“What good shall I do today?”
Setting himself up for a day of intention, Benjamin Franklin used to jump out of bed each morning and ask himself this very question.
At sunrise, you’ll find Anna Wintour out on the court playing tennis as a non-negotiable. Charles Dickens used to take himself on a three-hour walk each afternoon during his writing periods.
These are what we like to call: rituals.
Daily or weekly habits that bring structure, purpose, and even joy into our lives outside of work. Whether it’s making an effort to walk some of your commute each morning, trying a new restaurant every Thursday, or reading ten pages of a book before bed each night, rituals look different for everyone, but it’s the implementation of such activities that make them all equally as important.
Why? Let’s take a look.
Prioritising the learning of skills outside of a work-specific context unlocks the ability to broaden our understanding on a variety of topics and experiences that we find value in as individuals. In turn, this leads to greater personal development as a whole, driving curiosity and perspective.
At Stubble, we’ve got team members expanding their history knowledge on everything from the Stone Age to the Cuban missile crisis via the Short History Of podcast, others mastering physical sports such as jiu jitsu and bouldering, and others in the process of writing their first novel.
Creating habits fosters a sense of control and organisation. This added structure in our lives actively calms the nervous system and combats unnecessary peaks in cortisol levels, allowing for a reduction in stress.
So, staying consistent with daily or weekly rituals is directly linked to mental and physical wellbeing. For example, reading every night before bed instead of doom scrolling is proven to lower the heart rate and pacify the mind, leading to better sleep.
Similarly, playing a favourite sport before or after work acts as a natural mood booster for what’s ahead, or a way to relax after a busy day, influencing a more positive mindset and better sleep regulation.
The advantage of having rituals as part of your mornings, ticking them off before you officially start for the day, is freeing up more time to say yes to other things. Rituals are hugely beneficial for our development, but the simple task of having a laugh with mates is just as vital for emotional health and social connection.
For example, by saying yes to an early morning gym session, you can also say yes to a catch-up with your friend at the pub after work. Both are important, and both can fit into your schedule. The key is managing your time in a way that enables you to Do.More. and get the most out of each and every day.
