Routines
I am fascinated by the daily routines followed by great historical figures. Consider:
Winston Churchill believed firmly in the positive, restorative effects of two daily baths.
Thomas Jefferson followed a strict daily routine during his adult life, rising at sunrise, soaking his feet in cold water and walking through the day in a tight routine that ended around midnight.
Beethoven and Chopin used long daily walks around Vienna and Paris respectively to focus their minds of creative works.
Prolific writer and editorialist, H.L. Mencken, was said to follow such a strict routine that writers at the Baltimore Sun, where Mencken spent years writing a weekly column, said that they knew when it was precisely 2:00 p.m. because Mencken would walk through the newsroom. Mencken's brother, August, said that he knew when it was 10:00 p.m. because H.L. would walk by August's home office door and say "let's go down," meaning that it was time for the two to enjoy a drink and conversation in the downstairs sitting room.
Mozart wrote home about his daily routine: Up at 6:00, writing by 7:00. Lessons at 9:00 or 10:00. A two-hour lunch with friends at 1:00. Lessons until 5:00. Dinner and composition until 9:00 and then out on the town until after midnight.
My theory on routines is that, like "muscle memory" in athletes, they offer a ritualized method for handling the mundane tasks of life so that the brain can focus on the heavy lifting. Ask a great football, baseball or basketball player about game day and you should be prepared to hear about the ritual that is followed -- the waking time, the food, the music, the activities -- up to game time.
Take the thought out of the easy things and you can spend more effort on the difficult stuff.
What is your routine?
Winston Churchill believed firmly in the positive, restorative effects of two daily baths.
Thomas Jefferson followed a strict daily routine during his adult life, rising at sunrise, soaking his feet in cold water and walking through the day in a tight routine that ended around midnight.
Beethoven and Chopin used long daily walks around Vienna and Paris respectively to focus their minds of creative works.
Prolific writer and editorialist, H.L. Mencken, was said to follow such a strict routine that writers at the Baltimore Sun, where Mencken spent years writing a weekly column, said that they knew when it was precisely 2:00 p.m. because Mencken would walk through the newsroom. Mencken's brother, August, said that he knew when it was 10:00 p.m. because H.L. would walk by August's home office door and say "let's go down," meaning that it was time for the two to enjoy a drink and conversation in the downstairs sitting room.
Mozart wrote home about his daily routine: Up at 6:00, writing by 7:00. Lessons at 9:00 or 10:00. A two-hour lunch with friends at 1:00. Lessons until 5:00. Dinner and composition until 9:00 and then out on the town until after midnight.
My theory on routines is that, like "muscle memory" in athletes, they offer a ritualized method for handling the mundane tasks of life so that the brain can focus on the heavy lifting. Ask a great football, baseball or basketball player about game day and you should be prepared to hear about the ritual that is followed -- the waking time, the food, the music, the activities -- up to game time.
Take the thought out of the easy things and you can spend more effort on the difficult stuff.
What is your routine?
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