them until they dont know anything else. Some love it, some hate it but continue to do it because sometimes it can be a really pain not to, or good for the community.
Nice piece! Another advantage of routines is they have a smaller cognitive load: you don't have to think as much when you do a series of tasks in the same order every day, compared to thinking and deciding on your next move hour after hour.
I always hated routines and to this day I try to take different routes to get to the same point, just for a change of scenery. :-) But probably we need a mix of both, routines and free-flow experiencing of life.
I feel a bit identified with the feelings that you describe. I have an extraordinary power to distract myself with a fly that flies around... For avoiding that and use the time wisely, I tryed to follow a writen schedule. It's very useful for me, and very efficient to avoid distraction. At first is not easy, but if you have pacience with yourself in the end you'll be successful.
But, It should came from the inside. Do things as a must is tyring... So I'm happy to read that you've found your balance and enjoy your free time as it should be. 😉
This really resonated with me! I’ve spent years living on a routine that choked my life experience. How can new things happen if you never let them? It took a long time to realise that I needed to ease up and allow life to happen to me, not try and control my life. I’ve never been happier, honestly.
I'm glad it did! I was afraid that I haven't expressed myself too clearly. But yeah, I agree with everything you said, and the fact that you went through this and came out the other side happier and more fulfilled gives me hope that I can do the same. Thanks so much for reading, Amelia!
Something about August that begets chaos, it seems. It befell us as well---being the only family in our circle whose kids went to bed at a certain time, had a semi-structure through out the days, I was determined to continue with our routines during the summer. But... Spain happened and something in the air wiggled its way into our heads and everything was unpredictable from then on (imagine a toddler on a "who knows when the next nap will be" schedule! Horrifying!) It was messy, to say the least, but in the mess I found myself in a weird state of bliss.
Yeah, it seems like August attracts chaos that way. I’m sorry about what you went through, but it seems you were able to adapt pretty well! Hopefully you’ll find a way to carry that state of bliss when things return to “normal”.
Oh wonderful you shook things up and it felt right and free for you! Maybe you can make it more balanced with some structure and spontaneity in your life. I also played Venba. What a touching game! It was fun to make these delicious foods and learn about them.
❤️❤️❤️ yes, I thought you might have played it. I’m going to try to find some kind of balance when work starts. It does feel weird, though, like I’m overhauling all my usual thought processes, all my instincts. It will probably take a little while to get used to.
I hope you're able to find a balance when you return back to your work! Letting go of routines and letting your body and life just do its thing is a great epiphany.
I think I'll follow your lead and take a quick nap; I've been tired all day today and have been trying to keep myself up and telling myself a bunch of "should"s, but I'm just gonna see what happens when I embrace what my body's telling me I need.
The nap wasn't a success that day! I couldn't get to sleep but laying down at least was a little restorative! Haha and I'll let you know if I come to a revelation for the "should"s!
As someone who also craved routine it was very discombobulating when I left it behind. But, eventually you find a balance. It sounds like you adjusted well to the vacation of spontaneity. Best of luck with your re-integration. I'm sure now that you've discovered the beauty of the non-routine you'll be able to find a way to balance it and have both. All the best.
"I’m not sure how sustainable this new approach of mine will be." - it will most likely be balanced out by the need for a certain routine when we have a job. But you may wish to keep integrating the two: routine and spontaneity.
Perfect little lesson from life. When I retired from employment I promised myself I would spend time doing nothing at all. I've managed to do that quite a lot. And it's quite beautiful.
I’m very glad. That sounds like a lot of fun, though I imagine it must not have been so easy to do. Kudos to you!
It took a while. I had to be conscious about it for a while. 'Today I will spend 20 minutes looking at the sea/sky/garden without fidgeting'. 'Today I will spend a half hour listening to music and not doing something else at the same time'. It gets easier.
Thank God it does. Looking forward to that day!
Andrei, I've been thinking about this and it's given me a theme for my next stack. I'd like to use it as a springboard to talk about my own journey to being less organised. Is that OK?
Perfectly fine! That is such an honor, June!
Love this sentiment. I think I need to allow myself more spontaneity. Have far too much guilt when I’m not doing something I consider productive
Yeah, same, but why should productivity be the only measure of worth? Why shouldn’t it be interest, or awe? I don’t know, I’m still very much figuring it out. Thanks for reading, Mikey!
You’re so right. It’s not the only measure of worth. And yet I can’t seem to switch it off. Thanks for drawing attention to it with this lovely essay! Always enjoy your pieces so much. You’re an excellent writer, Andrei.
I’m blushing ☺️ Ditto, friend!
I'm definitely more rhythm than habit - in awe of your discipline but know it is not for me. I hope the spell of spontaneity survives the return to work!
So far, it has, and wonderfully! I’m taking more time for myself and have resigned from the “a little every day” mentality, when it comes to working out and reading. I now work out 2-3 days a week for 90 minutes, and read when I get the urge. It makes for a more enjoyable time overall.
That sounds nicely balanced, Andrei, the sort of approach that will stick because it isn't onerous or 'obliging'
Wow, absolutely incredible. Outside GOING to work, I can't hold a routine to save my life. I admire your tenacity and hard work. My wife is a routine person, too. Most Japanese are.
It’s something I’m proud of, but it’s very tiring and it gets very boring after a while. I don’t know how the Japanese do it, they are some of the most disciplined people in the world. Must be hammered into them from a young age, I guess.
Yeah, thats really it. Hammered into them until they dont know anything else. Some love it, some hate it but continue to do it because sometimes it can be a really pain not to, or good for the community.
Nice piece! Another advantage of routines is they have a smaller cognitive load: you don't have to think as much when you do a series of tasks in the same order every day, compared to thinking and deciding on your next move hour after hour.
I always hated routines and to this day I try to take different routes to get to the same point, just for a change of scenery. :-) But probably we need a mix of both, routines and free-flow experiencing of life.
Yes, this is the conclusion I’m reaching too. Thanks so much for reading and weighing in, Monica!
My pleasure :)
Oh routines! What a wonderful word 🤣
I feel a bit identified with the feelings that you describe. I have an extraordinary power to distract myself with a fly that flies around... For avoiding that and use the time wisely, I tryed to follow a writen schedule. It's very useful for me, and very efficient to avoid distraction. At first is not easy, but if you have pacience with yourself in the end you'll be successful.
But, It should came from the inside. Do things as a must is tyring... So I'm happy to read that you've found your balance and enjoy your free time as it should be. 😉
Thank you to share again your thoughts with us 😊
Thanks so much for reading! Yes, routines ca be VERY good, and very helpful for productivity. But they should be used with caution😀
This really resonated with me! I’ve spent years living on a routine that choked my life experience. How can new things happen if you never let them? It took a long time to realise that I needed to ease up and allow life to happen to me, not try and control my life. I’ve never been happier, honestly.
I'm glad it did! I was afraid that I haven't expressed myself too clearly. But yeah, I agree with everything you said, and the fact that you went through this and came out the other side happier and more fulfilled gives me hope that I can do the same. Thanks so much for reading, Amelia!
Something about August that begets chaos, it seems. It befell us as well---being the only family in our circle whose kids went to bed at a certain time, had a semi-structure through out the days, I was determined to continue with our routines during the summer. But... Spain happened and something in the air wiggled its way into our heads and everything was unpredictable from then on (imagine a toddler on a "who knows when the next nap will be" schedule! Horrifying!) It was messy, to say the least, but in the mess I found myself in a weird state of bliss.
Yeah, it seems like August attracts chaos that way. I’m sorry about what you went through, but it seems you were able to adapt pretty well! Hopefully you’ll find a way to carry that state of bliss when things return to “normal”.
I do like to think that "it changed me" but only time will tell!
Oh wonderful you shook things up and it felt right and free for you! Maybe you can make it more balanced with some structure and spontaneity in your life. I also played Venba. What a touching game! It was fun to make these delicious foods and learn about them.
❤️❤️❤️ yes, I thought you might have played it. I’m going to try to find some kind of balance when work starts. It does feel weird, though, like I’m overhauling all my usual thought processes, all my instincts. It will probably take a little while to get used to.
I absolutely understand. It's hard to change patterns, but it seems like it's making you happy to be more spontaneous than structured all the time. <3
I hope you're able to find a balance when you return back to your work! Letting go of routines and letting your body and life just do its thing is a great epiphany.
I think I'll follow your lead and take a quick nap; I've been tired all day today and have been trying to keep myself up and telling myself a bunch of "should"s, but I'm just gonna see what happens when I embrace what my body's telling me I need.
I'm glad you enjoyed being more spontaneous!
Please do take that nap! And if you do manage to let go of your should's, tell me how you did it!
The nap wasn't a success that day! I couldn't get to sleep but laying down at least was a little restorative! Haha and I'll let you know if I come to a revelation for the "should"s!
All right, keep me posted!
As someone who also craved routine it was very discombobulating when I left it behind. But, eventually you find a balance. It sounds like you adjusted well to the vacation of spontaneity. Best of luck with your re-integration. I'm sure now that you've discovered the beauty of the non-routine you'll be able to find a way to balance it and have both. All the best.
Thank you for the kind thoughts! We’ll see what life brings, but I’d like to find a way to strike that balance.
"I’m not sure how sustainable this new approach of mine will be." - it will most likely be balanced out by the need for a certain routine when we have a job. But you may wish to keep integrating the two: routine and spontaneity.
Yes, that’s the goal. We’ll see how well I manage!