As I reflected back on this week’s newsletter, I thought about the difference between habits, routines and rituals. My daily running habit - a single, “deliberate practice” - became routine - “mindless repetition” - throughout my streak. My morning ritual - a string of intentional actions - provides the foundation on which to build the rest of my day.
And it got me wondering: what are your habits, routines and rituals? Let’s get a conversation going.
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Okay, in addition to the crazy running habits, I have a few golf rituals… As context, I played on the golf team in high school and college. I was also an assistant pro in the IL section of the PGA in the early ‘90’s. I always play with 3 tees in my right pocket, and ball mark + divot tool in my left. The golf world is out of balance if these are in the wrong pocket. I also warm up with odd numbered club on odd number days, and even numbered clubs on even number days. It may be a ritual, or a superstition…..
It sounds like your streak made running more than a routine, it made it a requirement; a distinction that robs the joy out of the thing. You stopped running every day because you love running - you were running every day because you ran every day?
Reading about the value of being a beginner and the fact that when something becomes so a part of one’s identity, it can be an albatross around one’s neck, I came across this: “I still love cycling, by the way; we just needed to see other people.” Reminded me of what you accurately described above.
I feel the Routine is something that turns into mindless action because it’s repetitive and no longer enjoyable, just do it for sake of doing it for an old reason.
Habits are simply what/how we do things, hopefully we’ve formed good habits to achieve our desires. A Ritual I see as something more dedicated to enjoyment and built upon our habits.
These can change as we change. Nothing needs to stay the same forever. Or it can if it’s enjoyable.
The enjoyment factor is huge, and what I see as being absent when they become routine. I’ve tried changing my vernacular about certain things I may not like to do, it should. Instead of saying “I have to the x task” I try (though fail at times) to say “I get to do x task”. Having to do something can lead to hate but getting to do something is a gift.
I find that virtually all my discipline comes from routines, but this begged the question, is it more a ritual. THis goes from flossing (I haven't missed flossing at night in 15 years, no matter my state of mind/condition, it happens), to when I eat lunch, to pre-run tying of my laces, or even the order in which I put on my hockey equipment. All of these things lend themselves to feeling like the next step is going to allow me to be my best.
I can go on and on about this, as a successful runner in high school and some college, I had routines/rituals that had to happen before every race, even practice had one. would the result have been different if not for these? To me, all of these good HABITS are derived from routine and ritual, not the other way around....at least for me. and as far as the results being different or not, I don't care, I know that in sports when using these it gets my mind focused on going out and doing my best every time.
Would be a good conversation in a group to talk live. Zoom call?
“All of these things lend themselves to feeling like the next step is going to allow me to be my best.” That’s spot on. And re: talking live, watch this space. Appreciate the dialogue!
I love this. And I wonder about the distinction between "ritual" and "rote." How can we make sure these routines are meaningful and intentional and beautiful, and not simply mindless repetition? And are there *some* practices that are useful even if (or because!) they involve *mindless* repetition? (I'm thinking of my morning cup of coffee - which is not a meaningful ritual and happens on auto-pilot, but my day still doesn't feel "started" without it - even independent of the caffeine element....)
Rote. That’s the word that comes to mind when I think of routine, for better or worse. Rote-ness has its place in certain actions (like flossing as Jeff points out above), but others where it sucks the joy out? Not so much.
Okay, in addition to the crazy running habits, I have a few golf rituals… As context, I played on the golf team in high school and college. I was also an assistant pro in the IL section of the PGA in the early ‘90’s. I always play with 3 tees in my right pocket, and ball mark + divot tool in my left. The golf world is out of balance if these are in the wrong pocket. I also warm up with odd numbered club on odd number days, and even numbered clubs on even number days. It may be a ritual, or a superstition…..
It sounds like your streak made running more than a routine, it made it a requirement; a distinction that robs the joy out of the thing. You stopped running every day because you love running - you were running every day because you ran every day?
Reading about the value of being a beginner and the fact that when something becomes so a part of one’s identity, it can be an albatross around one’s neck, I came across this: “I still love cycling, by the way; we just needed to see other people.” Reminded me of what you accurately described above.
“You stopped running every day because you love running” - exactly this.
I feel the Routine is something that turns into mindless action because it’s repetitive and no longer enjoyable, just do it for sake of doing it for an old reason.
Habits are simply what/how we do things, hopefully we’ve formed good habits to achieve our desires. A Ritual I see as something more dedicated to enjoyment and built upon our habits.
These can change as we change. Nothing needs to stay the same forever. Or it can if it’s enjoyable.
The enjoyment factor is huge, and what I see as being absent when they become routine. I’ve tried changing my vernacular about certain things I may not like to do, it should. Instead of saying “I have to the x task” I try (though fail at times) to say “I get to do x task”. Having to do something can lead to hate but getting to do something is a gift.
I find that virtually all my discipline comes from routines, but this begged the question, is it more a ritual. THis goes from flossing (I haven't missed flossing at night in 15 years, no matter my state of mind/condition, it happens), to when I eat lunch, to pre-run tying of my laces, or even the order in which I put on my hockey equipment. All of these things lend themselves to feeling like the next step is going to allow me to be my best.
I can go on and on about this, as a successful runner in high school and some college, I had routines/rituals that had to happen before every race, even practice had one. would the result have been different if not for these? To me, all of these good HABITS are derived from routine and ritual, not the other way around....at least for me. and as far as the results being different or not, I don't care, I know that in sports when using these it gets my mind focused on going out and doing my best every time.
Would be a good conversation in a group to talk live. Zoom call?
“All of these things lend themselves to feeling like the next step is going to allow me to be my best.” That’s spot on. And re: talking live, watch this space. Appreciate the dialogue!
I love this. And I wonder about the distinction between "ritual" and "rote." How can we make sure these routines are meaningful and intentional and beautiful, and not simply mindless repetition? And are there *some* practices that are useful even if (or because!) they involve *mindless* repetition? (I'm thinking of my morning cup of coffee - which is not a meaningful ritual and happens on auto-pilot, but my day still doesn't feel "started" without it - even independent of the caffeine element....)
Rote. That’s the word that comes to mind when I think of routine, for better or worse. Rote-ness has its place in certain actions (like flossing as Jeff points out above), but others where it sucks the joy out? Not so much.