Breaking Routine

January 8, 2010 - 09:22

I'd like to promote some creativity in my brain by breaking up my morning routine. And no. I'm not talking about a blog content routine because there obvious isn't one. I'm talking about the seven-thirty wake up, before I sit drinking coffee in front of computer looking at Tweetdeck and Google Reader until eight-thirty when I then scramble to shower and get to work before nine. I do this every day. When I don't do this on a Saturday, I feel off. Same deal on Sunday. That's not cool. It's the weekend. I should feel good.

So, here's the plan: I want calendar entries for each morning that occupy time anywhere between 6:30am and 8:30am of something new to do. In a brief attempt to think of a few, I've decided that these should be one-offs. The idea is to break routine, not get into a new one. So something like "learn to play the piano" is a bad suggestion, whereas "eat a bowl of cereal for children" is a good suggestion (except for all the stomach pain and corn syrup).

I haven't come up with too much so far, but it's easy to blame that on my creativity-stifling routine. Por ejemplo:

  • Bike down one street for forty five minutes, then bike back.
  • The same with walking.
  • Read a book. (Does anyone read a book before work in the morning? It seems weird.)
  • Sleep in
  • Go straight to the office (ok, fine, shower first)
  • What time do gun ranges open?
  • Take swimming lessons
  • Write a real letter to a distant relative/old friend/wife
  • Call mom/dad/grandpa/other
  • Write a blog entry about how coffee beans are roasted (could you hear the creativity wane as I searched for another idea and looked at the half-empty cup next to me?)

I want more. Then I'll pepper my calendar with them and report back. Comment below, or just tweet @elgreg and tag it #newroutine. I'll pick it up.