Routines, rituals, and habits may seem counterintuitive to the concept of creativity. However, we are discussing how these topics actually work well together.

Habits are automatic behaviors that you do without thinking that can lead to positive or negative outcomes.

Routines are a series of habits or behaviors that are done in a particular order. These can be completed without thinking or with a checklist or reminders.

Rituals are similar to routines in that they are a set of actions taken in a particular order, but with a ritual, they are completed with intention. It's something that may be special or sacred. It's an elevated routine.

When you create habits and routines, think about the outcomes you want. Knowing your values is a great place to start. Let go of behaviors that don't align with your values and that aren't giving you the desired outcome.

There's not one "best routine." Take time to personalize it to what best suits you. Here's how to know if you have a good one:

A good routine will also serve a purpose, like increased feelings of security and less anxiousness. A good routine can also work as a transition - like transitioning from home to work and vice versa. 

Not everyone is a morning person, but life is often geared toward those who rise early. There are endless lists of routines of "highly successful" people. While adopting these lists at full scale is unlikely to work for you, it's important to note where many of these lists overlap. Some commonalities we see are:

Anything you do in the morning can also be done in the evening. Do what's best for your schedule.  Having an evening routine helps you transition into sleep and gets you ready for the next day.

Even if you haven't thought about it, you probably do the same things over and over when you get to work. The key is being intentional around your work routines, especially with activities like email and other focus-stealing behaviors.

During this show segment, we introduce four ways to interact with the material presented: A question to answer, a quest to complete, an aspect of creativity we've noticed this week, and a quote to ponder.

What is your ritual?

If you don't have a ritual, take time to set one up.

A creative way to put ice in your water bottle.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."
​- Aristotle