Injecting your habits with meaning to get more done.
The ridiculously high leverage of rituals.
From weddings and Japanese tea ceremonies to athletes like Michael Phelps putting in his headphones at the exact same time right before a competition, all these things are rituals.
On a surface level these seem like sets of rather arbitrary actions.
Why would it matter how the tea is presented or if the left or right earphone is put in first?
But it’s no coincidence that rituals have evolved in pretty much every known culture.
Rituals are incredibly useful and powerful tools.
Similar to habits, rituals describe behaviour which is repeated over and over again in the same way. However, rituals are more than just habits — they give the actions themselves meaning.
By turning something which is meaningful to you into a ritual, you are making a statement.
A statement to the world, as well as to yourself.
“This is important to me!”
“This is my purpose”
A ritual is an affirmation of value as well as a form of automation.
Once established, a ritual becomes second nature — it becomes the way you do things, part of your identity. By taking the first step of a ritual you are setting in motion an entire process.
It’s effectively a type of automation.
Thats what makes rituals extremely high leverage — limited effort invested up front leading to massive amounts of output.
We can ritualise many aspects of our lives
Eating healthy and having a specific routine focussed on caring for yourself and your family.
Sleeping well, focussing on recovery and wellness.
Starting your work-sessions and reinforcing your purpose.
Winding down your work-sessions when you are done, getting closure.
I made a ritual for starting each of my work sessions.
I have an exact ritual about how I start a writing session and deliberately stick to it every time.
During this time I am not open to interruptions, it is strictly reserved for writing.
This helps me procrastinate less. It feels sacred.
I absolutely love these kinds of rituals and routines.
